2026 Topps Series 1 Rookie Rankings: Base Bowman Chrome Auto Analysis

With 2026 Topps Baseball Series 1 releasing on February 11, 2026, I took a look at its rookie cards and ranked them by their 1st Bowman Chrome Auto prices using recent eBay sold listings. The Series 1 base set contains 350 cards. Of those, 69 are rookie cards featuring players with the RC designation. I found 1st Bowman Chrome Auto sales data for 50 of those rookies. The remaining 19 do not have a 1st Bowman Chrome Auto or had no valid sales data available. All prices come from verified eBay sold listings for raw, ungraded 1st Bowman Chrome Autos. Graded cards, color parallels, and numbered parallels are excluded to keep comparisons consistent.

Below are the top 20 rookies ranked by their 1st Bowman Chrome auto prices. For the full list of the top 50 rookies, subscribe to my substack. 

1. Roman Anthony (Red Sox) | $664 | 2023 Bowman

Roman Anthony entered the 2025 season as one of the most highly touted hitting prospects. He began his season at Triple-A, where he slashed .288/.423/.491 with 10 HR before making his MLB debut in June 2025. He slashed a .292/.396/.463 line with 8 HR over 71 games before landing on the IL in early September with a Grade 2 oblique strain. Prior to being placed on the IL, Anthony won AL Rookie of the Month for August.

2. Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers) | $223 | 2022 Bowman Draft

Misiorowski had an electric start to his MLB career in June 2025, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA over his first five starts and throwing triple-digit heat with a plus curve. He cooled off big time in the second half, however, posting a 5.40 ERA over his final 12 outings, and hit the IL in early August with a left tibia contusion from a comebacker. If he can refine his command and maintain consistency through a full season in 2026, he has frontline starter potential with that fastball-curve combo.

3. Jac Caglianone (Royals) | $221 | 2024 Bowman Draft

Caglianone tore through the minors in 2025, hitting .322/.389/.593 between Double-A and Triple-A with massive power numbers, but he struggled badly when he got to the majors, slashing just .157/.237/.280 with 7 HR in 41 games. He went on the IL in late July with a left hamstring strain, then came back and raked during his rehab stint (.385 with 5 HR in 16 games at Triple-A). His raw power is elite and exit velocities are solid, but he needs better plate discipline and a defined defensive position to stick as an everyday player.

4. Nolan McLean (Mets) | $218 | 2023 Bowman Draft

McLean absolutely dominated in 2025, posting a 2.45 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A with 127 strikeouts in 113.2 innings before getting called up in mid-August. He made an immediate impact in the majors, going 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 48 innings, showing a rare combo of high strikeout rates (30%) and ground balls (60%+). Since 2026 will be his first full year in the majors, the big question is whether he can handle 150+ innings and keep lefties from exploiting him.

5. Bubba Chandler (Pirates) | $196 | 2021 Bowman Draft

Chandler had a tale of two seasons in 2025, dominating early at Triple-A (2.03 ERA through his first 11 starts) before struggling badly from June on, finishing with a 4.05 ERA and 53 walks. He got called up in late August and was solid in seven MLB appearances (4-1, 4.02 ERA, 31 strikeouts in 31.1 innings), including five perfect innings against Washington. The fastball is legit, sitting 98-101 mph and touching triple digits, and he led the International League with 121 strikeouts, but the command and control issues are real.

6. Cam Schlittler (Yankees) | $181 | 2025 Bowman Chrome

Schlittler debuted in July 2025 and posted a nice 2.96 ERA over 14 starts with a fastball that averaged 98 mph and held hitters to a .178 average. He looked great in the Wild Card round (8 shutout innings vs. Boston), but his overall postseason was more mixed, including a rough ALDS start against Toronto. His biggest issue is pitch mix; he leans way too heavily on the fastball (55% usage), and his breaking stuff hasn’t caught up. The Yankees will likely keep him in the rotation to start 2026, but he needs to develop an off-speed pitch and improve command of his breaking balls to avoid becoming too predictable against good lineups.

