Jarred Kelenic Rookie Card Primer
With the beginning of his MLB career under way, the first official Jarred Kelenic Rookie Card shouldn’t be too far behind. But for those not wanting to wait, the super prospect has lots of cards already. As in, well over 1,000 once you factor in parallels, inserts and everything in between at the time of his MLB debut in May, 2021.
Even before he was drafted, there were Jarred Kelenic cards on the market thanks to Panini’s USA Baseball license and Leaf’s partnership with the Perfect Game showcase.
Within a few months of the Mets taking the Milwaukee-born outfielder with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, the floodgates opened. By the end of the year, Topps had MLB cards of Kelenic in multiple Bowman products. Panini and Leaf also featured him in their draft-centric year-end releases.
Right around the same time that these were all coming out, Kelenic was a centerpiece in a blockbuster deal between the Mets and Mariners. With Seattle wanting to rebuild, they sent Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to the Big Apple for a package centered around the toolsy prospect.
When Will the First Jarred Kelenic Rookie Card Arrive
Kelenic’s early cards are considered prospect or minor league cards. As a major leaguer, he’s now eligible to appear in MLB base sets and have traditional RCs.
Historically, players called up in mid May have appeared in late-season releases. That said, 2021 is anything but typical. It’s possible the MLBPA and MLB might decide to hold him back for 2022 sets allowing for a full year of Jarred Kelenic Rookie Cards. At this point, we don’t know.
However, a big tip-off should be coming very shortly. Keep an eye on 2021 Topps Now Baseball. If his inevitable first card in the set has Topps’ Rookie Card logo, it’s a good sign that he will have 2021 RCs. If it says “Call-Up” instead, expect them in 2022. This has been the case with rookies for a few years now.
Jarred Kelenic Prospect Card Highlights
The following is a list of some of the key Jarred Kelenic cards released prior to his major league debut. Some even come from before he was drafted. It’s not a complete list. A comprehensive Jarred Kelenic baseball card checklist is available in the Beckett database.
If you’re looking to collect Jarred Kelenic cards, you can find lots on the Beckett Marketplace.
2017 Bowman Under Armour All-America Autographs Jarred Kelenic #UAA-12
Created and signed in 2017 when Kelenic participated in the showcase for top high school players, it was actually set aside for a year and inserted in 2018 Bowman Draft. The highlight here is the early signature, which has a more detail and personality than those done not long after.
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2017 Leaf Metal Perfect Game All-American Autographs Jarred Kelenic #BA-JK1
Another high school-era signature, this one comes from Leaf’s set covering the Perfect Game showcase. And, yes, that’s an on-card signature. The product has a couple of other Kelenic cards as well, including a patch autograph.
Parallels: Blue Prismatic (/30), Purple Prismatic (/25), Pink Prismatic (/20), Black Prismatic (/15), Blue Etch (/12), Green Prismatic (/10), Purple Etch (/9), Pink Etch (/7), Black Etch (/5), Red Prismatic (/5), Green Etch (/4), Red Etch (/3), Gold Etch (/2), Orange Prismatic (/2), Gold Prismatic (1/1), Orange Etch (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Super Black Etch (1/1), Super Prismatic (1/1), Super White Etch (1/1)
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2017 Panini Contenders USA Baseball 18U Tickets Jarred Kelenic Autograph #USA18-JK
Kelenic has several autographs from his time with the USA Baseball program. However, this one is the first. It isn’t part of 2017 Panini Contenders Draft Picks Baseball, though. Instead, it’s on the 2017 Elite Extra Edition checklist. Of Kelenic’s earliest cards, this appears to be one of the toughest — even the base version.
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2017 Panini Stars & Stripes USA Baseball 18U Signatures Jarred Kelenic #37 /499
Similar to the Bowman Under Armour Autograph, this is another early Jared Kelenic autograph arriving on the scene the following year in packs of 2018 Panini Stars & Stripes USA Baseball. Unlike its Contenders Counterpart, this one comes with an on-card autograph. It’s also serial numbered to 499. That’s a solid amount but not necessarily rare or common by today’s standards.
