With the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd, the baseball season always signals excitement and anticipation. But beyond the diamond and the grandstands, there’s another world of buzz humming steadily—it’s the lure of the trading card market. As we gear up for the 2025 MLB season, aficionados and investors alike are on the hunt for those elusive gems that gleam with potential. Here’s a roadmap to uncovering hidden treasures in the world of baseball cards, focusing on four players whose talismanic potential is yet to be fully realized by the market.
First up, we have Brandon Pfaadt of the Arizona Diamondbacks, whose moniker should perhaps be “Potential Incarnate.” While Pfaadt’s conventional stats might whisper mediocrity, a deeper dive into his numbers presents a different narrative. His career ERA stands at 5.06, casting a somewhat misleading shadow. However, his prowess became more prominent in 2024 with a promising 4.71 ERA, further sugarcoated by a 3.78 xERA and a 3.61 FIP. Crushing it with a K/9 of 9.04 while maintaining a BB/9 of 2.2, he’s proving adept at pounding the zone.
What’s more is that the pressure isn’t on Pfaadt to be the knight in shining armor for the D-backs, thanks to Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, and Merrill Kelly—his frontline pitching contemporaries. This breathing room allows him to refine his abilities without the burden of being thrust into an ace role prematurely. This concoction of potential and underdog status makes his rookie cards a tantalizing investment. Watch for the 2023 Topps Chrome and its agile counterpart, the 2023 Topps Chrome Update, along with the nostalgic allure of the 2020 Bowman Draft—the first editions of Pfaadt’s journey into card immortality.
Switching gears to the charismatic Jared Jones of the Pittsburgh Pirates—a team often lauded for its golden potential. Amidst a miasma of young promising talent, Jones stands—albeit quietly, yet immensely potent. Flirting with a 4.14 ERA in 2024 and an accompanying 4.05 xERA and 4.00 FIP, his performance signals a pending surge. His prowess doesn’t just terminate at stats; he’s expanded his arsenal by conjuring a two-seamer to complement his already terrifying fastball and slider combo. With his Topps Chrome Rookie Auto /499 currently selling for a mere pittance of $30, it’s an affordable gamble for an ace on the brink of discovery. His 2024 Topps Chrome editions are the ones to covet, along with the 2020 Bowman Draft for those who want a piece of his origination story.
Heston Kjerstad from the Baltimore Orioles is the embodiment of overlooked brilliance. The Orioles boast a treasure trove of young talent, and Kjerstad’s name often vanishes amidst the chorus. However, his bat has been the topic of heated whisperings within minor league circles, flaunting a 2024 slash line of .303/.401/.584, with 16 home runs and 61 RBI. While his tenure in MLB remains limited, the potential for explosion is imminent should he break free from the crowded Baltimore ensemble. If given a shot, particularly in the DH role, expect his card valuations to make a pronounced ascent. Recent sales of the 2024 Bowman Chrome Rookie Gold Refractor Auto /50 PSA 10 at just $150 suggest a prime opportunity before the market tunes into his melody of talent.
Finally, we descend upon Kerry Carpenter from the Detroit Tigers—an underappreciated purveyor of raw power. Touted by many as the unsung hero of potential 30+ home run seasons, his record reflects 44 homers over 236 MLB games. Carpenter’s 2024 campaign, though speckled with back issues, yielded prodigious power with 18 homers and 57 RBI in a mere 87 games. Now, with a fortified Tigers lineup including Gleyber Torres and the promising duo of Parker Meadows and Riley Greene, Carpenter has ample opportunity to drive those RBIs. With rookie autos that remain shockingly affordable, including notable transactions like the 2023 Topps Chrome Purple Auto /250, it may be the prime moment to seize these undervalued cards before a resurgence accentuates their value.
In the immersive world of baseball card trading, predicting future stars remains a delicate blend of analysis, hunches, and outright luck. Yet, these four prospects imbed a strong potential narrative, veiled only by their undervaluation. As the new season looms with all its unpredictable spectacle, foresight and a strategic hand in these cards could spell fortunes for the prepared or the daring. As with any good heist, timing and differentiation from the crowd are pivotal—buy now, before prices catch up to fate.