A Review Of Every Rookie Card In 2025 Topps Series 2

2025 Topps Series 2 continues where Series 1 left off, giving collectors a new checklist of rookies and players wearing their new uniforms.

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If you’re hoping for a new crop of top rookies in Series 2, prepare to be disappointed. Beyond Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki, there aren’t very many rookies worth chasing.

Series 2 gives collectors 61 new rookie cards, but the rookie checklist is heavily skewed toward pitchers. 40 of the 61 rookie cards are pitchers, and only 3 are worthy of a spot above Tier 4.

Similarly, only 2 of the 21 rookie hitters earn a spot above Tier 4.

Quite frankly, 2025 Topps Series 2 is one of the weakest rookie classes in recent memory. Nevertheless, I’ve broken down all 61 rookie cards into my usual tiered system.

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Because there are so few rookies worth investing in, I’d recommend staying away from wax. Instead, I’d focus on buying singles for the players you’re interested in. If you buy into breaks, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the only team worth paying a premium for.

Tier 1: The rookie worth ripping for in 2025 Topps Series 2

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Roki Sasaki

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher

According to Baseball America:

• Los Angeles Dodgers #1 prospect in 2025
• MLB #2 prospect in 2025
• Grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 60 | Split: 80 | Control: 60 | Overall: 70

The Dodgers made yet another splash in Japan this offseason when they signed 23-year-old pitcher Roki Sasaki.

As a high schooler in Japan, he touched 101 mph on his fastball to break the national high school record set by Shohei Ohtani. He pairs an upper-90s fastball with an elite splitter.

This combination is what made him one of the best pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball in 2022, including 19 19-strikeout perfect game. He also pitched for Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, pushing his name into the international conversation.

Unfortunately, Sasaki has struggled to acclimate with the Dodgers in 2024. His fastball velocity has dipped to 96 mph, he’s struggled to throw the splitter for strikes, and he hasn’t yet shown a viable third pitch.

Sasaki hit the injured list in early May with a shoulder injury, and the Dodgers will be cautious considering he dealt with shoulder fatigue in Japan in 2024.

Make no mistake about it: Sasaki still has the upside of a starter at the top of a rotation. Even so, he’s shown in his early outings that a little bit of polish might still need to be applied. Once that coat dries, he’ll be well on his way to reaffirming the Dodgers’ investment.

Baseball America

Tier 2: Rookies I’m cautiously optimistic about in 2025 Topps Series 2

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Jackson Jobe

Detroit Tigers pitcher

According to Baseball America:

• Detroit Tigers #1 prospect in 2025
• MLB #4 prospect in 2025
• Grades: Fastball: 70 | Changeup: 60 | Cutter: 60 | Sweeper: 70 | Control: 60 | Overall: 70

Jackson Jobe was the third overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, and he’s finally living up to the hype his 1st Bowman card garnered in 2021.

His fastball sits in the upper-90s, and he’s got a large arsenal of secondaries. He gets a ton of whiffs on his mid-80s changeup, but his breaking stuff has been most effective in 2025. Injuries have been the biggest roadblock for Jobe.

He missed months with lumbar spine inflammation in 2023 and more time with a hamstring strain in 2024. When he’s been healthy, however, he’s shown why he’s one of baseball’s top prospects.

Jobe’s ascent is a lesson in perseverance. Once he’d recovered from a series of injuries in the early portion of his career, the righthander began dispatching hitters with brutal efficiency. He livened up his pitch mix heading into the season, and the results have helped him become one of MLB’s brighter young starters.

Baseball America

Tier 3: Rookies with a higher risk than potential investment reward in 2025 Topps Series 2

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Hyeseong Kim

Los Angeles Dodgers 2B

According to Baseball America:

• Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Speed: 70 | Field: 55 | Arm: 40 | Overall: 50

The Dodgers signed Hyeseong Kim out of South Korea’s KBO League ahead of the 2025 season. In 953 games across 8 seasons in the KBO, Kim slashed .304/.364/.403 with 150 doubles, 39 triples, 37 home runs, and 211 stolen bases.

He also became the first player to win the KBO Golden Glove Award at both shortstop and second base. Kim’s offensive profile is similar to Jung Hoo Lee, the current Giants centerfielder who made the leap from the KBO to MLB in 2024.

He’s a contact-oriented batter who will get on base and steal a ton of bases. Kim is currently holding down a utility role in the Dodgers’ star-studded lineup, but he’s making the most of his playing time.

In 18 games, he’s gone 15-for-38 with a double, a homer, and four stolen bases.

Kim projects to be a solid, everyday second baseman who hits for average, steals bases and plays above-average defense. Like most Korean players, he’ll need time to adjust to major league velocity before reaching his potential.

