Oh, Spring Training has that wonderful way of stirring baseball fans from their winter slumber. The promise of a fresh season awakens dreams of new stars, thrilling games, and perhaps, the next big investment opportunity. If there’s a time that beckons to collectors and investors alike in the baseball card universe, it’s before the curtain rises on a new MLB season. Enter the 2025 season and its hidden gem cards. The market has discreetly whispered the names of a few intriguing prospects—players whose current card values lag behind their looming potential on the field.
First on this list of potential goldmines is Arizona Diamondbacks’ hurling sensation, Brandon Pfaadt. Yes, glance at his stat line, and you might hastily file him under ‘mediocre’ with his career ERA of 5.06. But numbers can sometimes lie, or at least hide the truth. Dig a little deeper into his 2024 performance—Pfaadt’s 4.71 ERA comes to life with a more promising 3.78 Expected ERA (xERA) and a 3.61 Fielder Independent Pitching (FIP). This pitcher can paint the strike zone gold with 9.04 strikeouts per nine innings and a mere 2.2 walks—a painter with precision, if you will. Pfaadt is perched quietly in the rotation, without the pressure of being the lead star (“Thank you, Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, and Merrill Kelly!”).
And here’s the kicker—Pfaadt’s rookie cards are priced at the criminally insane rate of ‘affordable.’ Savvy investors should eyeball the 2023 Topps Chrome and its Update series, plus the 2020 Bowman Draft 1st Bowman Card; treasures lying in wait for the discerning collector.
Next, we have the Pittsburgh Pirates’ young buck, Jared Jones. In a team swirling with youthful talent, it’s easy to lose track of promising players, but Jones isn’t one to ignore. His keen grasp of the game is clear from his 2024 stats: a stable 4.14 ERA, or more technically, a 4.05 xERA, 4.00 FIP, 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings and 2.88 walks per nine innings—a symphony of numbers singing his potential. Adding flair to function, Jones has bolstered his arsenal with a two-seamer, pairing it cleverly with his vicious fastball and slider.
Jones’ Topps Chrome Rookie Auto /499 is so financially mouthwatering at $30, it seems card enthusiasts haven’t fully woken up yet. But they will soon enough, which means you’ll want to snatch up the 2024 Topps Chrome, Update Series, and 2020 Bowman Draft 1st Bowman Card, before they sprint up the value ladder.
Hottest the market is yet to realize is Baltimore Orioles’ outfielder, Heston Kjerstad. The Orioles are a farm team flooded with talent, which has kept Kjerstad delightfully under the radar. In the minors, he’s already wielded his bat to an impressive tune of .303/.401/.584 with a cadre of homeruns and RBIs. His prowess with the bat is material enough to thrive, given a mere chance amongst the stars.
A recent sale of his 2024 Bowman Chrome Rookie Gold Refractor Auto /50 PSA 10 priced at just $150 represents a fantastic catch for this caliber player. Keep a weather eye on the 2024 Topps Chrome, Update Series, and the 2020 Bowman Draft 1st Bowman Card if you’re savvy about your investments.
Lastly, the enigmatic Kerry Carpenter of the Detroit Tigers, a man who smacks baseballs as though they owe him rent. Despite his back issues in 2024, Carpenter has muscled 18 home runs over a mere 87 games, a testimony to his latent 30+ home run season potential.
While manning the middle order batting duties with the likes of Gleyber Torres, Parker Meadows, and Riley Greene, he is set to capitalize on RBI opportunities. His cards are currently wallflowers at the dance, where a 2023 Topps Chrome Purple Auto /250 can be charmed for $49, or the Aqua Wave Auto /199 PSA-graded wooed for $150. Such a snub won’t last long once the next season’s fireworks begin.
For anyone coveting a collection expansion or a lucrative flip, these undervalued possibilities are ripe for the picking. Let the cautionary tales of missed opportunities galvanize you into action before the sunny skies of spring deliver big league revelations. Get your cards in hand now while the market remains blissfully asleep, and prepare for the awakening that 2025 promises to bring to these hidden gems.
