Elly De La Cruz Rookie Cards were one of the hottest cards last baseball season and expect more of the same heading into the 2024 MLB year.
The Dominican Republic baseball sensation Elly De La Cruz has turned many heads with his stellar performances as an infielder for the Cincinnati Reds.
At only 22 years old, De La Cruz has wowed the Major League Baseball (MLB) fraternity with his sensational athleticism, as his physical stature and capabilities epitomize what it means to be considered a “freak athlete” who excels at baserunning.
One great case in point was when he exhibited explosive exit velocity, clocking on a home-to-home trip in 15.3 seconds – the fastest home-to-home time registered for the Cincinnati Reds since statistical tracking by Statcast began in 2015.
This lightning speed is accompanied by immense batting talent, best exemplified through his .235 batting average in 388 at-bats, along with his 91 hits, 15 doubles, 7 triples, 13 home runs, and 44 RBI across 98 games played at the time of writing.
You can easily run out of superlatives to describe the potential of this 6-foot-5 powerhouse, as De La Cruz has also demonstrated defensive versatility through his baseball performances so far – splitting his field time between the shortstop position and third base.
With all that said, Elly De La Cruz’s MLB career trajectory is leaning in the “perennial All-Star” direction, and that’s particularly pertinent to sports trading card collectors foraging for valuable rookie cards worth a couple hundred bucks or more depending on their rarity.
In this article, we’re going to reveal the latest and greatest Elly De La Cruz rookie cards worth forking out a decent chunk of change for, especially if you’re looking to return tidy sums of profit on a few cards, or even if you want to add fine pieces of memorabilia to a historical baseball collection that you’ve been creating.
#1. 2022 Elly De La Cruz Bowman Chrome Prospects Rookie #BCP-50
This single-insert Elly De La Cruz Bowman Chrome Prospects rookie card is a great entry point for baseball card collectors because of its reasonable availability.
Manufactured by Topps in 2022, there’s a decent circulation of these cards that have been professionally graded and authenticated, which makes them relatively cheap to acquire. One of these cards recently sold for $64.65 minus shipping, which made it all the more fascinating because the card was a PSA 10 grade in pristine condition.
Appearance-wise, this card has a fitting front face that features excellent design and color choices. The black background provides a first-class look, with the high-definition image of De La Cruz about to bat his way to baseball glory.
Pictured in light grey Cincinnati Reds attire, the infielder has his red-gloved arms wrapped around his bat, with his focused gaze directed towards the pitcher out of view. The incorporation of silver elements on the borders is a nice touch that aesthetically complements the overall presentation of the card.
Meanwhile, the reverse design is all about the player’s information. At the top, there’s a neat listing of De La Cruz’s biographical stats, such as his height, weight, date of birth, batting hand, and throwing hand.
Below that, you’ll see a three-part “Bowman Briefing” section describing De La Cruz’s skills, baseball resume, and achievements.
He’s profiled as a nimble fielder capable of repeating his line drive stroke from both sides of the plate and described as a player proficient at keeping swings compact.
The card also mentions his elite 30.6 ft/sec running pace and reveals his minor league batting record for the Arizona Complex League Reds and the Daytona Tortugas, where he registered 42 RBIs and .874 OBS in 61 games.
Wrapping it all up at the bottom is the standard manufacturer and competition copyright notices you’ll spot on any trading card, which adds authenticity.
#2. 2022 Elly De La Cruz Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs RC #CPA-ED
This card is almost a carbon copy of the one previously discussed, as the only differentiating factor is a blue ink autograph signature from the Cincinnati Reds baseball star.
Being one of the most exciting young players in baseball is a huge deal, and a verified signature from a reputable athlete helps increase the card’s overall value, which currently sells for thousands of dollars on marketplaces like eBay.
On the front end, this chrome parallel card mirrors the #BCP-50, except for the lower part of the image that clouds out to a white color, which serves as a suitable background for De La Cruz’s authentic blue ink signature.
Beneath that autograph, there’s a “Topps Certified Autograph Issue” statement on the card which affirms the manufacturer’s guarantee of authenticity for the piece’s content.
The reverse design is the same as the aforementioned #BCP-50 rookie card, which emphasizes the transformative effect a simply written signature from a professional athlete playing at the highest level can have for the retail value of a trading card.