7. Samuel Basallo (Orioles) | $142 | 2023 Bowman Chrome

Basallo crushed Triple-A in 2025 (.270/.377/.589 with 23 HR in 76 games) and got called up in mid-August, but he struggled at the plate in the majors (.165 with 4 HR in 31 games). He made some noise with a walk-off homer against the Dodgers and became the youngest catcher in Orioles history to go deep. His defensive tools are mixed (elite power and arm strength, but shaky receiving and blocking), so the Orioles might manage his workload by rotating him between C, DH, and 1B. If he can make adjustments against MLB breaking balls, the raw power gives him middle-of-the-order upside.

8. Dylan Beavers (Orioles) | $135 | 2022 Bowman Draft

Beavers won the International League MVP in 2025 after slashing .304/.420/.515 with 18 HR and 23 SB at Triple-A, showing excellent plate discipline (68 BB, 76 K). He got called up in mid-August and flashed promise (.240/.383/.423 with 4 HR in 33 games), though he faded badly in September (going 5-for-43 with 14 K over his final 12 games). The power-speed combo and plate discipline are legit tools, and he can play all three outfield spots. He keeps rookie eligibility for 2026 and could be a Rookie of the Year candidate if he stays healthy and builds on the late-season experience.

9. Chase Burns (Reds) | $84 | 2024 Bowman Draft

Burns dominated at Double-A in 2025 (6-1, 1.29 ERA, nearly 12 K/9 over 42 IP) and got the call to the majors in late June, where he showed electric stuff but struggled with results (0-3, 4.57 ERA in 8 starts). He struck out the first five batters he faced in his MLB debut and finished with 67 strikeouts in 43.1 IP. The fastball-slider combo is legit, and he had great control in the minors, but MLB hitters adjusted to his patterns, and he gave up too many walks and mistakes over the heart of the plate.

10. Colson Montgomery (White Sox) | $83 | 2022 Bowman

Montgomery had a wild 2025, struggling badly in Triple-A early (.149 average through his first 103 PA), getting reset in Arizona, bouncing back briefly, then slumping again before finally getting called up in July. He made an immediate impact in the majors, hitting .239 with 21 HR and 55 RBI in 71 games, and finished 5th in AL Rookie of the Year voting. The power is undeniable (21 HR in 71 games), and he has the tools to stick at shortstop despite being 6’3″ and 225 pounds.

11. Jonah Tong (Mets) | $80 | 2025 Bowman

Tong absolutely dominated the minors in 2025 with a 1.43 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 113.2 innings across Double-A and Triple-A, posting the best K/BB% in full-season minor league ball at 29.9%. He got called up in August but struggled in five starts (7.71 ERA, though his 3.96 xFIP suggests he was unlucky), showing that his stuff can still miss bats but his command needs work. His fastball sits mid-to-upper 90s with elite vertical break, and his changeup is a legit weapon, but he leans too heavily on the heater, and his slider needs development.

12. Owen Caissie (Marlins) | $68 | 2020 Bowman Draft

Caissie crushed Triple-A in 2025 (.286/.386/.551 with 22 homers and a .937 OPS) before getting called up to the Cubs in August, where he hit just .192 in limited action across 12 games. In January 2026, he got traded from the Cubs to the Marlins in the Edward Cabrera deal, which changes his path to the majors and could give him more playing time opportunities. The power is real and his plate discipline improved down the stretch in the minors, but he needs to prove he can make consistent contact against big-league pitching and stay healthy. His strikeout rate is still high, and 2026 will be about whether he can translate his Triple-A dominance into MLB success with his new organization.

