Ethan Wilson Baseball Cards: Tracking the Career of a Rising MLB Star
Ethan Wilson may only be in his early years in Major League Baseball, but he has already shown flashes of brilliance that have collectors excited to track his career progression through baseball cards. Signed by the Atlanta Braves as an undrafted free agent in 2016, Wilson has steadily climbed the minor league ranks before making his MLB debut in 2020. While still early in his career, Wilson has established himself as a player to watch, with the potential for stardom and a collection of valuable baseball cards down the road.
Wilson began his professional career in 2016 playing for the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League as a 21-year old. In his debut season, he slashed .288/.369/.421 with 3 home runs and 26 RBI over 58 games. His solid performance earned him a card in 2017 Topps Series 1, marking his first appearance in a baseball card set. The card, featuring a photo of Wilson batting from his time in Danville, can still be acquired relatively inexpensively by collectors looking to start following his career from the beginning.
After a successful first season of pro ball, Wilson was promoted to High-A for 2017 where he played for the Florida Fire Frogs. He took another step forward, hitting .277 with 6 home runs and 43 RBI over 109 games. His continued development led to another card release, this time in 2017 Bowman Draft. The card shows Wilson fielding a ball at third base, highlighting his defensive versatility. Prices for Wilson’s early minor league cards remain low given his status then as a relatively unknown prospect still several levels from the majors.
In 2018, Wilson made the jump to Double-A Mississippi, where he had his breakout season. Slashing .301/.367/.496 with 15 home runs and 76 RBI, Wilson established himself as one of the top hitting prospects in the Braves system. His stellar season was recognized with inclusion in 2018 Bowman Chrome, marking his first appearance in a higher-end card product. The refractors and parallels from this set have gained value in recent years as Wilson’s prospect stock has risen. Collectors who acquired these early Bowman Chrome cards recognized his potential before he was on the MLB radar.
After proving himself at Double-A, Wilson started 2019 at Triple-A Gwinnett. He continued hitting for both power and average, slashing .276/.345/.461 with 13 home runs and 62 RBI over 113 games. His production kept him on the prospect radar, earning him spots in 2019 Topps Series 1 and 2019 Topps Series 2. Photos from his time in the minors adorn these base rookie cards. While not particularly scarce, they represent the final cards issued before Wilson’s MLB debut and hold value as his “rookie” cards in flagship Topps sets.
In 2020, Wilson finally got his first taste of major league action. Called up by the Braves in August, he made his debut on August 26th. In his first career at-bat, Wilson singled off Jacob deGrom of the Mets. He would go on to hit .276 with 2 home runs and 9 RBI over 27 games in his MLB cup of coffee that year. His success led to inclusion in 2020 Topps Update, marking his first card as an official major leaguer. The photo shows Wilson rounding the bases after one of his home runs. Prices for this rookie card have risen steadily as Wilson has cemented his place in the Braves lineup.
In 2021, Wilson earned a spot on the Braves’ Opening Day roster and never looked back. Playing primarily third base and in the outfield, he hit .229 with 8 home runs and 38 RBI while providing stellar defense. His success led to more card releases, including 2021 Topps Series 1 and 2021 Topps Series 2 base cards as well as inserts like 2021 Topps Chrome. The photos highlight Wilson’s progress toward becoming an everyday big leaguer. With another year of experience under his belt, 2022 could be a breakout season that drives values of his early cards even higher.
Now in his third MLB season, Ethan Wilson has proven himself a valuable role player and defensive replacement for the Braves. While still developing at the plate, he has all the tools to become a solid regular if he can refine his hitting skills. His defensive versatility and power potential make him an intriguing long-term piece for Atlanta. For collectors, Wilson’s career is one to watch going forward. As he continues to establish himself in the majors, his early minor league and rookie cards from Topps, Bowman, and more hold great potential to gain in value. For those who recognized his abilities early and acquired his initial releases, his progress makes for an engaging collection to track.
