The 2024 Topps Series 2 release delivered one of the most anticipated rookie card lineups in recent memory. With Japanese pitching sensations making their flagship debuts alongside dynamic young position players, this set has become a focal point for many collectors.
David Gonos of the Happy Hobby Newsletter put a spotlight on 11 rookie cards from this set that he feels are the best. I picked my five favorites from his list so we could talk about them in more detail below.
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Five Interesting 2024 Topps Series 2 Rookie Cards
According to Gonos, the below five rookie cards are among those we need to keep an eye on:
Shota Imanaga (#442): The Cubs left-hander has done a good job of solidifying the value of his rookie cards through his first two big-league seasons, which have resulted in 24 wins and a 3.28 ERA.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (#553): The Dodgers’ $325 million man is racking up the accomplishments through his first two MLB seasons. It includes a third-place finish in 2025 National League Cy Young voting, one All-Star selection, two World Series, and the 2025 World Series MVP.
Junior Caminero (#628): The Rays’ power-hitting third baseman enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2025. He entered the year with seven homers and 25 RBI through his first 50 career games, but then he nearly broke Tampa Bay’s single-season home run record with 45 taters and 110 RBI.
Wilyer Abreu (#672): Abreu set new single-season career-high marks in 2025 with 22 homers and 69 RBI. He also won his second straight Gold Glove Award for the Boston Red Sox.
Pete Crow-Armstrong (#407): PCA had a path to consistent playing time this past season with the Cubs, and he took full advantage of it. He won a Gold Glove, finished ninth in NL MVP Award voting, and was worth 6.0 bWAR while posting his first career 30-30 season (31 homers and 35 steals).
Junior Caminero: The Explosive Power Breakout
While Caminero entered 2024 as a highly-touted prospect, his 2025 campaign has helped change the narrative when it comes to his collecting trajectory. The 22-year-old finished 2025 with those 45 homers and 110 RBI while slashing .264/.311/.535 through 653 trips to the plate.
After a few close calls in recent years, the Rays watched Caminero become the second player in franchise history to record a 40-homer campaign. But he came just short of the franchise record, which is still held by Carlos Peña. He hit 46 homers for Tampa Bay in 2007.
But despite falling short of making franchise history, Caminero is still in elite company. In AL/NL history, only Eddie Mathews hit more home runs than him in an age-21-or-younger season (47 in 1953).
Pete Crow-Armstrong: Defense First, Offense Following
After struggling offensively as a rookie in 2024 (.237/.286/.384 with 10 homers), PCA made huge strides as he settled into being Chicago’s starting center fielder.
His 2025 campaign was a complete transformation. Crow-Armstrong slashed .247/.287/.481 with 31 home runs, 95 RBI, and 35 stolen bases in 647 plate appearances. Any 30-30 season is significant, but especially for the Cubs since PCA is just the second player in franchise history to do it. The other was Sammy Sosa — he did it in 1993 (33 homers and 36 steals) and 1995 (36 homers and 34 steals).
Crow-Armstrong’s late-season surge in 2024 (he hit .289 with an .806 OPS over his final 57 games) suggested he was figuring things out at the plate, but 2025 confirmed it. Before his performance fell off in the second half, he was even being discussed as a legitimate MVP candidate.
Understanding The Broader 2024 Topps Series 2 Market
What makes these particular rookies compelling is both the statistics and the narrative potential each carries. Yamamoto signed the largest contract ever for a pitcher before throwing a single MLB pitch, creating instant collectibility. Caminero is trying to rewrite Rays record books at an age when most players are still adjusting to big-league pitching. Crow-Armstrong brings five-tool potential to a marquee franchise with a massive fanbase.
The 2024 Topps Series 2 set offers collectors a combo of blue-chip prospects (Yamamoto, Caminero) and value plays with significant upside (Abreu, Crow-Armstrong). The Japanese pitchers bring international appeal and big-market exposure, while the young position players offer long-term power, speed, and tremendous defense.
While none of these rookies will ever reach the ridiculous values of vintage Mickey Mantle or modern Shohei Ohtani cards, they represent the kind of calculated collecting decisions that build solid portfolios over time.
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