13. Payton Tolle (Red Sox) | $60 | 2024 Bowman Draft

Tolle had a strong 2025 in the minors, posting a 3.04 ERA with 133 strikeouts in 91.2 innings across High-A and Double-A before getting called up in late August. He made his MLB debut against the Pirates and looked good (5.1 IP, 8 K, fastball near 99 mph), but finished with a 6.06 ERA in 7 games (3 starts) as MLB hitters adjusted. The big lefty (6’6″, 250 lbs) stayed healthy all year with no reported injuries, which is encouraging given his size and workload. His fastball sits 95-98 mph and touches higher, and he has a slider, changeup, and curve/sweeper to work with, though the changeup is seldom used and his command in the majors was shaky.

14. Kyle Teel (White Sox) | $44 | 2024 Bowman

Teel earned White Sox Minor League Player of the Month in May 2025 after hitting .333/.444/.613 at Triple-A, then got called up in early June and posted a solid .273/.375/.411 line with 8 HR and 35 RBI in 78 MLB games. He showed excellent plate discipline (high walk rates) and good defensive tools behind the plate, including a strong arm and solid blocking and framing. The power is decent but not elite, so developing more pop will be key to raising his ceiling.

15. Carson Williams (Rays) | $43 | 2021 Bowman Draft

Williams is the best defensive prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline (70 grades for both glove and arm), but his bat is still a major work in progress after hitting .213/.318/.447 with 23 HR at Triple-A in 2025. He got called up in August when Ha-Seong Kim went on the IL and struggled badly (.172 average with a 41-42% strikeout rate in roughly 100 plate appearances), though he did hit 5 HR. The strikeout issues are real and got worse as he moved up levels (35% K rate at Triple-A), and his contact problems against breaking balls are a major concern. If he can cut down the strikeouts and improve his pitch recognition in 2026, he has 20/20 potential.

16. Cole Young (Mariners) | $34 | 2022 Bowman Draft

Young crushed Triple-A in May 2025 (.366/.467/.673) and earned a promotion to the majors, but he hit just .211 with 4 HR in 77 games before losing playing time in September. The plate discipline is legit (strong walk rates, low strikeouts in the minors) and he has speed (23 steals at Double-A in 2024), but the power hasn’t translated to the majors yet. He can play both second base and shortstop, which helps his versatility.

17. Jakob Marsee (Marlins) | $32 | 2022 Bowman Draft

Marsee won NL Rookie of the Month in August 2025 after slashing .352/.430/.629 with 4 HR and 9 SB following his debut on August 1, though he faded in September (.231/.292/.327). Before his call-up, he hit .246/.379/.438 at Triple-A with 14 HR and 47 SB in 98 games, showing elite plate discipline and speed. His strengths are his elite eye at the plate (he walks more than he strikes out at times), plus speed, and solid center field defense, but his power ceiling is limited by lower exit velocities.

18. Brice Matthews (Astros) | $30 | 2024 Bowman

Matthews put up big numbers at Triple-A in 2025 (.260/.371/.458 with 17 HR and 41 SB), then got called up in July and hit just .167/.222/.452 with 4 HR in 42 AB. The power-speed combo is real, and he has positional versatility since he can play second base and center field. The strikeout rate balloons as he moves up levels, and his .167 average in the majors shows he needs to make better contact and improve his plate approach against big-league pitching.

19. Jhostynxon Garcia (Pirates) | $30 | 2025 Bowman

Garcia posted solid numbers at Triple-A in 2025 (.271 average, .498 slugging, 18 HR in 88 games) and made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in late August, though he went just 1-for-7 in 5 games. After the season, he got traded to the Pirates in the Johan Oviedo deal. The power potential is clearly there (21 total HR across Double-A and Triple-A), and he can play all three outfield spots, but his strikeout rate is a problem at around 30%.

20. Alex Freeland (Dodgers) | $29 | 2022 Bowman Draft

Freeland hit .263/.384/.451 with 16 HR and 18 SB at Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2025 (115 wRC+), then struggled in his MLB debut with a .190 average and 36% strikeout rate in 29 games. As a switch-hitter, he is much stronger from the left side against righties, and his plate discipline (high walk rates) is a real strength.