The Los Angeles Dodgers seem to possess an almost magical knack for unearthing baseball talent. Their latest discovery is Hyeseong Kim, a 26-year-old rookie whose on-field prowess has fans cheering and collectors scrambling. Thankfully, Southern California has avoided any forest fires lately, but Kim might just be igniting a blaze of his own across Major League Baseball and the cardboard kingdom of collectible rookie cards.
Having made his electrifying debut on May 3, Kim has been busy turning heads and stealing hearts with an awe-inspiring .386 batting average and an OPS that’s flirting with the .985 mark over his opening 31 games. Quick on the draw, Kim’s swift rise to favor isn’t just limited to fans filling the stadium seats; it’s carving a substantial niche in the world of sports memorabilia, particularly for those who are keen-eyed about the fluctuating winds of baseball card markets.
Hop on over to eBay and you’ll find that Kim’s rookie cards from the 2025 Topps Series 2 kit are hotter than a July afternoon at Dodger Stadium. The modern marvel’s collection, ranging from simple base prints to glossy foils, awe-inducing autographs, and nostalgia-dipped throwback inserts, is captivating seasoned investors and newbie collectors alike.
Let’s dive into the crown jewels: redemption autos. Kim’s autograph redemption cards are no longer the quiet underdogs but have skyrocketed into four-digit territory, fetching between $1,200 and a thrifty $1,704. There’s little stealth left in these buys; anyone sitting on Kim redemption autos today holds a golden opportunity in their collection.
Meanwhile, unique cards like one-of-ones and limited parallels are making quite the clamor. The singular Gold Foil 1/1 caught an ambitious $650-plus bid, the Black Diamante out of 10 sailed smoothly to $600, and creatives like the Fireworks Foil /10 are lighting up bids at $350. The rare Red Fireworks Foil, limited to just five, remains high on the intrigue chart for those who can sniff it out.
A vintage-style surprise in Kim’s collection is the 1990 Topps Baseball Mojo Foil RC. It emanates a charming retro flavor with its iconic Dodger Blue color scheme, drawing nearly $10 per raw card—a small investment with delightful potential, especially when autographed versions ramp up towards $400.
Adding a slice of whimsicality is Kim’s Golden Mirror Variation. Unlike your run-of-the-mill sports shots, this card freezes Kim in a mid-press conference moment. Strange yet captivating, these collector’s pieces carry listings from $150 to $425, proving that Kim’s allure ranges far beyond the traditional sports action scenes.
Among the fireworks of card sales, one cannot overlook the sparkling orange foil auto from Kim’s Flagship Real One card, branded to 25 editions. One particular redemption lately achieved a cool $1,704, while another bides its time on the virtual shelves of eBay at $1,500, waiting for the right bidder to come along hopefully armed with an enthusiastic wallet.
When you tally up the sales, you find Kim responsible for three of the top 20 transactions exceeding $1,000 in the entire 2025 Topps Series 2 lineup. Considering the competition—players like Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki—this is no small feat. The Dodgers have laid claim to an impressive 16 of the top 20 spots in tracked sales, a nod to the team’s potent blend of performance and commercial appeal.
Even as Kim alternately anchors second base and center field with aplomb, his impact in the collector’s domain expands in tandem. His story is considered a delightful script of promise and potential, elevating both his card value and his spot in the hearts of fans. Whether it’s his agile outfield maneuvers or his climbing card prices on auction sites, Hyeseong Kim is the rookie sensation to watch—and clearly, collectors already are.
