We started this tradition of baseball rookie card power rankings last year when we combined the three 2024 Topps flagship series and ranked the rookie cards against each other in our 2024 Rookie Card Power Rankings.
Here are our original rankings for each series after they came out:
2025 Rookie Card Power Rankings: 15 Best Topps Rookies 2025
There were a whopping 282 rookie cards produced in 2025 Topps Series 1 (65), Topps Series 2 (64), and Topps Update (153) combined, but we’ve narrowed down our list of rookie card power rankings to the Top 15 rookie cards you’ll want to target from these products in the future!
1. Nick Kurtz, 1B, athletics (22 years)
Kurtz brings top-tier first base power to the core of an emerging A, and early projections see him as the anchor of the lineup. First basemen have to grind to stay warm in the hobby, but if the bat plays as advertised, his 2025 flagship rookie cards could age as well as those of Freddie Freeman or Paul Goldschmidt.
2. James Wood, OF, Washington Nationals (23)
Wood and Dylan Crews are at the top of this class in terms of long-term collectability, with Wood getting a slight edge thanks to louder Fantasy-style tools and a mediocre ceiling under a big spotlight in the DC market.
3. Marcelo Mayer, SS/3B, Boston Red Sox (23)
Mayer offers the classic, hobby-friendly shortstop profile in a legendary Red Sox uniform, and his mix of power and basic skill keeps him in that “face of the franchise” job when the bat is fully clicking. For collectors, its combination of position, market and design pedigree makes its flagship RCs one of the safer long-term acquisitions in this group.
Interestingly enough, a low price opportunity could emerge once Topps Series 1 2026 releases, as collectors line up for Mayer’s teammate, Roman Anthony. A wrist injury in July could also play a role in the cheaper Mayer prices.
4. Dylan Crews, OF, Washington Nationals (23)
Injuries and fundamental issues derailed Crews to hobby greatness this year after his rookie card came out in Series 1. But he still profiles as a potential perennial All-Star with strong on-base skills and run production, putting his flagship rookies in a nice long-term position – with potential cuts this offseason!
5. Roki Sasaki, SP/RP, LA Dodgers (23)
The young Japanese import is a nice addition to this rookie class, combining ace-level stuff with global appeal on a marquee Dodgers team in one of the biggest media markets in the world, boosting both his floor and ceiling in the hobby. Pitcher risk always exists, but his talent level and international following give his rookie cards a unique advantage that other young players can’t match.
6. Drake Baldwin, C, Atlanta Braves (24)
Baldwin is a bat-first catcher with the potential to develop into a serious energy production, especially if he nails the everyday run for Atlanta’s already potent offense. If the Braves’ lineup turns him into a 20-25 homer who produces runs regularly, his rookie cards could surpass the usual “catcher tax” in the hobby.
7. Matt Shaw, 3B, Chicago Cubs (24)
Shaw’s bat speed and approach give him a chance to develop into a high-OBP, 20-homer type in the Cubs infield, which would limit super collectability, but it would keep his rookie cards in the conversation for modern collectors.
8. Jackson Jobe, SP, Detroit Tigers (23)
Jobe is one of a handful of pitchers considered potential true bigwigs, and despite Tommy John surgery that disabled him last year, he remains near the top of the list of great young pitchers.
Considering that Jobe, at just 24 years old, should be healthy by the start of the 2027 season, on an improving Tigers team that has already made the 2025 MLB Playoffs, his rookie card value will likely reach its lowest point next summer before starting to climb hard! His RCs could become some of the most coveted modern pitcher cards of the decade.
9. Cade Horton, SP, Chicago Cubs (24)
Horton looks like a hard-throwing, rotation-leading arm for the Cubs, which excites ticket collectors, especially if he continues to post early strikeout-heavy seasons at Wrigley Field. The hobby LOVES young Cubs pitchers (see Kerry Wood and Mark Prior), and Horton is right behind Sasaki and Jobe among pitchers with 2,025 RCs.
10. Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics (23)
Jacob, the son of former Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson, looked like the breakout American League Rookie of the Year early in the season, but was passed over by teammate Nick Kurtz.
Wilson brings an advanced hitting tool and strong real-life value at shortstop, and some projections on future A lineups place him as one of their top offensive pieces alongside Kurtz. Even if he never becomes a monster in the asset classes, a daily shortstop with a high average and high OBP still has solid long-term appeal.
11. Cam Smith, OF, Houston Astros (22)
Smith was the key piece in the Cubs trade for Kyle Tucker last year and he offers an exciting mix of power and speed. His short print from the 2025 Topps Series 2 immediately creates a fun marriage of talent and scarcity. If he establishes himself as an everyday bat in a solid lineup, those early SP rookies could develop into key pursuit cards.
12. Luke Keaschall, 2B, Minnesota Twins (23)
Keaschall looks like the kind of regular, general contributor who looks more like a lineup glue guy than a superstar. That may limit his hobby ceiling a bit, but strong seasons on a competitive Twins roster could increase interest in his rookie cards.
13. Kristian Campbell, 2B, Boston Red Sox (23)
Campbell’s value has flown a bit under the radar after he stumbled out of the MLB gates last spring. I’m less optimistic about Campbell than a lot of people, so if you like him, don’t let me put you off. If his bat exceeds my expectations and he continues to play in a fantasy-friendly role, that combination of rebounding performance could cause a sharp jump in demand.
​14. Dalton Rushing, C/1B, LA Dodgers (24)
Dalton Rushing has mid-range potential, but he’s stuck behind one of the best catchers in the game: Will Smith. While his run with the Dodgers gives him one of the best hobby platforms of anyone on this list, he will likely have to be traded before card collectors really get excited about pulling his cards. If they move him away from his catcher position but keep him in LA, that could be great too!
15. Coby Mayo, 3B, Baltimore Orioles (24)
Mayo offers as much raw power as anyone on this list, and if he carves out an everyday corner position in Baltimore’s young core, his stat lines could see his rookie cards soar from 35-40 homers during each season. The risk, of course, is if he fails to fulfill his potential or goes defensive.
Those are our 2025 Rookie Card Power Rankings! Where do we differ? Who do you like more? Whose rookie cards do you throw in the regular bins? Let us know in the comments – and enjoy a great hobby!
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