Hot Baseball Cards 2025 Roman Anthony

The industry reached new highs in 2025, thanks in part to exciting new player debuts like Roman Anthony and Paul Skenes’ continued dominance.

Anthony’s Bowman Chrome base 1st autos spiked when he was called up and started making an impact in the Red Sox lineup, while Skenes’ 2024 rookies kept going strong with the addition of a Cy Young Award and million-dollar sales.

In a market worth more than $15 billion, Topps Chrome Update and Bowman Draft led to chases for Kurtz, Crews, Sasaki, and others. We’ll go over the most popular cards, prices from eBay and Goldin, and tips for 2026. Trends change quickly, so keep an eye out for early breakouts.

The Rise of Roman Anthony’s Rookie CardSales and Key Cards

Roman Anthony’s 2023 Bowman Chrome 1st autos led the way. A Red Refractor numbered /5 sold for more than $39,000 in 2025 auctions. A PSA 10 2025 Topps NOW auto sold for $999 in October on eBay. Heck, an ungraded 2023 Bowman Chrome 1st Prospect auto just sold for $580, proving what collectors think about his future.

Hype About Performance Driving

Anthony’s 2025 MLB stats, which showed a strong average and power in a small number of games, helped him become the Red Sox’s top prospect. The counting stats weren’t gaudy, but they were starting to pile up before his injury. 303 plate appearances, slashing .292/.396/.463, 8 HR, 32 RBI, and 4 SB. Collectors, however, expect better, backed by his current prices. There is a lot of helium at work here, so unless he’s in your personal collection, you may think about taking value when spring training starts and optimism is at its peak.

Roman Anthony’s hype going into 2026 seems limitless, and it’s clear why collectors are willing to pay top dollar for his cards right now. In his first year in the MLB in 2025 (303 plate appearances before an injury cut things short), he hit .292/.396/.463 with 8 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 4 steals. These numbers don’t scream superstar yet, but they do show that he had great plate discipline (.396 OBP) and was starting to show power as a 21-year-old in the big leagues.

Anthony is Boston’s clear best prospect and a key part of their rebuilding process. He is a rare mix of being close to the big leagues (he has already proven he belongs) and having a lot of potential (he is still years away from his peak). The Red Sox’s big-market spotlight only makes it pump higher with every highlight or elite positional ranking. What really makes his card values go up in 2026 is the difference between what collectors think and what experts think will happen.

Steamer (care of FanGraphs) thinks he will hit .263/.364/.438 with 15 home runs and 51 RBIs in only 111 games. That’s good, but not great. But the market is betting on more: his prices show that people expect him to hit 20 or more home runs, have an average of .280 or higher, hit leadoff, and play every day while the Red Sox are in the playoff race. Collectors aren’t just buying the stats, but they’re also buying the next likely face of the franchise.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes' dominant arsenal and Cy Young season cemented his 2024 rookie cards as modern blue-chip cards.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes’ dominant arsenal and Cy Young season cemented his 2024 rookie cards as modern blue-chip cards.

Paul Skenes Prospects Still Trending2024 Rookies in 2025 Market

Paul Skenes’ 2024 rookie performance kept going strong through 2025, thanks to his unanimous NL Cy Young Award in his first full season. This was a historic back-to-back win, making him a generational arm. From late 2025 on, PSA 10 Topps Chrome Update debuts sold for between $300 and $600 on eBay, while low-numbered refractors and relics sold for between $2,000 and $5,000, showing that collectors weren’t ready to let go. The $1.1 million debut patch auto from the 2024 Chrome Update set the standard for modern cards, and similar relics sold quickly during the off-season. Pirates’ hopes for a better season and Skenes’ dominance (1.97 ERA, 216 Ks) kept demand high with graded Chrome parallels, and Bowman Draft 1sts being foundational blue-chips.

Debut Patch and Chrome Values

As I’ve written previously, Paul Skenes’ debut patch auto from 2024 Topps Chrome Update remains the crown jewel, with the headline 1/1 MLB Debut Patch Auto selling for a record $1.11 million (including premium) at Fanatics Collect auction in early 2025, and it is still the benchmark for modern rookie relics heading into 2026 sales.

Similar rookie year patch parallels and lower-serial relics hold strong at $3K-$10K on eBay/Goldin comps. Base Bowman Chrome autos (2023 Draft 1st on-card) trade more accessibly, with raw copies fetching $400-600 and PSA 10s $1K-2K, while low-numbered refractors (/50 Gold around $5K-6K) offer upside without grail prices.

For collectors, these values reflect sustained demand: patches for trophy collectors, Chrome autos for playable investments backed by Skenes’ ace status, and Pirates roster enhancements driving contention hopes.

