With Spring Training underway, now is an excellent time to explore the card market and invest in undervalued baseball cards. Which players could you invest in to potentially turn a profit if they excel in the 2025 season? After scouring the market, I’ve compiled a list of names you might consider to enhance your inventory or personal collection
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Brandon Pfaadt – Arizona Diamondbacks
Pfaadt is dirt cheap heading into the 2025 season. At first glance, his major league stats don’t leap off the page. Across 277.2 career innings, he carries a 5.06 ERA, with a 9.04 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, and 1.4 HR/9. Yet there’s ample reason to be optimistic about the 26-year-old starter. His 4.71 ERA last year came with a 3.78 xERA and a 3.61 FIP. In his first full season, he struck out more than a batter per inning while keeping walks just above two per nine. This mirrors his minor league performance, where his command shone and he posted double-digit strikeouts per nine. I like his upside a lot this season.
If Pfaadt sustains his command and reins in home runs, he could be ace material. Luckily for him, he won’t be relied upon as one, as the D-Backs’ rotation boasts talent up front with Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, and Merrill Kelly. If he takes that next step, his current prices will look like a steal.
Cards to consider
2023 Topps Chrome – Rookie Card
2023 Topps Chrome Update – Rookie Card
2020 Bowman Draft – 1st Bowman Card
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Jared Jones – Pittsburgh Pirates
Editors note: Jared Jones is currently dealing with elbow discomfort and is getting a second opinion. Be careful buying Jones until more current news is available.
When considering a Pittsburgh Pirate to invest in, Jared Jones probably isn’t your first thought. That’s an opportunity we can seize—he could emerge as a force in the Pirates’ rotation this upcoming season.
In his MLB debut season, Jones posted a 4.14 ERA (4.05 xERA), with a 4.00 FIP, 9.7 K/9, and 2.88 BB/9. Injuries in the second half derailed an otherwise promising 2024. Now healthy entering Spring Training, Jones is expanding his arsenal with a third pitch. Having leaned on his fastball and slider for nearly 85% of his pitches, he’s now testing a two-seamer in Spring Training. If it clicks, it could make his already dynamic stuff downright lethal.
His cards are simply too cheap for one of the top young pitchers in the game right now. As of February 27, recent sales show his Topps Chrome Rookie Auto (/499) fetching around $30. That’s a bargain to bet on his upside
Cards to consider
2024 Topps Chrome – Rookie Card
2024 Topps Chrome Update Series – Rookie Card
2020 Bowman Draft – 1st Bowman Card
Heston Kjerstad – Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles’ endless parade of top prospects has unintentionally overshadowed Kjerstad. Though he’s debuted in the majors twice, he hasn’t secured steady playing time to unleash his monstrous minor league form. Yet 2025 could be his breakout year, with a spot on the 26-man roster from day one. The outfield’s crowded with Tyler O’Neill, Cedric Mullins, and Colton Cowser, but Kjerstad could carve out a role at DH, currently held by Ryan O’Hearn.
I think now’s the time to invest in Kjerstad. He’s repeatedly proven in the minors that he can rake with elite contact skills. Last season across A+, AA, and AAA, he slashed .303/.401/.584 with 16 home runs, 61 RBI, and 51 runs scored.
Recent eBay sales from his rookie year are screaming bargains. A 2024 Bowman Chrome Rookie Gold Refractor Auto /50 PSA 10 recently sold for a mere $150—a beautiful card that could be a massive steal if we see the minor league Kjerstad. If that’s too steep, his base Topps Series 1 rookie auto went for just $16. That’s dirt cheap for a former top prospect sidelined by injuries and a crowded lineup. He’s one of my favorite undervalued baseball cards, currently.
Cards to consider
2024 Topps Chrome – Rookie Card
2024 Topps Chrome Update Series – Rookie Card
2020 Bowman Draft – 1st Bowman Card
Kerry Carpenter – Detroit Tigers
If Carpenter stays healthy for a full season, he’s got 30+ home run upside. Across 236 MLB games since 2022, he’s smashed 44 home runs and driven in 131. Back issues held him to 87 games last season, yet he still blasted 18 home runs and drove in 57.
Carpenter’s 2024 trended upward, with gains in key offensive metrics like hard-hit rate, HR/FB ratio, and exit velocity. Batting mid-lineup, he’ll have plenty of chances to produce, with Gleyber Torres, Parker Meadows, and Riley Greene setting the table. His cards are dirt cheap right now and worth a look. Carpenter doesn’t have a 1st Bowman, so check out his rookie card from the 2023 Topps Chrome set. His Purple auto /250 recently fetched just $49. A PSA-graded Aqua Wave auto /199 sold for $150.
Cards to consider
2023 Topps Chrome – Rookie Card
2023 Topps Chrome Update – Rookie Card
So there you have it! Those are some undervalued baseball cards I think are worth taking a look at investing in before the season begins. If you like this series, hit me up on X @SBuchanan24, and let me know!
