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Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rising stars, soaring values: How 2025 MLB's breakout performers are reshaping the card market
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 27: Chandler Simpson #14 of the Tampa Bay Rays slides home to score a run on a wild pitch during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on April 27, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by) The 2025 MLB campaign has barely left the starting gate, but the trading card market is already buzzing with electricity as several overlooked talents are delivering breakout performances. For savvy collectors who placed early bets on Kyren Paris, Tyler Soderstrom, and Brady Singer, these opening weeks have transformed speculative purchases into surging investments. As the players work towards what goes on the back of their cards, card values are climbing simultaneously with on-field excellence, creating the perfect storm that card enthusiasts live for. Here's a closer examination of how these players are cementing—or in some cases, elevating—their standing in the hobby through their remarkable season-opening performances: Kyren Paris - The Angels' Hidden Gem Kyren Paris has exploded onto the MLB scene with a ferocity that has caught both scouts and collectors completely off guard. The electrifying 22-year-old has transformed from prospect to lineup catalyst practically overnight, wielding a devastating combination of speed and newfound plate discipline that's terrorizing American League pitching staffs. His mid-April slash line of .306/.404/.673 only tells part of the story—add in his flawless stolen base tally (5-5), and you're witnessing the birth of Los Angeles' newest sensation. Advertisement The collecting community has responded with a buying frenzy that's reshaping Paris' market. Paris's Bowman Chrome autographs—cards that may have been in discount bins just months ago—have become one of the hobby's hottest commodities, with graded parallel versions now booming with sale prices increasing over 600% in the last 30 days. Seasoned collectors who stashed these "sleeper" cards of the prospect who's been ranked top 30 in the Angels system since 2020, are reaping massive rewards, while others scramble to secure what inventory remains. (shop Kyren Paris cards on eBay ) Tyler Soderstrom - Rookie Power Surge Electrifies Market While the Athletics continue their organizational struggles, they've unearthed a genuine diamond in Tyler Soderstrom. The former first-round selection is unleashing the devastating power that once made scouts double take, hammering an impressive 9 home runs through his first 20 games while demonstrating significantly enhanced pitch recognition and power to all fields that suggest this breakout is far from a fluke. Advertisement After his underwhelming 2023 MLB introduction, and similar 2024 campaign, left collectors cooling on his prospects–Soderstrom's 2025 explosion has triggered a remarkable market correction. His 1st Bowman autographs—cards that sat in the $25-40 range for months—have suddenly boomed as the price on his 2020 Bowman Draft Sapphire edition has risen over 700% in the last 30 days. Numbered cards like his 2024 Topps Chrome Update (out of 199) have also seen 30 day price changes over 80%. Mantel community users have been showing off Soderstrom cards that have been waiting for this breakout.. Adding fuel to this collecting fire is the persistent speculation surrounding A's franchise status—savvy investors are positioning themselves early, anticipating the value surge that would inevitably follow Soderstrom's potential main role in the rebuild that could catch fire in Las Vegas. For those who maintained faith through his developmental struggles, the payoff has arrived in spectacular fashion. (shop Tyler Soderstrom cards on eBay ) Heston Kjerstad - The Delayed Explosion in Baltimore After years as baseball's ultimate "what if" prospect, Heston Kjerstad is finally getting the chance to silence critics and reward patient believers with the abundance of playing time that his No. 2 overall draft status always promised. The former Arkansas slugger, whose early career was derailed by a heart condition , entered 2025 with a clean bill of health and something to prove—and the Orioles are granting him every opportunity to show out. Advertisement Through mid-April, Kjerstad has started in 18 of the Orioles 21 games and has been finding his legs against American League pitching. The outfielder currently has three home runs, driven in 12 runs, and has built up an .800 OPS. The collecting community's reaction has been steady. Kjerstad's 2020 Bowman Chrome autographs , which had plummeted in value during his medical struggles, are experiencing a resurrection thanks to his starting role in 2025–and have seen price increases over 25%. Gold refractors that sat in the $75-100 range just months ago are now changing hands at prices nearing $200 and continuing to rise , while his rarest parallels are vanishing from the market entirely as investors lock them away. As Baltimore continues its emergence as an American League powerhouse, Kjerstad's prominence within their young core suggests his cardboard trajectory has only begun its ascent–and the potential for multi-auto cards featuring players in this young core is unlimited. (shop Heston Kjerstad cards on eBay) Chandler Simpson - Baseball's Blur Can Only Be Caught In Packs The Tampa Bay Rays have unleashed a speed demon on the baseball world, and collectors are racing to keep pace. Chandler Simpson, Tampa's seventh-ranked prospect, isn't just fast—he's