As the fresh, hopeful spirit of Spring Training weaves its magic spell on the baseball fields across America, avid collectors and sharp investors have set their sights on the tantalizing prospect of undervalued baseball cards that hold promise for the upcoming 2025 MLB season. It’s a season that promises new heroes, unexpected performances, and the fascinating prospect of turning inexpensive pieces of cardboard into treasures.
Hidden among the crowd of celebrated players and often exhausting price tags are the underdogs—players whose perceived modesty masks the kind of potential that can see their cards shoot up in value as their performance ratios tilt into stardom. So, calling all savvy investors and collectors to listen closely as we reveal four unsung players with hidden talents, whose cards offer a potential gold mine.
First up is Brandon Pfaadt, the enigmatic pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks. His name might not awaken any memories of MVP speeches or game-winning heroics, but his 2024 stats sketch a compelling narrative. Forget the pedestrian 5.06 ERA across his career innings, and peek at his 4.71 ERA in 2024, which shines brighter when contextualized with a 3.78 xERA and a 3.61 FIP. Remarkably, he boasts a 9.04 K/9 and a mere 2.2 BB/9. It’s clear Pfaadt has the stuff to throw like a star. With big names like Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, and Merrill Kelly standing ahead of him, he’s no longer laboring under the pressure of being the ace. Now’s the prime time to snatch up his rookie cards, which are currently priced closer to peanuts than the peanuts-and-crackerjack price they truly deserve. Be on the lookout for his 2023 Topps Chrome Rookie Cards and 2020 Bowman Draft 1st Bowman Cards—the definition of potential at a bargain.
Then, making his pitch (pun intended!) for card value elevation is Jared Jones from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The right-handed destructor might slip under the radar amidst the Pirates’ promising young rotation, but doing so would be a fumble for investors. His 2024 performance added a layer of intrigue to his card value; a 4.14 ERA paired seamlessly with a 9.7 K/9, and if that didn’t catch your eye, his 2.88 BB/9 speaks volumes of a pitcher refining his craft. To top it off, there’s a newfound two-seamer in his arsenal—a gift from the baseball gods—making his Topps Chrome Rookie Auto /499 criminally underpriced at merely $30. His cards could see a meteoric rise.
On the offensive side of things, take a swing at Heston Kjerstad from the Baltimore Orioles. Hidden, perhaps, in the voluminous talent of the Orioles’ farm system, Kjerstad is like the diamond in the rough ready to glitter. His 2024 spectacle in the minors (.303/.401/.584 with 16 HRs) screams reliability and power, but it’s his location—potentially sidelined in the Orioles’ crowded outfield—that’s left him tantalizingly affordable. But should he find a nook as a Designated Hitter, his card values, akin to his batting average, might very well hit the roof. Keep tabs on his 2024 Bowman Chrome Rookie Gold Refractor Auto /50 PSA 10 that recently laughed in the face of its low $150 selling price—an easy pick for who-knows-how-much-future-value.
Furthermore, the Detroit Tigers offer up Kerry Carpenter, a slugger with a taste for the grand slam. If there’s a contender for the title of “most underrated power hitter,” Carpenter takes the cake. His 44 home runs and 131 RBI across 236 MLB games already outline a hitter with potential. A few back issues hampered 2024, but even then, a production of 18 homers in 87 games was no small feat. His improvements in hard-hit rate and fly ball ratios add to his promise. Congregating behind the formidable lineup of Gleyber Torres, Parker Meadows, and Riley Greene, Carpenter stands ready to clear the bases and take his card values with him. Those browsing the budget-friendly aisles should look up his 2023 Topps Chrome Rookie Card and carefully scrutinize those charming Purple Auto /250s and Aqua Wave Auto /199s.
These four players are not merely pixels on a screen or footnotes in a lineup—they’re strategically potent investments ready to reward those with the foresight to see beyond the obvious. As every MLB season births new legends and defies old predictions, capturing these diamonds before they become evident amidst the game’s gold seekers could be the move that sets apart the seasoned collector from the rec collector. As the hype of the upcoming season intensifies, so does the window of opportunity—shrinking with every inning. The time to act is now.
