Baseball season may officially be over with the conclusion of the World Series, but there’s still plenty for us to look forward to. One of those things is the 2025 Topps Chrome Update set, which will be available for preorder on November 10.
Every baseball card release is special, but this one has a little extra juice. Mostly because it includes those elusive MLB Debut patches. You know, the thing that turned a kid’s Christmas gift into a million-dollar moment last year.
According to Baseball America’s Seth Mates, Topps is bringing back everything collectors loved about last year’s release, plus some interesting new wrinkles.
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2025 Rookie Debut Patches: Bigger Than Ever?
Here’s where things get interesting. There’s no official checklist yet (at least there wasn’t the last time I looked). But Mates noted there could be 276 Rookie Debut Patch cards this year, which would be the most ever for a single release since Topps started doing this in 2023.
The only patch Topps has officially confirmed so far is Twins outfielder Luke Keaschall, whose patch image they’ve shared on their Chrome Update preview page. While we don’t exactly know what we’ll be hunting for just yet, there were plenty of high-profile debuts that were made during the 2025 campaign. The one I’m most looking forward to seeing, though, is Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz.
The slugger should be the runaway American League Rookie of the Year Award winner after putting together a monster year. He slashed .290/.383/.619 with 36 home runs, 86 RBI, and 90 runs scored in just 420 plate appearances. Kurtz made history by becoming the first rookie to ever hit four home runs in one game. The fact that he also clubbed the league’s longest home run of the year (493 feet) is just icing on the cake.
Paul Skenes Set the Bar Ridiculously High
For those who somehow missed it, an 11-year-old collector in California pulled the Skenes Debut Patch on Christmas morning. That card eventually sold at auction to Dick’s Sporting Goods for $1.11 million. Can any of the cards about to be released match this ridiculous story?
That level of frenzy was unprecedented, and honestly, it might be a once-in-a-generation type of moment. Skenes was the perfect storm: a dominant pitcher, the #1 overall pick, immediate MLB success, and that rare combination of on-field performance and off-field marketability.
Regardless of what happens, it’s quite clear that Topps has created something special with these Debut Patches. The combination of 1/1 scarcity, autos, and actual game-worn material makes them the ultimate chase cards.
The Cal Raleigh MVP Angle (And Why It Matters)
Topps also announced that if Cal Raleigh wins AL MVP, his base card in Chrome Update will be eligible for their MVP Buyback program. The reason? He didn’t have a base card in the main 2025 Topps Chrome release earlier this year.
The MVP Buyback program gives collectors $20 or more in buyback credit for each card of eligible award winners. It’s a nice little bonus if you’re ripping Chrome Update and happen to pull Raleigh base cards.
Big Dumper had a historic season for the Seattle Mariners, slugging 60 homers with 125 RBI while donning the tools of ignorance. Although he’s an MVP finalist, winning the award is probably a long shot. Aaron Judge exists, ya know, and barring something wild, he’s probably a frontrunner to win the hardware for the third time in his career. But still, it’s something to keep in mind.
What Else to Expect for The 2025 Topps Chrome Update
Beyond what’s been mentioned above, Chrome Update is known for its strong rookie checklist and creative insert sets. This year looks no different.
The 2025 Chrome Update will feature three new insert lines: Fortune 15, Night Terrors, and Power Players. They’ve also released early product images showing Chrome rookie cards for Kurtz and Matt Shaw (which you can see above), both of whom should draw significant collector interest.
We haven’t gotten the full details on these inserts yet, but let’s use our imagination for a minute.
The Fortune 15 name is intriguing. It sounds like it could be a short-print insert highlighting a select group of top rookies or rising stars. Night Terrors has a cool ring to it, maybe featuring dominant pitchers or clutch performers? And Power Players seems self-explanatory if we’re talking about mashers who can change a game with one swing.
In 2024, hobby boxes (with one guaranteed autograph) ran around $200, while jumbo boxes (with three guaranteed autographs) were closer to $400. We can likely expect pricing to be similar this time around.
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