Rookie Cards to Chase in Bowman Draft’s Upcoming Release

Normally, the No. 2 overall pick is then slated to be the featured star for the following year’s first Bowman release in the spring, but Topps is holding out Ethan Holiday (#39 in JB Top 100), who went fourth overall to the Rockies, instead banking on the family name recognition to drive 2026 Bowman.

That helps boost this release in a big way, as 11 of the top 13 picks from the 2025 MLB Draft are getting their first Bowman autos. Aiva Arquette, who was taken seventh overall by the Miami Marlins, will also be held out of this release in favor of the next one.

Heralded Hurlers

Five pitchers were taken in the top 11 this past July, and ALL of them are set to feature in this product:

• Tyler Bremner – 2nd overall / Los Angeles Angels
• Kade Anderson – 3rd overall / Seattle Mariners (#31 in JB Top 100)
• Liam Doyle – 5th overall / St. Louis Cardinals (#82 in JB Top 100)
• Seth Hernandez – 6th overall / Pittsburgh Pirates (#57 in JB Top 100)
• Jamie Arnold – 11th overall / Athletics

With Paul Skenes and Trey Yesavage proving in recent years that prospecting pitching cards is no longer a fool’s errand, there is plenty of potential for this year’s Draft product to produce another, if not multiple, sky-risers for collectors willing to take the chance.

The Kids are Alright

Along with Willits, a trio of other HS shortstops round out the loaded class of Top 10 picks:

• JoJo Parker – 8th overall / Toronto Blue Jays (#68 in JB Top 100)
• Steele Hall – 9th overall / Cincinnati Reds
• Billy Carlson – 10th overall / Chicago White Sox

Along with Willits, Parker and Carlson are likely to be the biggest chases of the product, but will likely require more patience for buyers as they’re a few years away from making their debuts.

With such a loaded prospect checklist, we can see why Hobby $749.99 (three autos) and Jumbo $1099.99 (five autos) are priced the way they are before release. These prices are more likely to rise than fall as 2024 Bowman Draft hobby boxes are selling for double what the 2025 version is at.

Chasin’ Dreams

Outside of the obvious top names to chase, there are always prospects that aren’t hot names when the product drops, but a year from now will help raise the cost of a sealed box. Yesavage and Cam Smith are prime examples from a year ago.

So who are the names to watch that may be cheaper autos upon release that could yield a good return in 12-24 months?

• SS Xavier Neyens – Houston Astros
  2B Sean Gamble – Kansas City Royals
• 2B Mitch Voit – New York Mets
• SS Dax Kilby – New York Yankees
• OF Charles Davalan – Los Angeles Dodgers
• OF Ethan Frey – Houston Astros

The Astros could low-key be a fun spot to chase in breaks with two of their top seven prospects set to debut. Same goes for the Royals as both Gamble and Josh Hammond are ranked in their top five. Both of those teams have mostly sold out in early pre-order sales.

Davalan hit .500 in 37 PA in Single-A ball last year, plus being in the Dodgers system is a sure-fire way to give you hobby value, whether he makes it to the bigs with LA or somewhere else. Voit and Kilby are top picks from the New York market, which will always generate plenty of buzz as well.