Published June 25, 2026
The 2026 MLB season is approaching its halfway point, providing enough information to identify its strongest performers while leaving time for award races and card markets to change.
Wins Above Replacement, commonly known as WAR, estimates how many wins a player contributes compared with a readily available replacement. For position players, it considers hitting, baserunning, defense and positional value. Pitcher WAR measures value differently, but the goal remains the same: placing total contribution into one number.
WAR can tell us who is helping teams win. It cannot tell us how collectors will value them.
Card prices are also influenced by age, position, prospect pedigree, team, scarcity, popularity, power production and market momentum. Pitchers and catchers frequently receive less hobby attention than comparably productive position players, while young hitters can command significant prices before producing at the major-league level.
Using FanGraphs WAR as the foundation, we examined the top 10 players through June 24 and identified the key Bowman card connected to each player. In most cases, that card is the Chrome version of the player’s 1st Bowman. Several players require exceptions, which also demonstrates why comparing performance with card values is not always straightforward.
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
Ohtani leads baseball with 5.4 FanGraphs WAR, combining 2.9 WAR as a hitter with 2.5 as a pitcher. He is batting .293 with a .414 on-base percentage, .549 slugging percentage, 17 home runs and a .963 OPS. On the mound, he is 7-2 with a 1.47 ERA and 78 strikeouts across 73.2 innings.
No other player can match his combined impact. Ohtani is not simply leading the WAR standings. He is accumulating value through two jobs that are normally assigned to separate roster spots.
Key Bowman card: 2018 Bowman #49 rookie card
Ohtani does not have a conventional MLB 1st Bowman prospect card comparable to most younger American prospects. The 2018 Bowman #49 has instead become his primary Bowman rookie and one of his most recognizable graded cards.
The 2018 Bowman Shohei Ohtani #49 has a PSA 10 population of 14,563, making it widely available by modern rookie-card standards. Even with that supply, 471 copies sold over the past three months at a median price of $523.33, while the most recent sale reached $730 on June 24. Pricing accelerated sharply from late May into June, suggesting that Ohtani’s two-way dominance has kept demand strong.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs
Crow-Armstrong ranks second with 4.8 WAR. He is batting .287 with an .891 OPS, 17 home runs and 18 stolen bases while continuing to provide excellent defense in center field.
That combination makes him one of baseball’s most complete position players. His speed and defense created a valuable floor, but his offensive improvement has elevated him into a different category.
Key Bowman card: 2020 Bowman Draft Chrome #BD-72 1st Bowman
The 2020 Bowman Draft Chrome Pete Crow-Armstrong 1st Bowman has a PSA population of 1,432, including 916 PSA 10 copies. Over the past three months, 60 PSA 10 examples sold at a median price of $60.78, while the most recent sale reached $85 on June 24. The card remains relatively affordable despite Crow-Armstrong’s breakout season, but its recent upward movement suggests that collectors are beginning to respond to his combination of power, speed and elite defense.
Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
Witt has generated 4.4 WAR while batting .294 with a .368 on-base percentage, 10 home runs, 28 stolen bases and an .833 OPS. His power numbers are below his recent standards, but his speed, defense and overall consistency continue to make him one of the American League’s most valuable players.
His season also illustrates why WAR can differ from traditional offensive rankings. Witt does not need to lead the league in home runs or OPS to create substantial value.
Key Bowman card: 2020 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP-25 1st Bowman
The 2020 Bowman Chrome Prospects Bobby Witt Jr. 1st Bowman has a total PSA population of 10,751, including 3,197 PSA 10 copies. Over the past three months, 73 PSA 10 examples sold at a median price of $125, while the most recent sale reached $150 on June 23. The card remains highly liquid, and its steady pricing suggests that Witt’s continued all-around production is supporting an established market rather than creating a sudden breakout.
Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee Brewers
Misiorowski has been the most dominant qualified pitcher in baseball. He owns a 1.45 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 138 strikeouts across 93 innings while holding opponents to a .146 batting average. His 4.2 WAR gives him the strongest current case for the National League Cy Young Award.
Key Bowman card: 2022 Bowman Draft Chrome #BDC-132 1st Bowman
Misiorowski presents an important hobby question. Pitchers can accumulate WAR quickly and directly influence winning, but their cards generally trail comparably accomplished hitters. Injuries, shorter peaks and pitching volatility often limit demand.
The 2022 Bowman Draft Chrome Jacob Misiorowski 1st Bowman has a total PSA population of 337, including just 114 PSA 10 copies. Over the past three months, 24 PSA 10 examples sold at a median price of $237.50, while the most recent sale reached $720 on June 17. The sharp gap between the median and latest sale shows how quickly demand can accelerate when a low-population card is tied to one of baseball’s most dominant young pitchers.
Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros
Alvarez has been baseball’s best pure hitter through the first half. He is batting .323 with a .436 on-base percentage, .636 slugging percentage, 25 home runs, 56 RBIs and a 1.072 OPS.
His 3.8 WAR trails several more versatile players because he creates most of his value at the plate. That distinction makes him especially relevant to this comparison. The card market often rewards elite offense more heavily than defense, even when WAR does not.
Key Bowman card: 2018 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autograph #CPA-YA 1st Bowman
Alvarez does not have a corresponding base 1st Bowman Chrome prospect card from the release. His key 1st Bowman is the autographed version, which makes a direct price comparison with non-autographed base cards imperfect.
The 2018 Bowman Chrome Prospects Autograph Yordan Alvarez 1st Bowman has a total PSA population of 477, including 264 PSA 10 copies. Over the past three months, 22 PSA 10 examples sold at a median price of $700, while the most recent sale reached $800 on June 14. The card’s limited population, on-card autograph and strong sales activity give Alvarez a more premium Bowman market than most players on this list.
Cristopher Sánchez, Philadelphia Phillies
Sánchez has recorded a 1.80 ERA with 121 strikeouts, only 20 walks and seven home runs allowed across 105 innings. His 3.8 WAR places him among baseball’s most valuable pitchers and gives him a legitimate place in the National League Cy Young race.
Key rookie card: 2022 Panini Prizm Rookie Autograph #RA-SZ
Sánchez is the largest exception in this group because he did not receive a conventional 1st Bowman prospect card or a Bowman card carrying the rookie designation. His 2026 Bowman #55 is his first standard Bowman-branded base card, but it is a veteran issue rather than a rookie or 1st Bowman.
Without an established 1st Bowman, his 2022 Panini Prizm Rookie Autograph #RA-SZ provides the most relevant graded rookie-card comparison. It has a total PSA population of just eight, including only two PSA 10 copies. One PSA 10 example sold over the past three months for $275.50 on May 17.
The card’s extreme scarcity makes it difficult to establish a reliable market price. It also illustrates how strong performance cannot meaningfully influence a card market when so few graded examples and completed sales exist.
Dillon Dingler, Detroit Tigers
Dingler may be the biggest surprise among the top 10. The catcher has produced 3.8 WAR with an .884 OPS, 18 home runs and 56 RBIs.
Strong offensive production carries additional value at catcher, where teams generally receive less offense than they do from first base, the outfield or designated hitter. Dingler’s defensive responsibilities and positional scarcity help explain why his WAR exceeds what the batting line alone might suggest.
Key Bowman card: 2020 Bowman Draft Chrome #BD-144 1st Bowman
The 2020 Bowman Draft Chrome Dillon Dingler 1st Bowman #BD-144 has a total PSA population of 41, including just 17 PSA 10 copies. Two PSA 10 examples sold over the past three months at a median price of $24.74, while the most recent sale reached $24.50 on June 24.
Despite Dingler’s breakout season, the card remains inexpensive and lightly traded. The limited sales volume makes it difficult to establish a reliable market trend, but the lack of meaningful price movement suggests his on-field production has not yet translated into broader hobby demand.
Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees
Schlittler owns a 1.71 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 109 strikeouts against only 18 walks in 95 innings. His 3.6 WAR and command of the strike zone have placed him at the front of the American League Cy Young discussion.
Key Bowman card: 2025 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP-166 1st Bowman
Schlittler combines several factors that can attract collectors: dominant pitching, a recent 1st Bowman and the visibility that comes with playing for the Yankees. At the same time, he remains subject to the hobby’s general hesitation toward pitchers.
The 2025 Bowman Chrome Prospects Cam Schlittler 1st Bowman #BCP-166 has a total PSA population of 431, including 229 PSA 10 copies. Over the past three months, 76 PSA 10 examples sold at a median price of $181.25, while the most recent sale reached $170 on June 23.
The card has developed a relatively active market, suggesting collectors are already responding to Schlittler’s emergence as one of the American League’s top young pitchers.
Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks
Carroll has accumulated 3.6 WAR with a .282/.368/.542 batting line, .910 OPS, 13 home runs, nine triples and nine stolen bases.
He is creating value through power, speed, defense and extra-base production rather than relying on one category. After already establishing himself as a star, Carroll’s 2026 season represents a return to sustained all-around production.
Key Bowman card: 2019 Bowman Draft Chrome #BDC-125 1st Bowman
Carroll’s card market is more mature than those of Crow-Armstrong, Dingler or Kurtz. He is no longer benefiting from the same prospect-driven excitement that can push prices quickly when a player first reaches the majors, and collectors now have several seasons of performance to consider.
