The realm of trading cards—a hobby as old as baseball itself, with origins harking back to the days of flannel uniforms and snack bar hot dogs—is undergoing a renaissance, thanks in large part to Fanatics’ innovative spirit. With a nod to the storied tradition of card collecting, they’ve injected some 21st-century excitement into the mix. Behold, the Bowman Red Rookie, the latest concoction aiming to blend nostalgia with the enticing lure of prizes worthy of a home run.

This isn’t just another card with a shiny logo. Starting November, collectors clutching one of these exclusive red-stamped cards can dream big, provided their prospective player accomplishes feats such as clinching the Rookie of the Year title, being crowned Cy Young, snagging the MVP, or—honor upon honors—eventually strolling through the hallowed halls of Cooperstown.

Now, while imagining oneself as the self-proclaimed “CEO of Fanatics” for holding onto a future Hall of Famer card is an exercise in whimsy (permission granted, there), the immediate prize for nabbing a Rookie of the Year is much more conceivable. That’s where Roki Sasaki, one of the headliners in this Red Rookie program, comes into play. The real question on everyone’s lips remains: when the 2025 Bowman Red Rookies hit the shelves, which of these hopefuls truly deserve our attention and hard-earned dollars?

Enter Max Arterburn from Prospects Live. Armed with a keen eye and comprehensive stats, he embarked on a vetting quest starting with 30 potential candidates. Using a methodical elimination strategy, he filtered out those whose dreams have already dimmed for 2025. It’s goodbye to prospects who raced past rookie benchmarks like they were trying to outrun Father Time, including Connor Norby and Spencer Schwellenbach. They, along with Drew Thorpe, Jhonkensy Noel, David Festa, Ben Rice, James Wood, and Brooks Lee, can now step out of the spotlight as their eligibility waved them goodbye last year.

Left in the running are 22 players. However, baseball’s notorious fickle finger of fate, aka injuries, has already sidelined a few contenders: Rhett Lowder, Kumar Rocker, and River Ryan have found themselves on the bench, nursing various ailments. Even with a miraculous recovery, their comeback would need to rival a cinematic climax to enter the rookies’ high stakes realm. For the remainder, patience until next season is the only play.

Twelve others linger in that grey space between potential and presence, caught in the minors or struggling to make noise in the majors—call it baseball purgatory. Here’s looking at you, Adrian Del Castillo and Shay Whitcomb. Thomas Saggese, Hyesong Kim, and the rest of the gang (Adael Amador, Hurston Waldrep, Tyler Locklear, Coby Mayo, Caden Dana, Kevin Alcantara, Orelvis Martinez, and Nick Yorke) might want to take notes on the art of making an entrance.

Now, the pool has shrunk to a select seven, each hoping to catch the scouts’ eyes. But, to further stir the pot, some downplay their own prospects. Luisangel Acuña is yet to cement his career ambitions, while Jace Jung’s promising rookie charms dissipate quickly once the scoreboard’s in view. As for Tomoyuki Sugano, let’s just say a bit more zip on that fastball wouldn’t hurt.

Through a process more akin to Sherlock Holmes than Moneyball, we unveil the final four Bowman Red Rookies blooming with potential: Jackson Jobe, Jacob Wilson, Roki Sasaki, and Dylan Crews.

These are the hot picks that collectors should watch, cards in hand, eagerly awaiting that magical moment when one of these rookies crosses the stars and claims either accolades, accolades, or that coveted $100 Fanatics prize. Sure, some might stride through Cooperstown’s chapel doors one day, but for now, let’s enjoy the friendly rivalry and tantalizing prospect of a cash windfall that feels much more immediate.

Remember, in the topsy-turvy, deeply nostalgic world of trading cards, a mix of shrewd judgment, a dash of patience, and the occasional lucky guess could just turn your next collector’s quest into a picture-perfect American pastime score.

2025 Bowman Red Auto Rookies