Discover The Rising Stars Turning Heads This Season
The 2025 MLB season is halfway to the All-Star Game, and several young stars have captured both headlines and the imaginations of card collectors. They’re lighting up the basepaths and finally living up to their Bowman prospect hype. Some are enjoying their first real MLB success, while others are rising from obscurity to become instant fan favorites. Either way, their Topps and Bowman cards are worth a closer look.
Here are ten 2025 breakout stars, along with the cards that are keeping pace with their ascent.
1. Spencer Torkelson — Detroit Tigers
Top Cards: 2020 Bowman Draft #BD-1, 2022 Topps Update #US20
After a slow start to his MLB career, Spencer Torkelson finally looks like the slugger Detroit envisioned when they drafted him first overall. Through April 2025, he’s already posted a 1.1 WAR, showing better plate discipline and power.
For collectors, his 2020 Bowman Draft and 2022 Topps Update cards are back on the radar. They’re not “prospecting gambles” anymore — they’re investments in a player turning the corner.
2. Ben Rice — New York Yankees
Top Cards: 2024 Topps NOW® #388, 2025 Topps Series 1 #337
With multiple injuries in the Yankees’ lineup, Ben Rice has stepped up in a big way, showing poise at the plate and positional versatility. He’s played both catcher and first base and has already hit several clutch home runs.
His 2024 Topps NOW® “call-up” card is already treasured, and his 2025 Topps rookie card is getting attention among collectors who love a Yankee sleeper.
3. Wilyer Abreu — Boston Red Sox
Top Cards: 2023 Bowman Chrome Refractor #CPA-WA, 2024 Topps Series 2 #672
A key piece in Boston’s surprisingly resilient offense, Wilyer Abreu has shown pop, patience, and defensive prowess. He looks like the real deal.
Abreu’s 2023 Bowman Chrome Auto Refractor is a rare find, and with an OPS near .930 in 2025, his 2024 Topps Series 2 rookie card is earning some Hobby buzz.
4. Pete Crow-Armstrong — Chicago Cubs
Top Cards: 2020 Bowman Draft Chrome Auto #CDA-PC Gold Refractor, 2024 Topps Update RC #US91
Pete Crow-Armstrong brought elite defense and exciting speed to the big stage, and now his bat is catching up. After a wobbly debut in the majors in 2024, he’s found consistency in 2025, flashing Gold Glove-caliber defense and top-of-the-lineup potential.
His 2020 Bowman Chrome Gold Refractor Autograph card is a needle in a haystack, and his 2024 Topps Update rookie card is emerging as one of that set’s quiet standouts. If he keeps getting on base, his hobby stock will only rise.
5. Jung Hoo Lee – San Francisco Giants
Top Cards: 2024 Topps Archives #127, 2024 Topps Update RC #US343
One of the most highly anticipated international signings in recent memory, Jung Hoo Lee has quickly shown why the Giants made him the centerpiece of their offseason. Despite battling some early-season injuries in 2025, he’s displayed elite contact skills, quick hands, and top-tier outfield defense.
For collectors, his 2024 Topps Archives #127 offers a clean entry point, while his 2024 Topps Update card is poised to remain one of The Hobby’s most anticipated RCs of the year. With his skill set and global appeal, Lee is a long-term hold with serious upside.
6. Hunter Brown — Houston Astros
Top Cards: 2023 Topps Series 1 RC #111, 2023 Bowman Chrome Refractor #/150
Hunter Brown was drafted in the fifth round out of Wayne State University in 2019 and made his MLB debut in 2022. But in the past year, Brown has turned a corner. With a sharpened breaking ball and improved command, he’s become a steady presence in Houston’s rotation — no small feat given the club’s recent pitching pedigree.
His 2023 Topps rookie card has remained popular with Astros fans, and his 2023 Bowman RC Refractor is hot in secondary markets. If Brown continues to mow down hitters and keep his ERA low, demand will only increase.
7. Brice Turang — Milwaukee Brewers
Top Cards: 2018 Bowman Draft 1st Bowman #BDC11, 2023 Topps Series 2 RC #530
After a solid rookie campaign, Brice Turang has taken a major leap in 2025, emerging as a reliable everyday second baseman with elite defense and sneaky speed. He’s already among the league leaders in stolen bases and has become a spark plug in Milwaukee’s lineup.
Collectors who scooped up his 2018 Bowman Draft 1st Bowman back when he was a top prep prospect are seeing that patience rewarded. His 2023 Topps rookie card is still affordable, even in a rainbow foil parallel, but with his upward trajectory, it may not stay that way for long.
8. Corbin Carroll — Arizona Diamondbacks
Top Cards: 2020 Bowman Draft #BD-114, 2023 Topps Series 2 RC #401
After winning NL Rookie of the Year in 2023, Corbin Carroll entered 2025 not as a prospect, but as a rising star — and he’s living up to the hype. Despite a slow start, he’s rebounded with elite defense, game-changing speed, and flashes of the lefty power that made him one of the game’s most exciting young players.
For collectors, his 2020 Bowman Draft card is a nice find, while his 2023 Topps rookie card and Topps Chrome RC are fan favorites. Carroll is a face-of-the-franchise type, and his cards already reflect it.
9. Yoshinobu Yamamoto – Los Angeles Dodgers
Top Cards: 2024 Bowman Chrome #36, 2024 Topps Chrome Update Blue Refractor #AC-YY
After signing a record-breaking deal with the Dodgers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto has lived up to the hype — and then some. His command, pitch mix, and mound presence have made him one of the most polished pitchers in MLB, and he’s already anchoring the Dodgers’ rotation in 2025.
Collectors should note his 2024 Bowman Chrome card, and with his 2024 Topps rookie card debuting in Series 2, interest is only ramping up. Yamamoto combines elite talent, big-market spotlight, and international star power — making his cards a must-watch in this year’s hobby landscape.
10. Jarren Duran — Boston Red Sox
Top Cards: 2022 Topps RC #187, 2020 Bowman Chrome Prospect #BCP-144
After a couple of underwhelming seasons, Jarren Duran is finally tapping into his potential. His electrifying baserunning — yes, he already stole home this year — and new-found plate discipline are turning heads.
His 2022 Topps rookie card and 2020 Bowman Chrome prospect cards are still very affordable, but for how much longer?
Final Thoughts: A Bowman-Fueled Breakout Season
2025 is shaping up to be a year where once-hyped Bowman names finally live up to their billing, and where new stars are born weekly. What’s especially exciting for collectors is that most of these players have multiple entry points in The Hobby:
- Prospect cards in Bowman Chrome or Bowman Draft
- Rookie cards in Topps Series 1 or 2
- Low-pop parallels or autographs ready to grade
Whether you’re prospecting, flipping, or just building a binder of guys to root for, these breakout stars are breathing fresh life into both the league and the long legacy of Topps and Bowman baseball cards.
Pro Tip: Check last year’s shoebox and your local dollar bins. Some of these cards were sleeper pickups just months ago. Now? They’re becoming the backbone of 2025’s cardboard narrative.