Baseball America

Luisangel Acuña

New York Mets second baseman

According to Baseball America:

• New York Mets #8 prospect in 2025
• Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Speed: 70 | Field: 60 | Arm: 60 | Overall: 45

Luisangel Acuña gets the name recognition from his brother Ronald, but his tools are nowhere near his older brother’s.

His best tools are his speed and defense, but he surprised in the batter’s box after getting called up at the end of 2024. He went 12-for-39 with two doubles, a triple, and three home runs in 14 games.

There’s been significant regression in 2025, but that was to be expected. I don’t think Acuña has significant investment value, but he certainly has more than the hitters in Tier 4.

Acuña has the speed, defensive chops and arm strength to help a big league team. His future role depends on how much he hits… After a full season at Triple-A and a valuable postseason apprenticeship, Acuña is nearly ready to assume an MLB role, most likely as a multi-positional player with strong supporting tools.

Baseball America

Kumar Rocker

Texas Rangers P

According to Baseball America:

• Texas Rangers #1 prospect in 2025
• MLB #60 prospect in 2025
• Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 60

Rocker’s career thus far has been unconventional. He was one of the best pitchers in college baseball at Vanderbilt in 2019 and 2022 and was drafted by the Mets in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft.

The Mets decided not to sign Rocker after problems with his physical, so Rocker pitched in an independent league ahead of the 2022 MLB Draft. The Rangers selected him with the third overall pick, he made his professional debut in 2023, and underwent Tommy John Surgery after just a few starts.

Rocker’s fastball/slider combination carries his profile, and the Rangers are reportedly considering using Rocker as a closer when he returns from a shoulder injury. This would negatively impact his hobby value.

Rocker broke camp with the Rangers and still has a wicked slider, but his fastball hasn’t generated results in the big leagues so far in 2025.

Baseball America

Tier 4: Rookies with little to no investment value in 2025 Topps Series 2

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Trevor McDonald, San Francisco Giants P

Brandon Eisert, Toronto Blue Jays P

Seth Johnson, Philadelphia Phillies P

Mason Montgomery, Tampa Bay Rays P

Angel Chivilli, Colorado Rockies P

Yosver Zulueta, Cincinnati Reds P

Ben Casparius, Los Angeles Dodgers P

Gustavo Campero, Los Angeles Angels OF

Logan Driscoll, Tampa Bay Rays C

Zach Brzykcy, Washington Nationals P

Grant Holmes, Atlanta Braves P

Tomoyuki Sugano, Baltimore Orioles P

Michael Helman, St. Louis Cardinals SS/OF

Caden Dana, Los Angeles Angels P

Billy Cook, Pittsburgh Pirates 1B/OF

Adam Kloffenstein, Toronto Blue Jays P

Will Wagner, Toronto Blue Jays IF

Sean Burke, Chicago White Sox P

Samuel Aldegheri, Los Angeles Angels P

Brady Basso, Athletics P

Griffin Conine, Miami Marlins OF

Valente Bellozo, Miami Marlins P

Thomas Saggese, St. Louis Cardinals 2B/SS

J.T. Ginn, Athletics P

Jack Neely, Chicago Cubs P

Ty Madden, Detroit Tigers P

Walter Pennington, Texas Rangers P

Darren Baker, Washington Nationals 2B/SS

Edgardo Henriquez, Los Angeles Dodgers P

Luis Peralta, Colorado Rockies P

Leo Jiménez, Toronto Blue Jays 2B/SS

Jaden Hill, Colorado Rockies P

Julian Aguiar, Cincinnati Reds P

Brandon Lockridge, San Diego Padres OF

Daniel Schneemann, Cleveland Guardians 2B/OF

Kevin Alcántara, Chicago Cubs OF

Michael Mercado, Philadelphia Phillies P

Seth Halvorsen, Colorado Rockies P

Duke Ellis, New York Yankees OF

DaShawn Keirsey, Minnesota Twins OF

Gordon Graceffo, St. Louis Cardinals P

Mike Burrows, Pittsburgh Pirates P

Steward Berroa, Toronto Blue Jays OF

Connor Gillispie, Cleveland Guardians P

Grant Holman, Athletics P

Bryce Teodosio, Los Angeles Angels OF

Andrew Walters, Cleveland Guardians P

Javier Sanoja, Miami Marlins 2B/OF

Jairo Iriarte, Chicago White Sox P

Isaac Collins, Milwaukee Brewers OF

Nick Yorke, Pittsburgh Pirates 2B/OF

Keider Montero, Detroit Tigers P

Richard Fitts, Boston Red Sox P

Jake Eder, Chicago White Sox P

Zach Penrod, Boston Red Sox P

Hayden Birdsong, San Francisco Giants P