We are more than two months into the MLB season and the baseball card market is in full-swing! Back in February, I wrote an piece here at Legends on Deck previewing the card market heading into the 2025 season. In this article, I broke down the list by players who’s rookie seasons pre-dated 2020 and those who’s rookie seasons came after 2020.
While initially the plan was to reevaluate this exact list at the All-Star Break, there’s been enough of a sample size this season to note who remains hot on the market and who has cooled off. For the purposes of this article, I am going to combine the lists to include just a Top 10 based on how they’ve performed in 2025, as well as long-term factors. My updated list includes veterans players, younger stars and rookies.
Top 10 Right Now
- Shohei Ohtani – No need to explain why Shohei tops the list. He’s the biggest star in the game and is dazzling fans with 23 home runs already this season.
- Aaron Judge – A very close second on this list for similar reasons. Judge runs parallel to Ohtani in star power and is on pace for his forth career 50+ home run season.
- Paul Skenes – The young flamethrower is a monster in the hobby. His $1.1 Topps Chrome Rookie Patch Auto is now on display at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Pittsburgh. He continues to dominate on the mound, despite the Pirates struggles as a team.
- Bobby Witt Jr. – He was off to a fast start in April, but has cooled off a bit in recent weeks. Don’t expect that to last for long. The Royals shortstop has 20 stolen bases already this season. If he picks up on home runs, we could be looking at 30/30 season.
- Elly De La Cruz – Cruz remains one of the most exciting players the hobby. He’s got some competition on the basepaths, but will become an interesting player to track as the season progresses and in the years to come.
- Freddie Freeman – He’s cementing his case for the Hall of Fame. The Dodgers first baseman is one of the best hitters of this era and he plays for the team in the biggest spotlight.
- Corbin Carroll – After a sophomore slump, Corbin Carroll is back in a big way. He’s already put up 18 home runs and ten stolen bases. Not to mention, he’s a collector himself.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong – PCA is having his breakout season. He’s a big reason the Cubs are leading the NL Central with 15 home runs and 21 stolen bases. This center fielder does it all.
- James Wood – The biggest rookie card in any 2025 products, for sure. The Nationals slugger has 16 home runs and an OPS near 1.000. He could be an big name in the game for years to come.
- Gunnar Henderson – While he started the year injured and the Orioles have struggled, don’t sleep on Gunnar. He will be a force in the game for years to come. Might be a good time to buy.
FIRST LOOK: Brand new K-Zone cards will appear for the first time in 2025 Series 2.
Both cards are tough pulls, with the “Backwards K” being especially rare. pic.twitter.com/HwgJfyTBk8
— Topps (@Topps) May 26, 2025
Honorable Mentions
- Francisco Lindor – The Mets are off to a strong start and Lindor continues to produce. He’s been one of the best players in baseball for a long time now.
- Jacob Wilson – The Athletics rookie shortstop is hitting .355 so far this season. He’s on track to take the AL Rookie of the Year.
- Tarik Skubal – Simply the best pitcher in baseball. If it wasn’t for Skenes appeal among collectors, Skubal would be the only pitcher in the Top 10. Not to mention the Tigers have the best record in baseball.
- Ronald Acuna Jr. – After missing an entire season with an ACL tear, Acuna is back and off to a fast start. Look for his cards to bounce back too. Acuna would easily be a Top 10 if it weren’t for his tendency for injuries. He still takes the #1 spot in my son’s collection.
- Bryce Harper – It’s hard to discount Harper as a major star in the game today. The Phillies look good and the postseason is where Haper shines brightest. He will likely continue to gain value as the season progresses.
What’s Next in the Market?
There’s a lot that can change between now and later this season, which will warrant reevaluating the list once again. Who are you buying? Who are you selling? Who are you collecting? Topps Series 2 release is set for June 11 and Topps Chrome should be released sometime in July. It’s been an exciting MLB season thus far, making it extra fun for the hobby!
