Buzz Break: 2023 Bowman baseball cards (blaster box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2023 Bowman baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist/odds: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Keep reading for what was inside this one ..

Packs per box: 6
Cards per pack: 12
Cards per box: 72

Set completion: 
37 of 100 (37 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Prospect set completion: 
18 of 150 (12 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Chrome Prospect set completion: 
11 of 150 (7 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Matt Olson, Pete Alonso, Bryce Harper, Nolan Arenado, Freddie Freeman, Joey Votto, Oneil Cruz, Luis Robert

Rookie Cards (15) – Kodai Senga, Brett Baty, Riley Greene, Livan Soto, Tristom Casas, Josh Jung, Nolan Jones, D.L. Hall, Ezeqiuel Tovar, Liover Peguero, Ivan Herrera, Gabriel Moreno, Jordan Diaz, Vinnie Pasquantino, Simeon Woods Richardson

Insert cards: 35 (highlights of everything in gallery below)
Prospects (18) – Jackson Chourio, Luis Garcia, Deyvison De Los Santos, Luis Lara, Yilber Herrera, Axel Sanchez, Logam Wagner, Henry Ramos, Brock Jones, Austin Charles, Kenni Gomez, Rickardo Perez, Kahlil Watson, Jace Jung, Cole Young, Kevin Parada, Cristian Hernandez, Alex Ramirez
Chrome Prospects (11) – Alex Ramirez, Henry Davis, Luis Garcia, Bryan Acuña, Gabriel Martinez, Axel Sanchez, Wilber Sanchez, Fraymi De Leon, Mishael Deson, Randy De Jesus, Chase DeLauter
Lunar Glow Chrome Prospects parallel (1) – Cam Collier
Bowman Scouts Top 100 (2) – Anthony Volpe, Diego Cartaya
Sights on September (1) – Anthony Volpe
Modern Prospects (1) – Cristian Hernandez
Rookie Of The Year Favorites (1) – Gabriel Moreno

Autographs/memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: My first look at Bowman was one that was intentionally delayed -- it didn't wow me at first so I waited for a sale and found one -- and the wait paid off in sorts with a pair of insert cards for a top rookie in pinstripes this year as well as decent run of stars, a couple of top RCs from The Big Apple (definitely a New York box) and then the mess of prospectors on a few fronts that are why the prospectors dig in here. Was anything here rare? No, the Lunar Glow parallel here is one per blaster per Topps' odds. It was disappointing to see odds not on boxes or wrappers as that can be a deciding factor to buy -- or really not to buy, actually, in my book -- and a move that their competition should have adopted (boxes with odds) long ago. But ... here we are. The stock here seems cleaner than the last couple years of Topps and Bowman flagship ... but it also seems skinnier, too. Not sure how I feel on that but it doesn't seem like the best move. The design is symmetrical and, honestly, perhaps a tad dull color-wise compared to recent years but it's Bowman and more of you out there are probably getting what you want with that move vs. my tastes. The inserts have some advanced looks to them, though, to help that out a bit. Plenty of this one will be made -- perhaps even more at retail to offset the higher hobby costs as the higher those go the fewer buyers will bite there -- so that's fine but that also will likely hurt demand as plenty of supply will downplay values. It happens ... though Bowman has been among the more-plentiful brands for years now so maybe that variable doesn't matter. ... Retail is the home of some exclusive Green parallels and non-Chrome autographs (none for me this time) while these boxes can include a number of possible finds at longer odds, including Superfractors -- check the odds. This one will likely be a one-and-done for me unless something really catches my eye here as the season goes on or if some player emerges as must-have for me. Landing a basic RC like Senga and then some Volpe gives me enough to chew on for now.

Product Grade: B
Box Grade: A- (two Volpe inserts and Senga helped get it here ... though those won't be bigs later)
Fun Grade: B (overall feel is perhaps too simple and plain for this collector)

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