Kelenic’s similar 2018 version pictures him holding a bat along with a different layout.
For its pair of parallels, rather than using a foil or background change, they’re based on the pen color used for the signature.
Parallels: Red Ink (/10), Green Ink (/5)
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2018 Bowman Chrome Draft Jarred Kelenic #BDC6
Topps managed to squeak out the first MLB Jarred Kelenic cards in December, 2018. 2018 Bowman Draft was the first, including the sixth overall picks on several parts of its checklist.
The Bowman Chrome Draft card is one of his most important. Boasting the popular chromium stock, it’s a key card, particularly to those where the autograph is out of reach.
Although not a traditional Rookie Card, many treat it as one or something very close to it. 1st Bowman Chrome cards have been popular for a long time, but they have jumped a level in recent years, particularly when it comes to top-grade copies.
Parallels: Refractors, Asia Refractors, Sparkle Refractors, Sky Blue Refractors (/402), Purple Refractors (/250), Blue Refractors (/150), Green Refractors (/99), Gold Refractors (/50), Orange Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/5), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Superfractors (1/1)
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2018 Bowman Chrome Draft Autographs Jarred Kelenic #CDA-JK
Some are going to wonder what the best Jarred Kelenic card is. You’re going to get numerous answers depending on who you ask, but his 2018 Bowman Chrome Draft Autograph is likely to be the consensus number one.
Like its unsigned counterpart, this one has that “1st Bowman Chrome” aspect, only with the elevated status due to the signature. Think of it as the leather interior option when you get a new car or a TV that’s a couple sizes bigger than you originally planned.
But, similar to any upgrade, it comes with a price. Kelenic has been one of the most coveted players in 2018 Bowman Draft since the set’s release. But values jumped significantly through his progression through the minors.
No matter how Kelenic’s career plays out, this will be one of his benchmark cards that others will be measured against.
Parallels: Refractors (/499), Purple Refractors (/250), Blue Refractors (/150), Blue Wave Refractors (/150), Green Refractors (/99), Black Refractors (/75), Sparkle Refractors (/71), Gold Refractors (/50), Gold Wave Refractors (/50), Orange Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/5), Red Wave Refractors (/5), Black Wave Refractors (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Superfractors (1/1)
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2018 Bowman Chrome Draft Image Variations Jarred Kelenic #BDC6 (gray jersey)
For those looking to go deep into Kelenic’s early MLB cards, his 2018 Bowman Chrome Draft card has a tough image variation. Done on Refractor stock, there are 14 in the set with one landing every 196 hobby jumbo packs and 1:53 super jumbo packs.
There are a few differences, but the easiest to remember are the jersey color (gray for the variation, blue on the regular card) and what the prospect is doing (variation – throwing, regular card – batting).
An autographed version also exists that’s numbered to 99.
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2018 Bowman Draft Jarred Kelenic #BD6
The little brother of the 2018 Bowman Draft trilogy, values on this one lags behind Bowman Chrome and beyond the rearview mirror of the autograph. But it’s also the most traditional of the three, done on basic glossy stock. That lower price tag also makes for an easier entry point for some collectors as well.
Parallels: Sky Blue (/499), Purple (/250), Blue (/150), Green (/99), Gold (/50), Orange (/25), Red (/5), Black (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
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2018 Bowman Sterling Refractors Jarred Kelenic #BS-JK
Bowman Sterling spent several years as being the bulk autograph brand in the Bowman portfolio. Then it spent as couple of years as a premium-style insert, which is where this one stands. The 2018 Bowman Sterling Refractors Jarred Kelenic is found in Bowman Draft packs, although the larger set spreads across several products.
