2026 Topps Series 2 releases on June 10 and features several highly anticipated rookie cards, including JJ Wetherholt, Kevin McGonigle, Bryce Eldridge, Justin Crawford, Carson Benge, and Munetaka Murakami. The release also includes four rookie short prints that should rank among the biggest chase cards in the product.
Below, we’ll break down the best rookie cards to chase, the four rookie short prints and other notable rookies found in 2026 Topps Series 2.
Update (June 10): 2026 Topps Series 2 is now available! Early collector interest appears to be centered around SP rookies JJ Wetherholt, Kevin McGonigle, Justin Crawford and Carson Benge, along with base rookie cards of Bryce Eldridge and Munetaka Murakami.
Best Rookie Cards to Chase in 2026 Topps Series 2
Tier 1
The headliners of the 2026 Topps Series 2 rookie class, featuring four short-print rookies and several of the hobby’s most anticipated debuts.
- Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers (SP RC)
- JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis Cardinals (SP RC)
- Justin Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies (SP RC)
- Carson Benge, New York Mets (SP RC)
- Munetaka Murakami, Chicago White Sox RC
- Bryce Eldridge, San Francisco Giants RC
Tier 2
Strong prospect and international plays that could outperform expectations as their careers develop.
- Sal Stewart, Cincinnati Reds RC
- Harry Ford, Washington Nationals RC
- Chase DeLauter, Cleveland Guardians RC
- Kazuma Okamoto, Toronto Blue Jays RC
- Carter Jensen, Kansas City Royals RC
- Brandon Sproat, Milwaukee Brewers RC
Tier 3
Sleeper rookie cards for collectors looking beyond the biggest names in the checklist.
- Trey Yesavage, Toronto Blue Jays RC
- George Valera, Cleveland Guardians RC
- Hunter Barco, Pittsburgh Pirates RC
- Tatsuya Imai, Houston Astros RC
- Rafael Flores, Pittsburgh Pirates RC
- Connelly Early, Boston Red Sox RC
2026 Topps Series 2 Short Print Rookie Cards
The biggest rookie chase cards in 2026 Topps Series 2 could be the four rookie short prints. Rather than appearing as standard base cards, these rookies replace the final four cards in the base set checklist. Cards #697-700 are Bryan Reynolds, Andre Pallante, Jared Young and Freddie Freeman in the standard set, while the short-print versions feature Kevin McGonigle, JJ Wetherholt, Carson Benge and Justin Crawford.
| SP Card # | Rookie | Team | Replaces |
|---|---|---|---|
| 697 | Kevin McGonigle | Detroit Tigers | Bryan Reynolds, Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 698 | JJ Wetherholt | St. Louis Cardinals | Andre Pallante, St. Louis Cardinals |
| 699 | Carson Benge | New York Mets | Jared Young, New York Mets |
| 700 | Justin Crawford | Philadelphia Phillies | Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers |
Other Rookie Cards in 2026 Topps Series 2
While the players above represent the top rookie cards to chase in 2026 Topps Series 2, several other prospects and rookies are included in the release.
- Brian Van Belle, Tampa Bay Rays RC
- Nick Raquet, St. Louis Cardinals RC
- Luis Curvelo, Texas Rangers RC
- Drew Sommers, Detroit Tigers RC
- Eduarniel Núñez, Athletics RC
- PJ Poulin, Washington Nationals RC
- Hayden Harris, Atlanta Braves RC
- Denzer Guzman, Los Angeles Angels RC
- Justin Dean, Chicago Cubs RC
- Jonathan Pintaro, New York Mets RC
- Joel Peguero, San Francisco Giants RC
- Jake Palisch, Chicago White Sox RC
- Philip Abner, Arizona Diamondbacks RC
- Jayvien Sandridge, Los Angeles Angels RC
- Andrew Alvarez, Washington Nationals RC
- Alejandro Carrillo, New York Mets RC
- Jack Little, Detroit Tigers RC
- Rolddy Muñoz, Atlanta Braves RC
- Alan Rangel, Philadelphia Phillies RC
- Heriberto Hernández, Miami Marlins RC
- Josh Simpson, Miami Marlins RC
- Chase Meidroth, Chicago White Sox RC
- McCade Brown, Colorado Rockies RC
- Liam Hicks, Miami Marlins RC
- Cody Laweryson, Minnesota Twins RC
- Mitch Farris, Los Angeles Angels RC
- Paul Gervase, Los Angeles Dodgers RC
- Christian Montes De Oca, Arizona Diamondbacks RC
- Jayden Murray, Houston Astros RC
- Jose Corniell, Texas Rangers RC
- Nolan Hoffman, Philadelphia Phillies RC
- Petey Halpin, Cleveland Guardians RC
- Andre Granillo, Washington Nationals RC
- Cam Sanders, Pittsburgh Pirates RC
- Dugan Darnell, Detroit Tigers RC
- Blas Castaño, Seattle Mariners RC
- Andrew Hoffmann, Arizona Diamondbacks RC
- Zach Cole, Houston Astros RC
- Jack Winkler, Houston Astros RC
2026 Topps Series 2 Rookie Card FAQ
What are the best rookie cards in 2026 Topps Series 2?
The top rookie cards to chase in 2026 Topps Series 2 are Kevin McGonigle, JJ Wetherholt, Bryce Eldridge, Justin Crawford, Carson Benge and Munetaka Murakami.
Which rookie cards are short prints in 2026 Topps Series 2?
The four rookie short prints are Kevin McGonigle, JJ Wetherholt, Carson Benge and Justin Crawford.
Which rookies should collectors chase in 2026 Topps Series 2?
Collectors should focus on Kevin McGonigle, JJ Wetherholt, Bryce Eldridge, Munetaka Murakami, Justin Crawford, Carson Benge, Harry Ford, Chase DeLauter and Sal Stewart among the top rookie cards in the release.
Is Konnor Griffin in 2026 Topps Series 2?
No. Griffin does not have a rookie card in 2026 Topps Series 2 and is not part of the base checklist. Collectors looking for Griffin cards will need to turn to other products, including Bowman releases.
Is Bryce Eldridge in 2026 Topps Series 2?
Yes. Eldridge receives a rookie card in 2026 Topps Series 2 and is one of the top rookie cards in the release.
Is Harry Ford in 2026 Topps Series 2?
Yes. Ford receives a rookie card in 2026 Topps Series 2 and is one of the top prospect rookie cards in the release.
Is Munetaka Murakami a rookie card in 2026 Topps Series 2?
Yes. Murakami’s 2026 Topps Series 2 card carries the RC designation and is expected to be one of the most sought-after cards in the set.
