Baseball card enthusiasts, investors, and dreamers of diamond profits, gather ’round, for we’ve struck gold—or at least some highly glossed cardboard with future potential. As Major League Baseball’s Spring Training heralds the dawn of fresh talent and untapped potential, the savvy collector knows it’s time to dig deep, seeking treasures before the market catches wind. Here are four under-the-radar baseball players whose cards could transform from modest investments into cash-cow collectibles as the 2025 MLB season unfurls.
Enter Brandon Pfaadt of the Arizona Diamondbacks, a pitcher whose stats seem as deceptive as a curveball on a full count. On paper, his 5.06 ERA over 277.2 career innings might suggest he’s a work in progress. However, a closer look at his 2024 season stats reveals the gleam beneath the dust: a slightly improved 4.71 ERA, coupled with an impressive 3.78 xERA and 3.61 FIP. Toss in his 9.04 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9, and you’ve got a hurler who strikes fear into hitters while walking darn near no one. Pfaadt sits comfortably hidden in the D-Backs’ rotation, an ace in disguise behind established pitchers like Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, and Merrill Kelly. As for his rookie cards, they’re astonishingly cheap, making them ripe for wise investors to pocket before he starts popping eyes on the mound.
Savvy investors should keep an eye on Pfaadt’s 2023 Topps Chrome Rookie Card, Topps Chrome Update Rookie Card, and the 2020 Bowman Draft 1st Bowman Card, while waiting for this sleeper prospect to awaken.
Jared Jones, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ stealthily powerful right-hander, is another hidden gem on the verge of discovery. The Pirates’ rotation of young talent is much like a bustling stage of up-and-coming actors, with Jones playing the underestimated supporting role. His 2024 performance documents a 4.14 ERA with a promising 4.05 xERA, underscoring his ability to exceed expectations. What’s remarkable is his adaptability, like a pitcher with a new playbook in hand—spring training saw him add a two-seamer to his repertoire, complementing his fastball-slider knockout combo. Despite numbers worthy of top billing, Jared Jones’ Topps Chrome Rookie Auto /499 can be snagged for a mere $30. Criminally undervalued? Most certainly.
Focus your radar on the 2024 Topps Chrome Rookie Card, 2024 Topps Chrome Update Series, and 2020 Bowman Draft 1st Bowman Card, ready to capitalize on Jones’ looming breakout.
To Baltimore we go, where Heston Kjerstad lies in wait, biding time within a talent-laden Orioles’ farm system that rivals Noah’s Ark for sheer prospect diversity. His minor league feats in 2024 showcase a battler with clout: slashing .303/.401/.584 with 16 HRs, 61 RBIs, and 51 runs across three levels (A+, AA, AAA). The potential is there, waiting in line like an eager concertgoer. Should he secure regular at-bats, particularly as a designated hitter, prepare for his card prices to soar as effortlessly as one of his long balls.
Kjerstad’s 2024 Bowman Chrome Rookie Gold Refractor Auto /50 PSA 10, notably last seen dancing below $150, is an alarming bargain for collectors. Keep an eye, too, on his 2024 Topps Chrome Rookie Card, Topps Chrome Update Series, and 2020 Bowman Draft 1st Bowman Card as he works to smash through Baltimore’s outfield bottleneck.
Lastly, Detroit’s Kerry Carpenter emerges as an underrated slugger with brawn to spare, waiting to launch deep shots like fireworks over Comerica Park. In just 236 MLB games, this diamond dynamo has belted 44 homers with 131 RBIs. He’s weathered injuries like curveballs in the dirt. Despite his limited playtime in 2024 (a mere 87 games), he still managed to smack 18 HRs and 57 RBIs, showing improved metrics like hard-hit rate and HR/FB ratio. Surrounded by solid hitters like Gleyber Torres, Parker Meadows, and Riley Greene, Carpenter stands ready to amplify his numbers and, consequently, his card values.
Eye-catching bargains include his 2023 Topps Chrome Rookie Card, Topps Chrome Purple Auto /250, and Topps Chrome Aqua Wave Auto /199 PSA-graded, that offer more than just a cheap date—they’re under-the-cost gems waiting to be uncovered.
So as the 2025 MLB season looms on the horizon, casting its long shadow over myriad rookie cards spread across tables and tucked in binders, there’s no better moment than now to grab these diamonds in the rough. For collectors looking to both grow their collection and flip for profit, these hidden gems stand poised to explode in value once the season takes its course. Don’t let these opportunities slip away like dusty peanuts at the ballpark; grab them before the lineup card changes and the world catches on.
