Ten Terrific CGC-certified Cards of New Bronx Bomber Juan Soto

The 2023-24 MLB offseason was full of surprises, as several elite players were on the move and changing ball clubs. Of course, 2023 AL MVP Shohei Ohtani stole headlines with his move across town from the Los Angeles Angels to the Dodgers. But in any other offseason, the New York Yankees' trade for San Diego Padres star Juan Soto would've been the offseason's most-talked-about acquisition.

The Dominican-born outfielder already looks right at home in the Bronx through his first 11 games, batting above .350, with two homers, 15 hits and 10 RBIs to date. For many, it takes time to adjust to the bright lights of New York City. Pressure from the media and constant high expectations from Yankees fans can take getting used to. However, Soto already looks like a veteran who has played in the famous pinstripes for years. Looking back at the 25-year-old's already prolific individual career, his early NYC success shouldn't come as a shock.

In 2015, Soto signed with the Washington Nationals as an international free agent at only 17 years old. A few years later, in 2018, he made his MLB debut and hasn't looked back. Soto would go on to earn runner-up for the NL Rookie of the Year Award. In 2019, in only his second season, the young outfielder was a key component in the Nationals' first World Series championship. His impressive playoff run also earned him the Babe Ruth Award, which is given to the player with the best postseason performance.

In 2020, Soto's .351 batting average earned him the NL batting title. He also won the Silver Slugger Award that season, the first of four straight Silver Slugger honors. Soto is a three-time All-Star (2021-2023) and two-time All-MLB First Team selection (2020, 2021). At only 25 years old, he has plenty of time to keep adding to his trophy cabinet. Now in New York, the young superstar will try to help the franchise earn its 28th World Series championship in the Bronx.

Ten Terrific Juan Soto Cards

2018 Topps Chrome Update #HMT55 Juan Soto

No modern rookie card collection is complete without a rookie issue from the popular Topps Chrome set. The 2018 Topps Chrome Update #HMT55 is one of the earliest Topps Chrome cards of Soto's pro career, dating to his debut with the Washington Nationals. While not a super rare card, it's a staple of the young All-Star's rookie cards, and is worth hundreds of dollars in higher grades.

2018 Panini Immaculate Collection Jumbo Patch #IJ-JS Juan Soto

This gem is a rookie relic card from Panini's high-end Immaculate Collection that features a huge player-used jersey patch from Soto's debut MLB season. The jumbo patch covers the majority of the card, making this an attractive option for collectors who seek out cards embedded with player-used materials. Numbered to only 99 ever made, this is one of the rarer cards on our list.

2019 Donruss Nicknames #N5 Juan Soto - Pink Fireworks

One of the most unique cards on the list, the 2019 Donruss Nicknames #N5 pays tribute to Soto's nickname, Childish Bambino. Making his MLB debut as a teenager, the moniker comes from a combination of famous nicknames: New York Yankees legend Babe Ruth's nickname, The Great Bambino, and actor/musician Donald Glover's stage name, Childish Gambino. With a colorful fireworks design on foil cardstock, this might be one of Soto's most fun and eye-catching cards from his first couple of seasons.

2019 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-JSO Juan Soto

The first autographed card just happens to be the first with a vintage design as well. Known for its retro style and revisiting card designs of the past, the 2019 Topps Heritage set paid homage to the 1970 Topps baseball series. Utilizing the same thick gray border as the 1970 set, the 2019 Topps Heritage #ROA-JSO features an image of a young Soto in the dugout, with the Topps 2018 All-Star Rookie trophy logo at the bottom right corner acknowledging his stellar first season in the league. Add an on-card signature in blue ink and this is an exciting insert from Soto's sophomore season.

2019 Topps Finest Autographs #FA-JS Juan Soto

Topps Finest has been a premium set since the 1990s, often utilizing thicker cardstock and foil across the entire card. The 2019 Finest series included a simple design and background, allowing the player image to stand out. Among a 65-card autographed insert series, the #FA-JS Juan Soto card features a beautiful on-card signature in blue ink, which showcases the outfielder's full name below his image.

2019 Panini Flawless Quad Patch Signatures #QPS-JS Juan Soto - Gold

One of the rarest cards on the list, this 2019 Panini Flawless Quad Patch Signatures #QPS-JS in the gold parallel is limited to only five examples ever created. Known for their high-end memorabilia and signature cards, Panini's Flawless sets never disappoint. As the Quad Patch Signatures name suggests, the Soto card features four cuts of his player-worn jersey patches and another full name signature in blue ink. With only a small image of the All-Star at bat on the left of the card, the quadruple jersey patch and autograph are the focal point of this rarity.

2021 Panini Contenders #72 Juan Soto - Championship Ticket

Panini Contenders cards have become a go-to set thanks to their facsimile game ticket designs, which have become popular with collectors. Their extensive insert and parallel checklists include a variety of options for collectors, but few are as coveted as this "One of One" Championship Ticket example. With only one ever made, this Championship Ticket foil card of a young Soto is unsurpassed in rarity on our list.

2021 Topps Allen & Ginter Chrome Autographs #AGA-JS Juan Soto - Orange Refractor

Topps' Allen & Ginter set has been a huge hit the last couple of decades ever since the card brand revived the vintage series that dates back to its first release in 1887. Allen & Ginter is a fun throwback set that mixes old and new school, which is evident on this impressive Juan Soto insert. Featuring a filigreed background border on the front and vintage advertising on the back that replicates the old series, the card also includes modern features like a thick foiled cardstock, bright colors and high-res imagery. Add an on-card autograph from Soto and a limited run of only 25 ever made, and you've got another gem from the outfielder's time with the Washington Nationals.

2021 Topps '86 Silver Pack Autographs #86TC-73 Juan Soto

In 2021, the flagship Topps set celebrated the 35th anniversary of the popular 1986 Topps set. Updating the new series for the 21st century, Topps included stellar chromium versions of the older 1986 card designs that are bursting with shiny, reflective details like this '86 Silver Pack Autographs card of Juan Soto. The Topps Chrome version features an all-over geometrical chromium background within the 1986 Topps design. A 35th anniversary logo sits at the top right and another full-name signature from Soto in blue ink sits at the bottom of his image, making this a highly coveted card from the flagship Topps series of that season.

2022 Topps Home Field Advantage #HA-4 Juan Soto

Another fun and unique offering is the Home Field Advantage case-hit insert series by Topps. This playful series showcases foiled cards with backgrounds based on a team's city, in the form of a collage of landmarks and local symbols. In the case of Juan Soto in 2022, he still played for the Washington Nationals. Therefore, his Home Field Advantage card included several landmarks from our nation's capital: the US Capitol building, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial (with a Nats hat atop Lincoln's head). The playful inserts are highly sought after by collectors and are a great tie-in to MLB fans' favorite team's respective cities.

Related Link:

• CGC Cards Registry: Juan Soto Player Sets