Which 2025 Topps Chrome rookie cards deserve a spot in your collection?
David Gonos of the Happy Hobby Newsletter did a lot of the legwork, so we don’t have to. He laid out what he feels are this year’s 16 best Topps Chrome RCs. I picked five that really caught my eye, which you can see below.
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5 Great 2025 Topps Chrome Rookie Cards to Watch
According to Gonos, these five Chrome rookies are some of the best from this year:
James Wood, OF, Washington Nationals (Card No. 132): The 6-foot-7 outfielder leads the pack and is fresh off an All-Star campaign that included 31 homers, 94 RBI, and 15 stolen bases.
Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics (Card No. 96): Another 2025 All-Star who posted a .800 OPS that was powered by a .311 batting average. He also only struck out 39 times in 523 plate appearances.
Coby Mayo, 1B, Baltimore Orioles (Card No. 120): The 23-year-old former top prospect posted a .687 OPS in 85 games for the O’s this season.
Ben Rice, C/1B, New York Yankees (Card No. 139): Rice brings big-market appeal thanks to donning the pinstripes. It also helps that he posted 2.2 bWAR with 26 homers and a .836 OPS across 530 plate appearances.
Jackson Jobe, SP, Detroit Tigers (Card No. 249): A popular preseason AL Rookie of the Year pick, Jobe’s season was limited to 49 innings because of Tommy John surgery.
Ben Rice: The Yankees Factor and Market Reality
The Ben Rice card is an intriguing case study in how a player’s team impacts collectability. His 2025 performance (26 homers, .836 OPS) certainly helps after a slow 2024 debut, too. Through Rice’s first 50 games in the big leagues, he hit just seven homers and struggled to a .613 OPS and -0.4 bWAR.
So, this kind of turnaround is encouraging, especially for someone entering his age-27 season in 2026.
Current market prices for Rice’s base Chrome rookie remain relatively modest, which creates an opportunity. If he’s able to solidify himself as the Yankees’ first baseman moving forward, those early pickups could pay off handsomely. The New York spotlight has a way of amplifying collectability for all kinds of players.
James Wood: The Consensus No. 1 Chrome Rookie
There’s a reason Wood sits atop virtually every 2025 Chrome rookie ranking. The Nationals’ towering outfielder is incredibly talented and has a smooth, yet powerful swing.
His 2025 All-Star Game appearance feels like the first of many accolades coming his way. And if it wasn’t for a second-half slump, his season-long numbers would’ve been even better. The left-handed slugger entered the midsummer classic with a .278/.381/.534 line, including 24 homers, 19 doubles, 69 RBI, 59 runs scored, and 12 steals in 420 plate appearances. Following the All-Star break, Wood struggled to a .223/.301/.690 line with seven homers, 19 RBI, 25 RBI, 28 runs scored, and three steals in 269 plate appearances.
What I love about Wood as a collecting target is the combination of tools and opportunity. He’s playing every day for a rebuilding club that’s letting him develop without pressure, which means the counting stats will pile up.
The Chrome parallels, particularly the refractors and color variations, have already seen strong secondary market activity. Wood is the type of talent that collectors can confidently hold for the long term. Barring injury, his trajectory points upward for years to come.
How Does the 2025 Chrome Rookie Class Stack Up?
Let’s be honest—this isn’t the 2024 Chrome rookie class. Gonos is upfront about that, too.
But that’s not necessarily bad news. Lower entry points and reduced hype can actually create better value. Players like Wilson and Dylan Crews carry genuine upside if their tools translate at the highest level.
The 2025 Topps Chrome release also benefits from strong photos and the brand’s overall popularity. Chrome has maintained its position as the hobby’s premium rookie card vehicle. So, even in a “down” year, these cards are still quite collectible.
The key is identifying which rookies have staying power versus which ones are more organizational depth pieces. That’s what makes following people like Gonos so valuable—he cuts through the noise and focuses on legit MLB talent with collectible upside.
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