The 2019 Bowman Draft Chrome Corbin Carroll 1st Bowman #BDC-125 has a total PSA population of 2,872, including 1,980 PSA 10 copies. Over the past three months, 46 PSA 10 examples sold at a median price of $40.25, while the most recent sale reached $41 on June 23.
Despite Carroll’s strong all-around season, the card remains affordable and relatively liquid. Its large graded population and the fading novelty of Carroll’s prospect status may be limiting collectors’ appetite, suggesting that production alone has not been enough to create a major pricing surge.
Nick Kurtz, Athletics
Kurtz has firmly established himself as one of baseball’s leading young hitters. He owns a .982 OPS, .434 on-base percentage, 19 home runs and 61 RBIs while producing 3.4 WAR.
His offensive profile is particularly attractive to the hobby. Young power hitters generally receive more collector attention than pitchers, defensive specialists or players whose value comes through less visible areas.
Key Bowman card: 2024 Bowman Draft Chrome #BDC-56 1st Bowman
Kurtz entered professional baseball with substantial prospect interest, so his production is validating an existing market rather than creating one from nothing. Unlike Carroll, who has moved beyond the prospect-driven stage of his career, Kurtz still benefits from the excitement surrounding a young player establishing himself in the majors.
The 2024 Bowman Draft Chrome Nick Kurtz 1st Bowman #BDC-56 has a total PSA population of 1,613, including 638 PSA 10 copies. Over the past three months, 96 PSA 10 examples sold at a median price of $100, while the most recent sale reached $115.77 on June 24.
The card combines strong sales numbers with a manageable graded population. Its higher price and greater sales volume than Carroll’s card show how collectors are placing a premium on Kurtz’s youth, power potential and remaining upside.
Other hitters worth monitoring
Several hitters narrowly missed the top 10 in WAR while producing numbers that may attract more hobby attention than their overall value suggests.
Ben Rice has supplied elite power and an OPS near .970. Juan Soto carries a .965 OPS despite playing only 61 games. Kyle Schwarber leads baseball with 29 home runs and owns a .959 OPS, although his limited defensive contribution reduces his WAR. James Wood has combined 20 home runs, 13 stolen bases and a .912 OPS while leading MLB with 70 runs.
Wood may be the most relevant card-market name from this group because of his age, prospect pedigree and combination of power and speed.
Awards snapshot through June 24
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani
AL MVP: Yordan Alvarez, narrowly over Bobby Witt Jr.
NL Cy Young: Jacob Misiorowski
AL Cy Young: Cam Schlittler
Best pure hitter: Yordan Alvarez
Best all-around position player: Pete Crow-Armstrong, narrowly over Bobby Witt Jr.
Biggest breakout: Dillon Dingler
What the sales data tells us
WAR identifies total contribution, but the hobby does not price every form of value equally.
The clearest pattern is that collectors continue to favor young hitters with visible offensive upside. Nick Kurtz produced fewer WAR than several players above him, yet his 1st Bowman recorded 96 PSA 10 sales at a $100 median. Pete Crow-Armstrong also attracted steady demand as his combination of power, speed and defense pushed him into baseball’s upper tier.
Established stars operate under a different set of expectations. Bobby Witt Jr.’s card remained liquid and stable, but his continued excellence did not create a sudden pricing surge. Corbin Carroll provides an even sharper example. His card sold for a median of $40.25 despite another strong all-around season, suggesting that collectors no longer view him through the same hot-prospect lens that continues to benefit Kurtz.
Ohtani remains the major exception. His 2018 Bowman rookie carries a PSA 10 population of 14,563, yet 471 copies sold over the past three months at a median price of $523.33. His two-way production and place in baseball history continue to generate enough demand to overcome a level of supply that would limit most modern cards.
Pitchers produced some of the most revealing results. Jacob Misiorowski’s low PSA 10 population helped drive a recent sale to $720, while the wide gap from his $237.50 median reflects how quickly demand can rise when a young pitcher becomes one of the hottest names in the hobby. Cam Schlittler’s card developed stronger liquidity, aided by his dominant performances and Yankees visibility. By contrast, Cristopher Sánchez has performed at a similar level without a recognized 1st Bowman market. Dillon Dingler presents a different disconnect, as his breakout season has produced little card movement despite his position near the top of the WAR rankings.
Yordan Alvarez also requires context because his key 1st Bowman is an on-card autograph rather than a standard base prospect card. Its $700 median reflects both elite offensive production and a more premium card, making it difficult to compare directly with the non-autographed cards on this list.
The overall results show that performance matters, but it rarely acts alone. Age, position, prospect status, team, population and sales volume all shape how quickly the hobby responds. WAR measures the value a player creates on the field. The card market places its own value on youth, visibility, scarcity and the possibility of what may still come next.