Cy Young Impact

The win made him the first pitcher since Justin Verlander in 2011 to follow Rookie of the Year with Cy Young, instantly elevating his 2024 rookies from “hot prospect” to “generational ace” status. PSA 10 Topps Chrome Update debuts jumped 30-40% in the weeks after the November announcement, stabilizing around $400-700, while low-numbered refractors and autos climbed another tier ($3K-8K range).

Collectors now price in long-term Hall of Fame trajectory, turning Skenes cards into blue-chip holds rather than short-term flips. The award solidified premium floors, making any market dip feel temporary, and graded pieces remain buys for 2026 upside as he anchors rotations for years.

Nick Kurtz’s power breakout and Rookie of the Year campaign made his Topps Update and Chrome cards must-haves.© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Other Top Trending Cards 2025Nick Kurtz and Roki Sasaki

Nick Kurtz and Roki Sasaki rounded out 2025’s most chased rookies beyond Anthony and Skenes, with Kurtz’s Athletics cards exploding on his AL Rookie of the Year win and historic feats like the first rookie’s four-homer game. His Topps Update and Chrome autos surged, with raw bases selling for $10-20 and high-end parallels going for over $300, as collectors bet that his rookie home run power would translate long-term.

Roki Sasaki added more international flavor and front-of-the-rotation hype to the Dodgers staff. However, early poor performances and a long-term stay on the IL deflated things dramatically. But his postseason conversion to be the team’s closer and success through the World Series stoked the fire again heading into 2026. Topps Chrome cover status and Series 2 cards (color matches /150 around $70-100) show the buzz still alive, with autos and refractors trending $500-2K, believing in his elite upside. Both names highlight 2025’s theme: Performance and potential drive values, even in uneven rookie years … making their cards solid holds into the 2026 season start.

Topps Chrome Update Chases

In 2025, Topps Chrome Update gave collectors a great late-season boost. It captured rookies like Marcelo Mayer and Drake Baldwin’s MLB debuts, giving collectors new things to chase when they were getting tired of the flagship.

Mayer’s call-up to the Red Sox made his Chrome Update rookies instant hits. PSA 10 bases went up to $150-250, while low-numbered refractors (/99 Gold around $800-1,200) and base autos shot up on Boston’s big-market buzz.

Drake Baldwin’s promotion to the Braves and his NL Rookie of the Year win did the same for his cards: raw Update Rookies sold quickly for $50-100, and Sapphire parallels and autos sold for $400-700 as catchers with pop became hard to find.

Marcelo Mayer’s call-up gave Topps Chrome Update another Boston-driven rookie surge late in the season.

Market Trends and TipsRookie Demand Drivers

The rookie demand spike in 2025 was simple: stellar on-field performance matched their prospect hype, and collectors paid a lot for it. Roman Anthony’s strong debut (.292/.396/.463 with 8 HR in 303 PA) and Paul Skenes’ historic Cy Young follow-up proved the point that cards tied to measurable big-league success saw the sharpest spikes, often 30-50% gains in graded values post-breakout or award.

Debut patches, low-numbered autos, and Chrome parallels became the most sought-after items because they are rare and have verifiable milestones (like Skenes’ debut patch from his first start or Anthony’s first hits). Big-market teams like the Red Sox, Dodgers, and Yankees made everything bigger. Call-ups in Boston or LA made headlines across the country and drew more attention than those in smaller markets.

Sasaki and other Japanese players brought a global flavor to the game, but domestic rookies with counting stats (HRs, Ks, wins) won the volume game. If you’re a collector looking ahead to 2026, the lesson is clear. Focus on cards from players who are in line for full-time MLB playing time vs. the ones grabbing “top prospect” rankings in AA.

Outlook Into 2026Bowman Draft Prospects

Bowman Draft 2025 releases on January 16th and celebrates the ‘25 Draft Class’ first year in pro ball. The #1 overall pick, Eli Willits (Washington Nationals), leads the way as the big chase. As a young shortstop with power and speed potential, Willits was the clear top choice.

The set’s 200-card base and long auto checklist (with top-25 prospects like Tyler Bremner #2 and Kade Anderson #3) made it a hit during the holidays, and Jumbo boxes ($650-800) sold out quickly. For prospect collectors, Bowman Draft is the best way to build a binder of potential. Early first-round picks often do better than flagship picks if they get called up, so Willits and international hits are the ones to watch in 2026.

Conclusion

2025 was an exciting year for baseball cards. Roman Anthony’s breakout debut and Paul Skenes’ Cy Young dominance showed once again that the best way to make money in the hobby is to make sure what you hold performs well on the field. If you’re looking for the next wave, focus on graded rookies from proven players. Diversify your sets, keep an eye on auctions, and buy the dip. The hobby has never been more popular. Check out the current listings today and get your piece of the action before spring training starts the next wave.

Hot Baseball Cards 2025 Roman Anthony

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