Baseball card collecting is an art form that blends nostalgia with shrewd investing, and with Spring Training heralding a new MLB season, collectors and investors alike are sifting through the diamond dirt to find those unpolished gems. The mantra is simple: find those cards now when they’re undervalued, and watch them transform into prized pieces as the 2025 season progresses.
Speaking of hidden treasures, let’s dive into four players whose cardboard replicas are worth keeping an eye on, with some quite literally going under the radar. These players aren’t just making plays on the field—they’re shaping up to be your next great investment.
**Brandon Pfaadt – Arizona Diamondbacks**
Enter Brandon Pfaadt, a pitcher whose talent isn’t fully reflected by his career statistics, yet holds immense potential. His career ERA of 5.06 might scare off the unwary, but peel back the layers, and there’s a promising player. His 2024 season revealed glimpses of brilliance: a 4.71 ERA undercut by a more revealing 3.78 xERA and 3.61 FIP. He’s punching out batters at a commendable rate of 9.04 K/9 while maintaining decent control with a 2.2 BB/9. Of course, he needs to keep the home run bug at bay, but with veterans like Corbin Burnes and Zac Gallen ahead of him in the rotation, he has the luxury of time to refine his craft. Fortunately, his cards, particularly the 2023 Topps Chrome Rookie Card and the elusive 2020 Bowman Draft 1st Bowman Card, remain shockingly affordable. A financial foul if you’re not catching this opportunity now.
**Jared Jones – Pittsburgh Pirates**
Moving onto the next prospect in our cardboard showcase, Jared Jones is quietly making noise in Pittsburgh. Perhaps ‘quietly’ is an understatement, as his performance might soon overshadow those in his youthful rotation. With a 2024 ERA pegged at 4.14 (neatly paired with a 4.05 xERA), coupled with a fantastic 9.7 K/9, Jones isn’t just hurling fastballs—he’s redefining his arsenal. His curve and newly-added two-seamer, blended with the passion of youth, signal a pitching prodigy waiting to be unleashed. Don’t sleep on his Topps Chrome Rookie Auto /499, often passed on for the modest price of $30. The baseball card market could well be overlooking a future star.
**Heston Kjerstad – Baltimore Orioles**
Next on the roster, Heston Kjerstad from the Baltimore Orioles—a name spoken in hushed tones among astute investors. While the Orioles boast a farm system brimming with talent, Kjerstad’s prowess has remained somewhat unnoticed, or at least vastly underappreciated. His minor league numbers are a testament to his prowess: a .303/.401/.584 line, sprinkled with 16 homers in 2024. Yes, he’s jostling for a spot amidst a crowded team lineup, but should he slot in regularly, possibly as a designated hitter, expect his cards to soar higher than a lofted home run. His 2024 Bowman Chrome Rookie Gold Refractor Auto /50 PSA 10 currently sells at a laughably low price of approximately $150. And laugh you will, all the way to the investment bank.
**Kerry Carpenter – Detroit Tigers**
Completing our quartet is Kerry Carpenter of the Detroit Tigers. His name may not make immediate waves but consider this: in just 236 MLB games, he’s blasted 44 homers with 131 RBI. Even a niggling back issue in 2024 couldn’t keep him down as he stormed back with 18 home runs over 87 games. As the centerpiece of Detroit’s lineup, keep an eye on his hard-hit rate statistics—it’s his time to shine. His cards, like the 2023 Topps Chrome Rookie Card and Aqua Wave Auto /199 PSA-graded, are trading for a pittance. The perfect invite to the investment floor.
The baseball season never fails to bring forth unforeseen stars, and these four individuals are primed to defy expectations both with their performance and the stock of their baseball cards. For now, these cards remain a sweet temptation for collectors eager to buy before the inevitable hype wave lands ashore.
Whether you’re angling to expand your collection or aim to leverage these cards for profit, the opportunity is now before us. Invest before the marketplace gets wise to these hidden gems and their true potential is realized. Who knows, your calculated gamble today might just become tomorrow’s home run—and isn’t that the ultimate thrill of card collecting?
