With the 2015 baseball season in full swing, many collectors are looking to the hobby to invest in the next generation of stars. While it’s impossible to predict the future, studying baseball card investment trends and scouting promising young talent can give collectors an edge. This article will explore some of the best baseball card investments for 2015 based on a player’s pedigree, potential, and early career success.
Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels (2009 Topps Draft Picks Baseball #34): Widely considered the best player in baseball today, Trout has lived up to enormous hype since being selected with the 25th overall pick in the 2009 draft. He won AL Rookie of the Year in 2012, has finished in the top two in MVP voting three times, and is still just 23 years old. Trout cards have skyrocketed in value thanks to his otherworldly abilities. The 2009 Topps Draft Pick card is one of his earliest widely available rookie cards and remains a sound long term investment. Look for Trout to continue dominating the league for years to come.
Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals (2010 Bowman Baseball Chrome #91): Like Trout, Harper has established himself as a true five-tool superstar at a very young age. The first overall pick in the 2010 draft, Harper broke into the majors as a 19-year-old and finished runner up for NL Rookie of the Year. He won NL MVP in 2015 at just 22 years old. Harper is already a marketing phenomenon and perennial All-Star, making his rookie cards strong holds. The 2010 Bowman Chrome is one of his most iconic early cards available in high grades.
Manny Machado, 3B, Baltimore Orioles (2012 Topps Baseball #249): Still just 22, Machado has been a cornerstone for the Orioles since debuting as a 19-year-old in 2012. A terrific all-around player, he finished third in AL MVP voting in 2015 while playing Gold Glove defense at third base. Machado’s talent and production at such a young age bode extremely well for the future. His 2012 Topps rookie card remains quite affordable for the potential long term upside.
Yasiel Puig, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers (2013 Topps Baseball #182): Puig exploded onto the scene as a 22-year-old rookie in 2013, batting .319 with 19 home runs and 42 RBI in 104 games. His combination of five-tools and flair for the dramatic made him an instant fan favorite. Injuries have slowed Puig the last two seasons, but at just 25, he still has prime years ahead if he can stay healthy. His 2013 Topps rookie card seems like a bargain given his prodigious abilities and star power when at his best.
Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians (2014 Topps Baseball #132): Widely considered the best all-around shortstop in baseball today, Lindor has dazzled since debuting as a 21-year-old in 2015. He finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting and is a slick fielding, high average hitter still hitting his stride. At just 22, Lindor has superstar written all over him long term in Cleveland. His 2014 Topps rookie card looks like a no-brainer investment given his elite talent and bright future.
Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs (2015 Topps Baseball #162): The 2015 NL Rookie of the Year had a monster debut season, batting .275 with 26 home runs and 99 RBI. Bryant was the second overall pick in the 2013 draft and has proven himself as a true five-tool player in his first full MLB campaign at just 24 years old. He will be a centerpiece for the Cubs for years to come. Bryant’s 2015 Topps rookie card seems poised to appreciate significantly as he establishes himself as an annual MVP candidate.
Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers (2015 Topps Update Series #US-11): Seager made a seamless transition from the minors to the majors in 2015. The 18th overall pick in the 2012 draft batted .337 with 4 home runs in 30 games upon his September call-up. He should lock down the Dodgers shortstop job for the long haul. At just 21, Seager has All-Star caliber skills and a bright future. His 2015 Update Series rookie card is still quite affordable for the enormous upside he possesses.
Carlos Correa, SS, Houston Astros (2015 Topps Baseball #398): The first overall pick in the 2012 draft, Correa proved ready for the majors in his 2015 debut at just 20 years old. He hit .279 with 11 home runs in 99 games and looks like a budding superstar for the rebuilding Astros. At 6’4″, Correa has a rare combination of size, power, and slick defense for a shortstop. He could be a perennial All-Star for over a decade. His 2015 Topps rookie card seems like a no-brainer long term investment.
Noah Syndergaard, SP, New York Mets (2015 Topps Update Series #US-61): “Thor” lived up to the hype in 2015, going 9-7 with a 3.24 ERA as a 22-year-old and looking like an ace in the making. The sixth overall pick in the 2010 draft, Syndergaard has overpowering stuff and the frame to hold up as a workhorse. He should anchor the Mets rotation for years to come. His 2015 Update Series rookie card is quite affordable now but poised to rise sharply as he establishes himself at the front of rotations for years to come.
Focusing on young stars with proven skills, elite pedigrees, and bright long term outlooks is the savvy approach for baseball card investors. Players like Trout, Harper, Machado, Bryant, Correa, and Syndergaard seem like sure-fire successes and their early career cards appear reasonably priced given their superstar potential. Of course, injuries and unexpected declines can always alter projections. But by studying the cream of the crop in today’s game, collectors stand the best chance of picking future hall-of-famers while their cardboard is still affordable. The cards profiled here offer an intriguing mix of proven performance, youth, upside, and relative bargain prices that make them among the best baseball card investments for 2015.