#3. 2022 1st True Bowman Elly De La Cruz Reds Mojo Refractor Rookie Card #50
Next, we have the Mojo Refractor parallel to a De La Cruz rookie card manufactured by Bowman.
At first glance, you’ll notice the holographic background pattern on the front face that makes it appear slightly different from your typical base card.
We particularly like the application of the textured gradient and the incorporation of stylish linage that adds extra personality to it. Beyond that, the mix of turquoise blue and royal red shades gives this card a distinct look.
The rest of the card looks remarkably similar to the base version, with the player’s name and position as a shortstop and third base neatly indicated in a capitalized, sans-serif font.
In addition, the photo of De La Cruz is also the same, showing the rookie gripping a black bat tightly in anticipation of a pitch.
We don’t have to go into detail about what’s contained on the opposite end, because you get to see the same information about De La Cruz’s baseball resume, skills, and minor league batting record that features on the cards previously discussed.
#4. 2022 Elly De La Cruz Bowman Chrome Sapphire Autographs RC #BCP50
The Bowman Chrome Sapphire has to be one of the most beautiful cards.
You can easily see why this is one of the most sought-after De La Cruz rookie cards, as the blue cracked ice in the purple background adds to the mystical appeal.
Snagging this autographed version for an affordable price would be a great achievement, as the sapphire parallel commands an astonishing valuation on marketplaces like eBay.
Back to the aesthetics, this collectible has been signed by the Cincinnati Reds star in blue ink near the bottom of the front cover, adding to the prestige.
Below that, a confirmation statement of the player’s signature is included to affirm the manufacturer’s guarantee of authenticity for the card’s content.
On the opposite side, you get a truckload of information about the player that is laid out exactly like the other cards we’ve discussed, from his biographical data and achievements in professional baseball to his minor league batting record when he played for the Arizona Complex League Reds and the Daytona Tortugas.
#5. 2022 Elly De La Cruz Bowman Chrome Sapphire #BCP-50
Next, we have the non-autographed version of the Bowman Chrome Sapphire Elly De La Cruz rookie card.
Straight away, you’ll notice a breathtaking front display that uses royal blue depths and bright rainbow color highlights to bring the card to life.
In the picture, you can see De La Cruz in his Cincinnati Reds uniform, waiting to strike the baseball with his weaker left hand.
The player is shown during a moment of intense mental focus – sporting red branded gloves, grey pants, and a matching grey button-able shirt.
Conversely, the reverse design is centered on relaying important baseball information about the player.
This side mentions his pro career debut in the 2019 Dominican Summer League and provides some performance statistics during his time in the minor league, where he registered 42 RBIs and 8 home runs in 61 games.
Beneath all that, you also get the usual copyright notices displayed in the footer, with the Topps company and MLB logos featuring prominently beside this text.
#6. 2022 Elly De La Cruz Auto Bowman Inception Prospect #PAED
Here is another collector’s item celebrating an emerging baseball star from the talent-rich MLB rookie class in a slightly different way.
To start, this Bowman Inception Prospect card features an abstract front design.
When you look at it for the first time, you’ll notice a vinyl-like disc in the background, which could be a reference to the player rolling back the legendary years of baseball through his excellent fielding performances.
In addition, there’s a fitting image of De La Cruz in his red Cincinnati jersey and white pants, preparing to toss the baseball across the field by stretching out his right arm.
The icing on the cake is the blue ink signature, which De La Cruz has neatly written above his personal and team names.
On the back side, the card congratulates the owner for picking up this base prospect’s autograph card.
There’s also some fine print indicating the signing of this autograph card was witnessed by a Topps representative to guarantee authenticity, which ticks another box for this item’s quality.
#7. 2022 Bowman Sterling Prospect Autographs Elly De La Cruz #PAED
This autographed Bowman Sterling rookie card is selling for a sizeable fee on eBay because of its professional MLB signatory – Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds.
Your attention is immediately captured by the young baseball star wearing a royal red jersey on top of some Nike compression gear, as he eyes a potential catch. More so, the player’s gaze is focused on the trajectory of the ball in flight.
The card’s borderless design on the front end adds to its allure, and the blue ink signature near the footer furthers its prestige as a Topps-certified autograph issue.
