It's been a while since I remember a set being as hyped up as the 2024 Topps Chrome Update baseball set.
And it has everything to do with the rookie class...
Paul Skenes, Jackson Chourio, Jackson Merrill and Jackson Holliday headline a freshman class that's as good as any in recent memory.
Time will tell how far these guys go but, for now, their base rookie cards are must-haves.
And any collector lucky enough to pull a parallel or autographed version will have something even more special to hang onto.
Specifically, their Rookie Debut Patch Autographs could bring life-changing money in some cases.
Over 250 players will have a one-of-one autographed card that features the "Debut Patch" from their jersey sleeve from their first MLB appearance.
The hobby reaction to the Rookie Debut Patch Autos has been incredible, building even more excitement around an already strong set.
And in this guide, we'll take a look at the 15 most valuable.
Let's jump right in!
2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC88 Paul Skenes Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $60
The pitch that defined Paul Skenes' Rookie-of-the-Year season was a happy accident.
Shortly after the 2023 MLB Draft, the #1 overall pick started playing around with his pitch arsenal.
During that time, the future savior of the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation stumbled upon a sinker/splitter hybrid that would go on to define his rookie season.
"I started playing catch one day, and basically, it accidentally came off my index finger and moved how it moves now," Skenes said. "And I was basically like, 'That was good, I'm gonna keep trying to do that.'"
The splinker, as it's now called, ripped the National League to shreds.
Skenes pitched to an ERA under 2.00 (1.96) in his 2024 MLB debut, striking out 170 batters in 133.0 innings.
He surrendered just 94 hits, and his 0.947 WHIP would have led the league if he had qualified.
Small sample size or not, Skenes was the talk of the Majors, enough to win NL Rookie-of-the-Year with basically 3/4 of a season under his belt.
2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC27 Paul Skenes
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40
Paul Skenes' MLB debut on May 11, 2024, was an event.
Pittsburgh's previous five games averaged a shade under 12,000 fans in attendance.
That day, 34,924 packed PNC Park to see him work.
Skenes was erratic in his first MLB start, surrendering three runs and striking out seven in four innings.
However, the first overall pick, selected less than a year and a half before, still looked like a generational talent with an explosive, singular pitch arsenal.
That showed itself clearly over Skenes' remaining 22 starts.
The 22-year-old righty finished the year at 11-3 and led all pitchers with 130 innings or more in ERA (1.96), strikeout rate (33.1%), K-per-9 (11.5), and WHIP (0.947).
The rookie All-Star held opponents to a .198 average and limited opponents to two runs or fewer in all but three of his appearances.
Despite missing the first month-and-a-half of the year, Skenes placed third in the NL Cy Young race and captured 23 of 30 first-place votes to win league Rookie-of-the-Year honors.
2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC18 Jackson Chourio Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $35
The Milwaukee Brewers zigged where everyone else usually zags before the 2024 season, inking top prospect Jackson Chourio to an $82 million extension before playing a single game at the MLB level.
Chourio got his first taste of the Majors in 2024 and slumped early.
However, as the spring turned to summer, he broke out to put together an extremely impressive rookie campaign.
Even with a prolonged early-season slump factored in, the 20-year-old excelled for the NL Central champs with a .275/.327/.464 slash line in 148 games played.
He's also the youngest 20/20 player (21 home runs, 22 stolen bases) in MLB history.
In October, Chourio was even more valuable.
With the Brewers facing elimination in Game 2 of the Wild Card Round against the Mets, the third-place RoTY finisher hit two home runs to even the series at a game apiece.
"He's special," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said, holding back the tears.
2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC150 Elly De La Cruz
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $35
The good about budding Cincinnati Reds superstar Elly De La Cruz in 2024 was historically good.
The 21-year-old swung and stole his way into the record books, becoming the first shortstop in MLB history with at least 25 home runs (25) and 65 stolen bases (an MLB-best 67) in a single season.
He is just the fourth player ever with at least 90 combined homers and swipes in a campaign, overtaking Jose Reyes (2007) with 92 and trailing only Ronald Acuna Jr. (114, 2023) and NL MVP Shohei Ohtani (108, 2004).
It was hard not to hold your breath watching De La Cruz play.
Yet, it was also hard for Reds fans not to hold their breath when the kid fielded a routine grounder.
De La Cruz paced the Majors with a brutal 29 errors.
Furthermore, he struck out an MLB-worst 218 times.
The great outweighed the bad, but there was plenty for the Reds faithful to grit their teeth about.
2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC153 Jackson Merrill Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30
Paul Skenes may have won the 2024 NL Rookie-of-the-Year award in convincing fashion, yet his runner-up was definitely worth consideration on his own merit.
San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill had a revelatory debut, which was even more impressive considering he was moved to the outfield from the middle infield right before the year.
