Big win in our household: after much encouragement, my 8-year-old daughter finally ripped the ball away from an opponent when going for a rebound. I took her for ice cream for that one—now just waiting for her to get five rebounds in a game! 🏀🏅

- Cameron

Baseball Prospects & Rookie Hobby Preview, Part 1

It’s that beautiful time of year to start figuring out which prospects are getting called up soon and reminding ourselves which rookies played a bit last year and seem poised for a breakout this year.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll cover some of the best young players and prospects—along with buy/sell/hold recommendations!

Special thanks to Clyde Takahashi for contributing.

1. Dylan Crews, Washington Nationals, OF

• Why on Radar: As the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft, Crews already has a strong hobby following, with his Bowman 1st autographed cards holding solid value (PSA 10s from 2023 Bowman often exceed $500). His late 2024 MLB debut showed flashes of five-tool potential, and playing for a Nationals team desperate for star power could boost his exposure and card demand in 2025.

• Strategy: Buy now—his prices are stable but could spike with a hot start to the season.

2. Roman Anthony, Boston Red Sox, OF

• Why on Radar: Anthony’s rapid rise to No. 1 prospect status (per Keith Law and others) and his Red Sox affiliation—a hobby darling franchise—make him a premium target. His Bowman 1st Superfractor auto sold for $62,000 in 2024, signaling massive collector interest, yet his cards could still climb if he debuts early in 2025 and taps into his power potential.

• Strategy: Wait to sell—hold until he gets the call and posts some big games to maximize value.

3. Jackson Jobe, Detroit Tigers, RHP

• Why on Radar: Pitchers with “ace” upside like Jobe generate sleeper hobby hype, especially with his filthy fastball/changeup combo and the Tigers’ playoff push in 2024. His cards (e.g., Bowman 1st autos) are undervalued compared to position players of similar caliber, offering a buy-low opportunity before an expected mid-2025 call-up.

• Strategy: Buy now—his stock is poised to rise as he nears Detroit’s rotation.

4. Jasson Dominguez, New York Yankees, OF

• Why on Radar: “The Martian” carries lingering hype from his $5.1M signing and a $474,000 Superfractor sale in 2022, though injuries (Tommy John in 2023) have cooled his market. A 2025 call-up with the Yankees could reignite collector frenzy, but his current card prices reflect some risk, making him a polarizing hobby figure.

• Strategy: Wait to sell—his value could rebound with a strong MLB showing, but don’t buy unless you’re a risk-taker.

5. Andrew Painter, Philadelphia Phillies, RHP

• Why on Radar: Post-Tommy John, Painter’s 2024 Arizona Fall League performance (touching 99 mph) reminded collectors of his elite potential, yet his cards remain relatively affordable due to the surgery layoff. A mid-2025 Phillies debut could make him the next Paul Skenes-level pitcher in the hobby.

• Strategy: Buy now—undervalued with massive upside if he stays healthy.

Buy / Sell Opportunities

✔ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ⚾ - He’s wasting away in Toronto. At just 25 years old, he already has 4 All-Star appearances and a 2nd-place MVP placing. The perception is that he hasn’t met the hype, but just last year, he had a .940 OPS and finished 6th in the MVP. If he gets traded (a possibility with ESPN projecting them last in the AL East) to a relevant team, his value explodes. CardLadder Player Index shows a complete falling off the past two years in his hobby relevance.

✔ Bo Nix 🏈 - I can’t get over the improvement he showed last year. He had a few games near the beginning where I literally called my dad and laughed about how bad he was. Then…he wasn’t. In fact, he was running a respectable offense by the end, and that’s without a semblance of a run game or any receiver depth. With some cap space and a year under his belt, look at Bo to take a step forward.

✔ Anthony Edwards 🏀 - No, the Timberwolves aren’t going to make a splash in the playoffs this year…but Edwards always does. Many (including LeBron) project him to be the face of the league and he oozes charisma on the court. He rises to big moments and is capable of something jaw-dropping at any moment. They’ll probably lose in the first round, but it’d be fun to see him average 35+ against the Thunder or Lakers. And if I’m wrong? You’ve still got one of the best young stars in the league to hold onto. Now’s a good opportunity.

❌ Paul Skenes ⚾ - He’s really good, so let’s just get that out of the way first. He just has too many things going against him. Pitching success is volatile—great pitchers get injured all the time or can’t sustain success from year to year. Part of his popularity is tied to his ultra-famous girlfriend, Livvy Dunne. Either they’ll break up or people will stop caring they’re together. And last but not least, he’s on the Pirates. ESPN projects them to finish last in the NL Central. With him being the chase for a bit and the arrival of preseason excitement, I’d consider moving his stuff. Here’s his CardLadder Player Index the past year:

New Releases

+ 2024-25 Panini Donruss Basketball (March 7 | $275) - Nothing like headlining your box of cards with Donovan Clingan! With 300(!) cards per box, 1 auto, and 6(!!) inserts, this is a great rip with kids! Fun fact: the second most valuable card I ever pulled was out of Donruss basketball: a numbered Jalen Green rookie auto.

+ 2024 Panini Illusions Football (March 7 | $320) - Not the best resale value, but 3 autos, 2 memorabilia, and 5 numbered cards for that price in a football box is pretty darn great.

+ 2024 Topps Finest Football (March 7 | $250) - They’re back! I’m such a fan of Topps rolling out these nostalgic sets. Sure, the unlicensed part isn’t fun, but 2 autos, 2 “rare” base cards (their base cards are like Select - 3 tiers called common, uncommon, and rare), as well as 10 inserts! Of course, it’s only in these Fanatics-owned sets that you can get autos for the top rookie QBs, although the veteran auto options didn’t blow me away.

*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

The best things I saw this week

+ New Record for Grading Cards - “Despite a short month, the four major authentication and grading companies processed a record 1.93 million trading cards in February.” I’m incredibly bullish on the hobby’s growth, especially with breakers, YouTube, newsletters, blogs, and so much more all contributing. That’s what makes this different from years past (especially the junk wax era).

+ eBay Lowering Fees for Expensive Cards - If you’ve been wondering when to sell your card valued at $1k+, now’s the time. eBay’s cutting fees for those cards in half through May 4th.

+ Kid Pulls 1/1 Ruth Auto - I love these videos…but they also probably make me think I’m going to pull something like this myself so I buy more and more 🤣

+ Card More Famous Than the Person - “1989 Fleer Bill Ripken ‘Scribbled Out in White’ error card, graded PSA 10, sold for an eye-popping $4,915". That’s almost $1,000 for every career WAR he had (5.9).

+ People Just Love Stealing Cards - “Police responded to a burglary call…where $1,500 of collectibles and baseball cards.” I just can’t resist now—four straight weeks of criminal stories involving card thefts.

Question of the Week