Meanwhile, the reverse design relays a little more information about the player, indicating his position as a third baseman and shortstop, as well as disclosing the year he was signed by the Cincinnati Reds as a free agent.
The card also includes a small autograph authenticity guarantee; witnessed by a Topps representative who verifies the signing.
Beneath that, you’ll see the usual copyright notices and company trademarks, which add to the overall legitimacy of the card.
#8. 2023 Ella De La Cruz National Treasures #NMSED
This 2023 Panini-manufactured card is a national treasure, as it features a beautifully autographed label or sticker of Elly De La Cruz, a rookie player for the Cincinnati Reds.
The card – of a patch variety – is oversized with a 138-point thickness and made of card stock material, which gives it a unique look and feel.
As part of the 2023 Panini National Treasures insert set, the card comes with Panini autograph authentication and has exclusive features such as serial numbering, short print, and memorabilia.
The front side is visually stunning, with its wonderful combination of white and red colors that accompany a detailed illustration of the player as he prepares to bat for the team. Furthermore, the signed blue ink autograph pops on the card’s white material surface.
On the other side, the card has an endearing text that describes De La Cruz as a player who “oozes swagger every time he steps on the diamond”.
It talks about how he makes highlight-reel moves look routine on the field, excelling at fielding grounders, making bare-handed plays, and diving snags.
#9. 2023 Topps Now Elly De La Cruz Steal 3 Bases in 3 Pitches RC #541
This is one of the more unique cards on the market, in the sense that the front face offers more than a general representation of the player holding a baseball bat.
Instead, this collector’s item focuses specifically on the player’s feat of managing to become the 2nd rookie player in the Expansion Era (since 1961) to steal three bases in a single plate appearance.
You can see from the landscape orientation that De La Cruz’s body was extended to its physical limit when he achieved this spectacular feat, as both his outstretched arms came into contact with the soil.
The reverse design has a fitting description highlighting the significance of the accomplishment.
It does this by pointing out how he singled in a go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning before swiping three bases in just three pitches to extend his team’s lead, including a mad dash to home base with a head-first slide.
#10. 2022 Bowman Chrome Mega Box Elly De La Cruz 1st Mojo Chrome RC #50
Lastly, we have this rare original 2022 Bowman Chrome Mega Box trading card of the Mojo parallel/variety.
It features a recognizable image of Elly De La Cruz, who is pictured taking a batting stance for the Cincinnati Reds in the MLB.
What makes this card slightly different from the other Bowman ones is the rainbow-colored background on the front, which adds a nice shine to the card, as you can see the transition of shades from red at the bottom to blue at the top.
Meanwhile, the backend design doesn’t contain any real surprises, as it lists all the usual things you’d expect to see, such as:
- the player’s biographical information;
- his solid repertoire of five different baseball skills; and
- his impressive minor league batting statistics.
What’s the most valuable Elly De La Cruz rookie card?
The 2022 Bowman Chrome Elly De La Cruz Yellow Refractor Rookie Auto #CPAED is a prized possession, and rightly so, as it was graded professionally as a pristine condition PSA 10.
In a recent eBay auction, this card sold for a staggering $1,635.02 price, after interested parties placed 21 bids to acquire this coveted collector’s item.
Which Elly De La Cruz rookie card is the best budget pick?
If you don’t have a lot of dollars to spare, your best bet when it comes to an Elly De La Cruz rookie card on a budget is the 2023 Topps Now Elly De La Cruz Rookie Call Up Baseball Card #392.
This item bears particular significance because it represents the player’s 112-mile-per-hour double, which he made for his first hit in the MLB.
You can add this card to your collection for the low price of $20, which you’ll pay for a PSA 10-graded copy in excellent condition.
Future investment outlook on Elly De La Cruz rookie cards
The Cincinnati Reds shortstop is a heavy hitter batsman and an equally talented runner, so the future looks bright for the kid from the Dominican Republic.
Building up a stock of his rookie cards could be a wise move, especially as the market for sports trading collectibles grows with increased consumer interest and greater baseball audience numbers.
You could sell some of the highest-value cards in the future to reap a handsome profit, with significant financial gains possible should the player continue on his upward career trajectory.