rewriting what baseball speed even means in the modern game. In 2024, Simpson achieved the nearly impossible, swiping an astonishing 104 bases across High-A and Double-A, becoming the first minor leaguer since 2012 to crack the century mark in stolen bases. Advertisement What makes Simpson truly special isn't just his blinding speed but his remarkable ability to get on base consistently enough to unleash it. His 2024 campaign featured a dazzling .355 batting average and .410 on-base percentage across 110 games—numbers that transform his speed from a novelty into a genuine game-breaking weapon. The collecting community, always quick to identify unique talents before they explode into the mainstream, has begun quietly accumulating Simpson's key cards. His 2022 Bowman Draft Chrome autographs have become increasingly difficult to find at reasonable prices, with some refactor sale prices launching up over 35% . Simpson's biggest 30-day price mover has been his 2022 Bowman Draft Chrome Green Refractor Auto that last sold for $217.00 . As Simpson continues to perform at the MLB level, those who secure his key rookie-year cards now may find themselves holding the hobby's next sensation. In an era where baseball increasingly values versatility and uniqueness, Simpson's unprecedented speed gives him the kind of distinct skill set that tends to create lasting collector appeal and significant potential for appreciation. (shop Chandler Simpson cards on eBay) As the 2025 MLB season unfolds, these emerging stars represent more than just market trends—they embody the thrill and strategy that make sports card collecting such a rewarding pursuit. For every Kyren Paris or Tyler Soderstrom who validates early investor confidence, countless others will fade from relevance, highlighting the delicate balance of risk and reward that defines the hobby. What separates successful collectors from the pack is their ability to identify unique talent before mainstream recognition drives prices skyward. Whether it's Simpson's blazing speed, Soderstrom's raw power, or Kjerstad's comeback story, each player offers collectors something unique to invest in based on their personal collecting preferences. The next few months will determine which of these early-season standouts can maintain their trajectory, but one thing remains certain—those who recognized these talents early and acted decisively are already enjoying the returns that come from seeing potential before it becomes performance. Stay on top of rookie trends with Mantel, the community built for your collection. Are you watching someone in particular this season not mentioned? Share it on Mantel.
New York Times
20-02-2025
- Business
- New York Times
What Ohtani can show us about the collectibles market impact of Victor Wembanyama's injury
There are glass half empty and glass half full mentalities for the sports collectibles world with the stunning news that San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama will miss the rest of the season with a blood clot in his right shoulder. The glass half empty? There's little doubt the market for Wembanyama's rookie and autographed cards will take a dive over the coming months as a long injury layoff leads into the standard offseason lull. That's just the nature of the industry when an extended injury hits a hobby giant. Advertisement Make no mistake about it, though. Wemby remains a hobby giant. The top five most searched athletes in eBay's global collectibles category during January 2025: Jayden Daniels, Michael Jordan, Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark, Bo Nix. Wembanyama was also among the 10 most searched athletes on eBay every single month in 2024. Only Jordan, C.J. Stroud and Kobe Bryant achieved that feat along with him. The Spurs phenom dominates a currently slow NBA market for active players. Heading into this season, PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) graded more Wembanyama cards than those for the next nine active NBA players combined. That said, the values for his more recognizable cards have slowed already before the injury as the initial hype from his rookie season began to wear off even as he continued to perform at a high level, appearing in his first All-Star Game on Sunday. His popular 2023 Panini Prizm Silver rookie card with a PSA 10 grade currently holds a value of $800, according to Card Ladder, which tracks sales across major marketplaces. That's nearly a 60 percent decrease from where the card stood last year at this time. That said, the card's value was building back up in the past three months with an 8.1 percent increase since Nov. 21. The injury will likely put a sudden end to that climb. Not even Shohei Ohtani's cards could withstand a drop in value once the news that he needed surgery to repair his right elbow came to light. Ohtani's 2018 Bowman Chrome rookie card with a PSA 10 grade sold for $1,385.70 in early-August 2023. The card took a nose dive following the injury news later that month, falling to as low as $483 in mid-October 2023. The card bounced back to as high as $861 in early January 2024 as he moved to the LA Dodgers. It jumped as high as $1,095 in mid-October 2024 and hit its six-month high point of $1,150 on Feb. 5 following his historic 50/50 season. Advertisement What could be taken away from the price fluctuations for Ohtani is the glass half full perspective for those looking to snag Wemby cards at a more affordable price after his injury. While Wemby will miss the rest of this season with the ailment, this may not have long-term effects on his career. Then-Lakers forward Brandon Ingram dealt with a similar