“Dad, how can I get money to buy my own box?”

That’s what my 6-year-old said after we ripped three NBA Donruss blasters (Dad win #1). I then asked him to pick his favorite card from the boxes:

Baseball Prospects & Rookie Hobby Preview, Part 2

Last week, we covered some of the most hyped prospects and rookies to keep an eye on.

Here’s Part 2 of our hobby preview!

Special thanks to Clyde Takahashi for contributing.

1. Coby Mayo, Baltimore Orioles, 3B/1B

• Why on Radar: Mayo’s prodigious power (22 HRs in 89 Triple-A games in 2024) screams hobby appeal, but his .098 MLB debut dampened enthusiasm, keeping his Bowman 1st autos (around $200-$300 PSA 10) undervalued. With Baltimore’s depth issues, a 2025 breakout could send his cards soaring.

• Strategy: Buy now—low risk, high reward if he secures playing time.

2. Travis Bazzana, Cleveland Guardians, 2B

• Why on Radar: The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, Bazzana’s Bowman Draft cards are fresh on the market (December 2024 release), and the Guardians’ aggressive promotion history suggests a chance at a late-2025 debut. Early PSA 10 autos are climbing past $400, with room to grow.

• Strategy: Buy now—strike while the hype is building, but before he’s a household name.

3. Kristian Campbell, Boston Red Sox, 2B/SS/OF

• Why on Radar: Campbell’s meteoric 2024 rise (.330/.439/.558 across three levels) and versatility have collectors buzzing, yet his cards lag behind teammate Roman Anthony’s due to lower initial prospect pedigree. A Red Sox call-up could make him a hobby steal.

• Strategy: Buy now—undervalued gem with breakout potential.

4. Jacob Wilson, Oakland A’s, SS

• Why on Radar: Wilson’s elite contact skills (.401 MiLB career average) and rapid 2023-2024 ascent (376 days from draft to MLB) make him a Rookie of the Year candidate, driving hobby interest. His Bowman 1st autos are modestly priced (around $150-$200 PSA 10), offering value for a likely Opening Day starter.

• Strategy: Buy now—safe bet with upside if he sustains a high average.

5. James Wood, Washington Nationals, OF

• Why on Radar: Wood’s 6’6” frame and 30 HR/20 SB ability scream superstar potential, and his 2024 Topps Series 1 rookie cards already have collectors chasing parallels (e.g., jersey number parallels limited to 10). His MLB debut was uneven, but a full 2025 season could make him a hobby titan.

• Strategy: Wait to sell—hold until he heats up midseason to cash in on peak hype.

New Releases

+ 2024-25 Panini Court Kings Basketball (March 14 | $190) - You’ll get 10 cards per box, with 1 auto, 1 memorabilia, 3 inserts/parallels and 3 rookies. Truthfully, I’ve never understood why these aren’t more popular. I’ve always thought the look & feel of these cards is top-notch…but the resell just isn’t tremendous. Great box to open IMO.

+ 2024-25 Panini Prizm Basketball BLASTER (March 12 | $45) - These actually came out already and I normally cover hobby boxes, but these are too big to ignore. Unfortunately, the rookie class stinks, but it’s still PRIZM. If you pull a silver rookie, sell that sucker now (that’s how I got $65 for a Cole Anthony silver a few years back).

+ 2024 Leaf Vivid Baseball Hobby Box (March 14 | $150) - For collectors, there isn’t much better you can do than to get FIVE autos for $150. Sure, they’re not licensed, but some of the sickest auto cards I’ve ever seen came from Leaf. Also, EVERY base and auto is numbered to /10 or less. I mean, that’s a sweet deal.

*Release dates can (and often do) change as products get delayed 🙄. It’s possible some notable sets are being released this week that I covered in previous editions.

Quick Hits

News and Stories From Around the Hobby

+ Fanatics v. Panini Legal Battles Continue - I may have buried the lede here as this is turning into a massive story for the hobby:

“Panini claims Fanatics has used “threats” to set minimum price requirements, require retailers to ‘carry only Fanatics trading card lines,’ and ‘lock up rookie players.’” The two have been fighting in court since 2023, with Panini saying Fanatics is creating a monopoly and illegally conspired with sports leagues to obtain PA licenses.

Fanatics actually sued Panini back, saying they undermined their ability to sign agreements and also that Panini threatened employees to keep them from jumping ship to Fanatics.

It’s all a bit of a mess (and the closest I am to a lawyer is having watched all 9 seasons of Suits…which actually might have made me worse at law). However, I am interested in seeing how the monopolistic claims against Fanatics shake out and, if found guilty, what that means for the hobby.

+  NFL Donruss All About That Base? - Reports are coming in from all corners of the internet that many NFL Donruss Blaster boxes have only veteran base cards. That link goes to a Reddit thread, but I’ve also heard about this on podcasts and Facebook Groups. This appears to be a real issue 🤦‍♂️.

+ Not Fanatics’ Finest Moment - Another current mystery in the hobby is that Topps Finest doesn’t actually appear to have autos from Marvin Harrison Jr. This was going to be his first pro product with autos, and it’s in the checklist, but they’re nowhere to be seen. Mike Gioseffi from Sports Cards Nonsense claims to have broken 20+ cases and didn’t see any. A quick search on eBay doesn’t have any listed or sold either. Not a good look for Fanatics and also a bummer for collectors paying a premium for the Cardinals in breaks.

+ “Last year, my company did more than $5 million in sales on WhatNot.” - Sure, his story made me a little jealous, but it was cool hearing about how he’s been amassing cards forever despite having a very poor background.

+ Congress to Ban Stock Trading? - Quote of the year from Rep. Tim Burchett: "My money is in baseball cards & comic books." 🤣😎🔥

+ Criminal Content Streak Stays Alive! - “Arrest warrant issued for man accused of stealing $22K in baseball cards.” 5 straight weeks with a criminal storyline about people stealing cards. Must mean the hobby’s gone mainstream!

Join the Facebook Group!

Come hang out, ask questions, share awesome pulls, and let’s have some fun! I’ll be posting stuff daily (or close to it…).

Join Here