Introduction
As baseball season approaches, the sports card market is already shifting into gear.
Spring training has started to generate buzz around several emerging MLB prospects, while a surprising NBA rookie has also caught collectors’ attention with a recent stretch of strong performances. Add in one of the most globally recognized superstars in the sport, and this week’s market activity highlights how quickly momentum can build when performance and timing align.
This list showcases a mix of prospect hype, breakout performances, and established superstar dominance. Before we count down the top five sports cards heating up by Sports Card Investor, let’s take a quick look at the overall market.
Sports Card Market Pulse
The sports card market continues to show steady strength early in 2026.
According to Market Movers, the SEI 500 Index, which tracks 500 of the hobby’s most prominent cards, shows:
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Up 0.3% over the last 7 days
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Up 2.7% over the last 30 days
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Up 8.2% since January 1st
While weekly growth has been modest, the steady climb highlights a market that remains healthy and active across multiple sports.
One interesting trend recently has been the surge in Formula 1 cards from 1966–2021, which are up more than 22% over the last 30 days. On the flip side, vintage hockey cards from the 1960–1979 era have cooled slightly, dropping roughly 9.9% over the same period.
With baseball prospect season officially underway and several breakout performances driving attention, the hobby continues to reward collectors who stay ahead of emerging trends.
Now let’s get into the cards making the biggest moves.
The Top 5 Sports Cards Heating Up
5. George Klassen
One of the more unexpected risers this week is Angels pitching prospect George Klassen.
Klassen has generated attention during spring training thanks to his electric fastball that regularly touches the upper 90s, paired with a sharp breaking pitch that has produced plenty of strikeouts. After recording more than 150 strikeouts across multiple minor league levels last season, his strong early showing has sparked renewed interest from collectors.
Recent card movement includes:
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2025 Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto (Raw): From about $12.50 to roughly $50, a nearly 300% increase
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2025 Bowman Chrome Reptilian Green Refractor Auto /99 (Raw): Around $85, up about 41.7%
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2025 Bowman Chrome Choice Refractor Auto /150 (PSA 9): up about 60%
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2025 Bowman Chrome Green Grass Refractor Auto /99 (Raw): From $65 to $ $100
While Klassen isn’t currently among the very top prospects in baseball, spring training hype alone can create powerful short-term momentum in the hobby.
4. Charlie Condon
Few prospects have made a louder impression this spring than Charlie Condon.
The Colorado Rockies slugger has been absolutely crushing the baseball, posting an eye-catching .467 batting average with a 1.623 OPS in limited spring training action. Known for his elite raw power, Condon’s early performance reinforces the belief that he could become one of baseball’s next great power hitters.
Across more than 170 recent sales, his cards have climbed roughly 12% over the past 30 days.
Here’s how some key cards are moving:
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2025 Bowman Chrome 1st Prospect Auto (PSA 10): From $215 to $450
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2025 Bowman Chrome 1st Prospect Auto Refractor /499 (Raw): From about $150 to $200, up 34.1%
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2025 Bowman Chrome 1st Prospect Auto (Raw): From $60-70 to $110
Power hitters often drive hobby excitement quickly, and Condon’s spring performance is clearly fueling collector demand.
3. Maxime Raynaud
The lone basketball player on this week’s list is an unexpected one.
Sacramento Kings rookie Maxime Raynaud has started to turn heads with a series of strong performances. The 7-foot-1 center has averaged around 11 points and 7 rebounds, but recently delivered multiple double-double performances, including games with more than 20 points.
That surge has translated directly into card market movement.
Across more than 750 recent sales, Raynaud’s cards have climbed about 19% over the past 30 days.
Recent price jumps include:
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2025 Topps Chrome Gold Wave Refractor /50 (Raw): From $25 to $89, up 256%
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2025 Topps Chrome Blue Wave Refractor /150 (Raw): From about $6 to $31
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2025 Topps Chrome Green Refractor /99 (Raw): From about $5.50 to $25, up 355%
Second-round rookies rarely attract this much early hobby attention, but Raynaud’s recent performances have collectors taking notice.
2. Jac Caglianone
Kansas City Royals prospect Jac Caglianone is beginning to regain hobby momentum.
After struggling early in his professional debut last season, Caglianone has looked far more comfortable during spring training. In his first 15 at-bats, he has already recorded six hits and a home run, producing an impressive 1.283 OPS.
Across 582 recent card sales, his market has climbed roughly 7% over the last 30 days.
Here’s how several cards are trending:
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2024 Bowman Draft Chrome 1st Prospect Refractor Auto /499 (PSA 9): From $465 to $525, up 12.9%
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2024 Bowman Draft Chrome 1st Prospect Auto (Raw): Up 23% at $308 right now
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2024 Bowman Draft Chrome Refractor (Raw): Up about 55.6%
Caglianone’s elite power potential gives him significant long-term upside if he continues developing at the plate.
1. Shohei Ohtani
At number one once again is Shohei Ohtani, whose market continues to surge heading into the new baseball season.
Despite it still being early in the year, collectors are aggressively targeting some of Ohtani’s earliest cards from Japan. In particular, his 2013 BBM rookie cards have experienced explosive growth as global demand for the two-way superstar continues to expand.
Recent sales show just how dramatic the surge has been from 60 days ago:
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2013 BBM #183 1st Version (PSA 10): From about $9,500 to $31,400, up 230%
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2013 BBM #42 Rookie Edition Batting (PSA 10): From roughly $2,000 to $6,650, up 223%
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2013 BBM #42 Rookie Edition Pitching (PSA 10): Now around $5,450, up 334%
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2013 BBM #554 2nd Version (PSA 10): From about $899 to $5,150
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2013 BBM #2 Nippon-Ham Fighters 10th Season With Hokkaido (PSA 10): From $410 to $2,476
As excitement builds for another potential MVP-caliber season, Ohtani continues to demonstrate why he remains one of the most powerful forces in the sports card market.
FAQs
1. Why are baseball cards heating up before the season starts?
Collectors often buy early when spring training begins because strong early performances can quickly drive hype around prospects and young stars.
2. Are prospect cards a good investment?
Prospect cards can offer huge upside, but they also carry risk since player development and call-ups are unpredictable.
3. Why are Shohei Ohtani’s Japanese cards increasing in value?
Many collectors now view his 2013 BBM cards as some of his earliest true rookie-era collectibles, which has driven significant global demand.
4. Can spring training performance impact card values?
Yes. Even small sample sizes can create excitement that pushes short-term price spikes in the hobby.
5. Should collectors buy raw or graded cards?
Raw cards often offer larger percentage gains, while graded cards provide stability and easier resale liquidity.
6. What’s the best way to track sports card prices?
Platforms like Market Movers allow collectors to track sales data, price trends, and overall market movement in real time.
Conclusion
This week’s sports card market highlights how quickly momentum can build as baseball season approaches.
Prospects like George Klassen, Charlie Condon, and Jac Caglianone are generating early excitement, while NBA rookie Maxime Raynaud has quietly emerged as a surprise riser. At the very top, Shohei Ohtani once again proves that generational talent can drive demand regardless of the time of year.
With spring training underway and the MLB season just around the corner, baseball cards are clearly waking up, and the hobby is starting to take notice.
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