December marked the arrival of Bowman Draft, an eagerly anticipated release for baseball card collectors. This annual product showcases the first Bowman cards for players drafted the previous year, with a special focus on first-round picks. While some top names like Charlie Condon and JJ Wetherholt were saved for the upcoming Bowman Baseball release, this year’s Bowman Draft did not disappoint.
The 2025 Bowman Draft featured some exciting debuts, including the first Bowman cards for Travis Bazzana, the first overall pick, and Jac Caglianone, the sixth overall pick dubbed as the “next Shohei Ohtani.” Caglianone’s inclusion was significant as he made history by signing an exclusive deal with Fanatics and Topps while playing college baseball at the University of Florida. Although Topps did not release cards of him during his college days, collectors can now own cards showcasing his collegiate career.
Unlike sports like basketball or football, where players often make immediate impacts in professional leagues, baseball prospects typically spend time developing their skills in the minors. Investing in First Bowman cards requires patience and foresight, as these cards can increase significantly in value when a player reaches their full potential in the majors.
Topps’ foray into college-themed cards aligns with the rise of NIL agreements, which have reshaped collegiate sports. Building on their success in college football and basketball products post-NIL, Topps introduced college baseball cards in the Bowman Draft lineup. The subset of Chrome College Variations in this year’s Bowman Draft offers a unique twist, with cards like Caglianone’s college card fetching impressive prices, showcasing the growing interest in college baseball cards.
The Chrome College Variations subset includes players like Bazzana, Smith, Caglianone, Moore, Waldschmidt, Benge, Tibbs III, Montgomery, Smith, and Burke. These cards are rare, adding to their appeal for collectors. Base versions have varying odds in hobby and super jumbo packs, with even rarer parallels like gold refractors, orange refractors, red refractors, and the highly sought-after 1/1 Superfractor.
The demand for these unique cards speaks to the blend of traditional collecting and the fresh appeal of college imagery in the Bowman Draft lineup. As collectors chase these rare finds, the connection between the game’s future stars and their college roots strengthens. The 2025 Bowman Draft represents more than just a card set; it’s a celebration of baseball’s past, present, and future, encapsulated in a hobby that continues to captivate collectors worldwide.