Merrill played just five games in the outfield before taking center field for the Padres in '24, yet still posted 12 outs above average at his new position.
The 21-year-old was even better at the plate, leading all MLB rookies in hits (162), RBIs (90), extra-base hits (61), slugging percentage (.500), and batting average (.292).
Skenes had a higher bWAR, yet Merrill paced all first-year players in fWAR.
Moreover, Merrill contributed to a playoff-bound Padres squad, while Skenes dominated for a Pirates team that finished last in the NL Central.
If not for Skenes' stature as a generational prospect, how would the RoTY race have shaken out?
2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC30 Jackson Chourio
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25
2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC57 Jackson Merrill
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25
2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC70 Jasson Dominguez
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25
Jasson Dominguez is vital to the New York Yankees' future plans.
Dominguez, a switch-hitting outfielder with pop, speed, and range, has vaulted up the Baseball America prospect charts since signing with the organization in 2021.
It's easy to see why Dominguez has some Yankees fans dreaming big about a Dominican-born Mickey Mantle.
However, the Yankees have remained patient, especially as Dominguez battles his way through injuries.
Dominguez seemed like a good bet for extended playing time in the Bronx in 2024.
However, the 21-year-old went down for an extended period with a strained left oblique.
It wasn't his first injury in the organization, and it forced the Yankees to pump the brakes.
Dominguez played in 18 regular-season games for New York and pinch-ran in three contests during the team's October championship run.
Instead of rushing him into a marquee role, the Yankees rode with veteran Alex Verdugo and let the kid learn from the bench.
2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC108 Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25
Three-time Pacific League MVP and five-time NPB All-Star Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed on with the Los Angeles Dodgers for twelve years at $325 million before the 2024 season, the biggest contract for a pitcher in MLB history.
Rather than rushing things, Dodgers management played the long game.
Part of that was out of necessity after Yamamoto went down with a right rotator cuff strain for three months.
Part of that, however, was to get him acclimated to the Major League game.
Yamamoto reached the sixth inning just eight times in 22 starts, postseason included.
He averaged over seven innings per start in his final NPB season with Orix in 2023.
In the end, the Dodgers' patience paid off.
Yamamoto came up huge with 6.1 innings of one-run, one-hit ball in a Game 2 World Series win.
Los Angeles closed the Yankees out in five, making Yamamoto the first player to win a Japan Series, a World Baseball Classic, a World Series, and an Olympic gold medal.
2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC193 Junior Caminero
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25
2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC200 Jackson Holliday Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25
The son of multi-time All-Star Matt Holliday, Jackson Holliday came into his 2024 MLB debut with superstar written all over him.
Holliday was supposed to add yet another terrifying bat to the Baltimore Orioles lineup, pushing a dynasty-in-waiting even further forward.
Holliday, however, wasn't with it in year one.
The former #1 overall pick struggled to catch up to the pace of MLB pitching, swinging through fastballs and waving at secondary stuff. Demoted midway through his rookie campaign, Holliday ended up playing just 60 games, hitting .189 with 69 strikeouts in 190 at-bats.
The Orioles could have used the Holliday they thought they would get.
Baltimore's offense fizzled in the playoffs for a second consecutive year, and the O's were eliminated in two games by the underdog Royals in the Wild Card Round.
If the O's are going to make the next step in '25, an expected bounce-back for Holliday would go a long way toward making that happen.
2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC35 Wyatt Langford Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20
2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC37 Wyatt Langford
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20
2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC89 Jackson Holliday
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20
2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC154 Colton Cowser
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20
2024 Topps Chrome Update Baseball Cards In Review
As mentioned, the hobby's reaction to this set has been overwhelmingly positive.
The rookie class certainly helped but the Rookie Debut Autograph Patches have taken the hype to another level.
Collectors have searched and searched, hoping to hit paydirt.
The biggest prize of them all, the Paul Skenes Rookie Debut Auto Patch, has already been found and sold.
Dick's Sporting Goods made headlines in March 2025 when they paid over $1 million for the card.
That should give you an idea just how important these one-of-one cards can be for a given player.
Yet, beyond all of the parallels, autos and inserts, the 200-card base checklist is as strong as any in recent years.
Even if you aren't one of the lucky collectors to snag one of those big cards, a base rookie of Paul Skenes, Jackson Chourio, Jackson Merrill and more should hold up well over time.
And let's not forget the outstanding and unique design of the 2024 Topps baseball product.
The black borders and neon color schemes are incredible and instantly recognizable.
Collectors with a soft spot for the 1989 Topps baseball flagship design will be delighted to see inserts themed around that "Junk Wax Era" set.
Overall, Fanatics has done a great job with this Topps set and it should continue to shine bright for years to come.