Breathing new life into a century-old hobby is no small feat, but Fanatics has been working overtime to do just that. From the MLB Debut Patch to those quirky Social Media Followback redemptions, they’ve made some moves that even diehard collectors are tipping their caps to.
Now, they’re adding yet another wrinkle: the Bowman Red Rookie. Here’s the pitch: certain rookies in the 2025 Bowman lineup will carry a distinctive red RC logo. Come November, those cards become eligible for prizes — but only if the player on the card wins Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, MVP, or eventually earns a plaque in Cooperstown.
One X user summed it up best: holding one of these cards until a player makes the Hall of Fame might make you “the CEO of Fanatics.” But let’s be real — banking on Rookie of the Year feels a lot more doable.
Among the headliners for this promo is Roki Sasaki — and for good reason. But let’s talk turkey: who are the 2025 Bowman Red Rookies that might actually put some cash in your pocket?
Prospects Live’s Max Arterburn dug into the details. The full checklist includes 30 players, but we all know not everyone’s a contender.
First up, eight players have already lost their shot at 2025 ROY honors because they blew past rookie eligibility last year. Say goodbye to Connor Norby, Spencer Schwellenbach, Drew Thorpe, Jhonkensy Noel, David Festa, Ben Rice, James Wood, and Brooks Lee.
That leaves us with 22. But hold your horses — injuries have taken out a few more. Rhett Lowder, Kumar Rocker, and River Ryan are all on the sidelines. Even if they come back, it’d take a performance straight out of a baseball movie to get back in the running.
Now we’re down to 19. Twelve of those haven’t exactly lit up the big leagues so far: Adrian Del Castillo, Shay Whitcomb, Thomas Saggese, Hyesong Kim, Adael Amador, Hurston Waldrep, Tyler Locklear, Coby Mayo, Caden Dana, Kevin Alcantara, Orelvis Martinez, and Nick Yorke.
That leaves seven. But a few of those names come with their own question marks. Luisangel Acuña still hasn’t locked in a roster spot and his power numbers don’t exactly pop. Jace Jung has potential but hasn’t put it all together yet. Tomoyuki Sugano’s strikeout rate could definitely use a bump.
So that brings us to the final four: Jackson Jobe, Jacob Wilson, Roki Sasaki, and Dylan Crews.
If you’re eyeing that sweet $100 Fanatics prize, these are the guys to focus on. Sure, they might end up with Cooperstown busts someday, but let’s be honest — your best bet is to aim for Rookie of the Year.