In addition to the base insert and its four parallels, there’s an autograph version has 99 copies plus parallels numbered to 25 (Orange), 5 (Red) and 1/1 (Superfractor)
Parallels: Atomic Refractors (/150), Orange Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/5), Superfractors (1/1)
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2018 Bowman’s Best Best of 2018 Autographs Jarred Kelenic #B18-JKE
Got an itch for an first-year MLB Jarred Kelenic autograph card but don’t want to spend Bowman Chrome dollars? Enter Bowman’s Best. It’s got him in a Mets uniform, the signature is on-card, it’s on chromium stock and it’s a fraction of the cost.
The big difference is that Bowman’s Best doesn’t carry the same widespread weight that Chrome does. If you said it’s overlooked, you probably wouldn’t be wrong.
Parallels: Refractors, Green Refractors (/99), Gold Refractors (/50), Atomic Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/10), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Superfractors (1/1)
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2018 Bowman’s Best Top Prospects Jarred Kelenic #TP-15
Compared to his Bowman Chrome Draft card, this one’s a lot more colorful and abstract. The design is certainly a more modern one. It remains on the affordable side, coming in closer to regular Bowman levels despite the upgrade in card stock.
Parallels: Refractors, Atomic Refractors, Purple Refractors (/250), Blue Refractors (/150), Green Refractors (/99), Gold Refractors (/50), Orange Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/10), Superfractors (1/1)
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2018 Elite Extra Edition Autographs Jarred Kelenic #6
Hailing from one of Panini’s prospect-driven baseball releases, Elite Extra Edition brings with it a long history. For those looking strictly for an early autograph card of Kelenic’s, it’s a more affordable alternative to his different 2018 Bowman cards.
And while it has several parallels, all are tough numbered to no more than 25 copies each.
Parallels: Aspirations Purple (/25), Aspirations Blue (/15), Emerald (/15), Status Die-Cut Red (/15), Aspirations Tie-Dye (/10), Status Die-Cut Emerald (/10), Tie-Dye (/10), Status Die-Cut Tie-Dye (/5), Aspirations Gold (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Status Die-Cut Gold (1/1)
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2018 Leaf Metal Draft Jarred Kelenic Autograph#BA-JK2
Metal Draft is Leaf’s answer to Bowman Chrome. Keeping design elements to a minimum, it leaves more room for bright rainbow pops in the background. The on-card signature is another plus. 2018 Leaf Metal Draft also has a couple of additional insert autographs. All, including the base, deliver limited print runs and a parallel rainbow.
Leaf put out several 2018 products with Kelenic’s autograph besides Metal Draft including Flash, Ultimate Draft and Trinity, which has a traditional autograph, patch autograph and acetate autograph on the checklist.
Parallels: Silver Wave, Blue (/35), Purple (/25), Blue Wave (/20), Pink (/20), Black (/15), Purple Wave (/15), Green (/10), Pink Wave (/10), Black Wave (/7), Orange (/7), Green Wave (/5), Red (/5), Orange Wave (/3), Red Wave (/2), Gold (1/1), Gold Super (1/1), Gold Wave (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
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2018 Panini Contenders Draft Picks Draft Ticket Autographs Jarred Kelenic #15
A follow-up to his 2017 Contenders USA Baseball card, this Jarred Kelenic features him as a pro. In standard Contenders fashion, there’s the ticket theme integrated into the design.
A variation version shows the outfielder running.
Parallels: Prospect (/99), Cracked Ice (/23), Playoff (/15), Championship (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
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2019 Bowman Chrome Prime Chrome Autographs Jarred Kelenic #PCS-JK
Sure, a tough Jarred Kelenic autograph from early in his pro career carries some clout. However, this one’s all about the inscription. Should the Mariners go on to actually win the 2022 World Series, expect this one to make headlines for its Nostradamus qualities, similar to the 2014 issue of Sports Illustrated predicting Houston’s 2017 championship.
Parallels: Orange Refractors (/25), Superfractors (1/1)
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