issue in March 2019 in the same shoulder and returned healthy to start the following season. Last season, Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson's rookie campaign ended because of a blood clot. He returned to game action eight months after the diagnosis near the end of November. If this proves to just be a temporary setback, the 21-year-old Wembanyama has plenty of time to get his All-Star and possibly first-team All-NBA status back once he's cleared to play again and still have the historic career many expect him to have. With that in mind, if there's ever a time to buy a Wemby 2023 Panini Prizm Silver rookie card in a high grade, or any of his other short-print parallel rookie cards from that set, it could be within the next few months as prices should fall with him being out of sight and out of mind for the average collector. The lowest price in the past year on a Wemby 2023 Prizm Silver PSA 10 occurred Dec. 15 with a sale of $628.40. For perspective, the highest sale occurred March 2 last year for $2,424.60. Meanwhile, the butterfly effect of Wembanyama's injury will be interesting to track over the coming months, as well. With his outside influence on the hobby diminished, will collectors gravitate toward other athletes, sending their card values up? Ultimately the decision on whether this is an ideal time to buy or sell Wemby cards will come down to each individual collector and their tolerance for the inherent risk that comes with sports cards of active athletes. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
New York Times
30-01-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Top 100 MLB prospects 2025: The baseball card market for Keith Law's rankings
Welcome to your list of hopes and dreams, Bowman 1st baseball card fans. The Athletic's Keith Law released his annual top 100 MLB prospects heading into the 2025 season earlier this week. I'd recommend marking this time of year on your calendar and celebrate my colleague's in-depth coverage of all things Bowman 1st cards — I mean minor league prospects. Advertisement Law left the cards part of the research project in my hands, luckily. Below is a look at the current pricing for key players' Bowman 1st autographed base cards with a PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) 10 grade. A player's Bowman 1st autographed card appears in either Bowman Draft, Bowman Baseball, Bowman Chrome or Bowman Sapphire. For example, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes headlined the 2023 Bowman Draft release, while the product makers dropped Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews in the traditional 2023 Bowman set. There are exceptions, though, like with Law's No. 2 prospect this year. I dove into the top 10 players on the list, as well as some other notable prospects, meaning I'm bound to miss one or two in this outlook since it's not easy projecting minor league prospects. (Last four sales as of Jan. 27, via Card Ladder) GO DEEPER Top 100 MLB prospects 2025: Keith Law's rankings, with Roman Anthony at No. 1 1. Roman Anthony 2023 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10: $481.25 The Boston Red Sox outfielder joined the No. 1 spot fraternity that included the following players in the past couple of years: Jackson Holliday, Corbin Carroll, Adley Rutschman, Wander Franco (twice). Obviously some of those players have panned out more than others. There's no denying the level of Anthony interest within the hobby. Three parallels of Bowman 1st auto cards have sold for at least $10,000. The most expensive sale occurred Sept. 5, 2024 at $62,000 for his Beckett 9.5 graded one-of-one Superfractor (defined by Topps as 'the rarest type of refractor card. Superfractors are short-printed, one-of-one cards, which means that for any given card, there will be only one superfractor of that card in the entire product'). 2. Sebastian Walcott 2024 Bowman base auto PSA 10*: $165.63 Jackson Chourio, Gunnar Henderson, Bobby Witt Jr. are the last three players to hold the No. 2 spot in these rankings. Why would you not collect Walcott considering his price point? Walcott is the odd exception with no autographed Bowman 1st cards. His 'Bowman 1st' came in the 2023 Bowman Chrome set, which likely affects the card values because collectors tend to gravitate to the autographed card with '1st' in the top corner. Five parallels of the 2024 autographed card have sold for at least $3,000 with the most expensive being a Red auto numbered to five with a PSA 10 grade selling for $9,500 on Sept. 13, 2024. Advertisement 3. Samuel Basallo 2023 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10: $195.38 Catchers tend to hover atop Law's list each year, and this is another Baltimore Orioles catcher following Rutschman's footsteps. Fourteen sales of variations sold for at least $3,000, with five of those for at least $5,000. The catcher's most expensive sale happened this year (Jan. 10) with his red auto, numbered to just five copies, with a PSA 9 grade going for $9,000. 4. Walker Jenkins 2024 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10: $278.75 The Minnesota Twins outfield prospect jumped from No. 15 last year to No. 4 this year. Collectors have been in on Jenkins from the jump. Thirteen sales of variations of this base auto went for at least $5,000. Walker's one-of-one Superfractor hit a price tag of $44,286 on June 29, 2024. 5. Colt Emerson 2023 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10: $231.33 Another healthy prospect launch includes the Seattle Mariners' Emerson (No. 37 last year). His Bowman 1st Sapphire auto cards have been the biggest ticket items, ranking Nos. 1-3 on his highest sales list. The red auto card numbered to five in a PSA 10 grade sold for $5,000 on June 18, 2024. 6. Max Clark 2023 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10: $432 Clark leads in the cards arms race among Dylan Crews and Wyatt Langford ($373.75 latest comp) since Crews, Clark and Langford were drafted Nos. 2, 3 and 4, respectively, in the 2023 MLB Draft. Nine of Clark's cards — total, not Bowman 1st autos — have sold for at least $5,000. In a similar pattern, though, Clark's Bowman 1st red auto numbered to five and ungraded went for $8,000 on Dec. 15, 2023. 7. Dylan Crews 2024 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10: $382.26 The big chase in the 2024 Bowman set, 17 of his cards have sold for at least $5,000 — either coming on his Bowman 1st auto parallels or dual autos with his LSU buddy Skenes. Crews' most expensive card is his Bowman 1st red auto card in a PSA 9 grade, which sold for $12,655 on June 30, 2024. Advertisement 8. Carson Williams 2021 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10: $168.75 Law describes the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect as the most enigmatic player in the minors. The price tag for his cards among his peers in this top 10 group exemplifies his point. Williams' top sale was a Bowman 1st orange auto (numbered to 75) with a PSA 10 grade went for $4,457 on April 29, 2022. 9. Kristian Campbell 2023 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10: $357.78 Talk about 'stock up' for the Red Sox second baseman/outfielder! The previous four sales for this base auto card before Jan. 16 averaged only $211.88. Campbell's most expensive so far is his 1st Bowman Gold auto (numbered to 50) with a PSA 10 grade, which sold for $4,000 on Jan. 15. 10. Jordan Lawlar 2021 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10: $156.18 Prices have expectedly dropped with so much hype and not as much to show for it with the Arizona Diamondbacks infielder. His cards surged in 2022 with highest-priced cards Nos. 2-10 occurring in that year on parallels of his Bowman 1st auto. His top card sale happened Sept. 14, 2023 when a sparkle refractor (numbered to 71) in a PSA 10 grade went for $57,709. GO DEEPER MLB prospects who just missed Keith Law's top 100 ranking: Caissie, Saggese and more 14. Matt Shaw 2023 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10: $226.25 The Shaw train took a recent boost with his highest sale happening less than two weeks ago ($3,500 on Jan. 21 — Sapphire red auto numbered to five in a PSA 10 grade). Maybe a sign to come with the Chicago Cubs infielder on the brink of cracking the team's starting lineup at third base. 17. Ethan Salas 2023 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10: $191 A drop from No. 3 on the 2024 list might be cause for concern in the market for the San Diego Padres' catcher prospect. People bought in last year though, with 14 card sales going north of $5,100, two of which sold for five figures. His Bowman 1st Superfractor auto with PSA 8 (card quality) and 10 (auto quality) grades went for $36,600 on Dec. 30, 2023. 22. Jasson Dominguez 2020 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10: $699.75 In Feb. 2022, Dominguez's Bowman 1st Superfractor auto with a PSA 10 grade sold for $474,000. For perspective, Aaron Judge's highest card sale occurred three months later. It went for $150,000 less than the Dominguez card. Let that sink in … For Dominguez's cards to stay anywhere near these prices, he might need to be Judge, Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle combined and soon. Advertisement 25. Travis Bazzana 2024 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10: $534.49 Bazzana and the Kansas City Royals' Jac Caglianone headline the 2024 Bowman Draft set, in the same vein as Skenes and Langford. The Cleveland Guardians infielder's graded cards are still limited since the 2024 Bowman Draft release came in December. His path to the Majors seems like it could take shape this season for the 2024 No. 1 pick. Given the lack of top flight prospects from the 2023 draft, Bazzana's market should stay high for a while. 28. Marcelo Mayer 2021 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10: $283.15 Like Lawlar, collectors probably feel like they've been waiting forever for the Red Sox infield prospect to stay healthy. He has plenty of history, with 16 card sales of at least $10,000. Mayer's most expensive sale came on his Bowman 1st one-of-one Superfractor auto with a PSA 9 (card quality) and 10 (auto quality) for $132,000 on March 13, 2022. 31. Leodalis De Vries 2024 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10: $254.38 We might be waiting for the Padres shortstop prospect for a little while given he played in the minors last year as a 17 year old. Prospectors are bullish on De Vries, though. Seven of his card sales went north of $5,000. De Vries' Bowman 1st red wave auto card (numbered to five) with a PSA 10 grade sold for $12,500 on Nov. 30, 2024. 60. Jac Caglianone 2024 Bowman 1st base auto PSA 10 (only two sold): $583.35 He's 35 spots lower than Bazzana, but currently carries higher card price comparisons. This could easily fluctuate as we near spring training and yet the hype doesn't seem to be slowing down for the Royals first baseman. Already there's been 12 card sales of at least $6,000 and three reaching five figures. His Bowman 1st Sapphire red auto card (numbered to five) ungraded sold for $15,000 on Jan. 19. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission. (Top photo of Roman Anthony: WooSox Photo/Ashley Green / USA TODAY NETWORK; card images: eBay)
