Call it a Hollywood script or just plain good scouting, but the Los Angeles Dodgers have unearthed yet another diamond in the rough—Hyeseong Kim. The 26-year-old rookie isn’t just searing the competition on the MLB diamond; he’s sparking a bonfire in the world of sports card collecting. Since making his debut on a balmy May 3rd, Kim has been scorching box scores with a white-hot .386 batting average and an OPS tantalizingly close to .985 across 31 games. It’s the stuff of rookie dreams, and naturally, it’s not just fans who are paying attention.
As collectors and card aficionados converge like moths to a trading card flame, Kim’s 2025 Topps Series 2 rookie card has become the treasure of the season. This magical debut series for Kim is sweeping through eBay listings faster than a Vin Scully narration, and with good reason. From base cards to dazzling foils, autographs that shimmer under stadium lights, to nostalgic throwbacks, Kim’s presence is ubiquitous in this sought-after collection—and collectors can’t get enough of it.
Leading the charge into this freshly minted world of cardboard gold is the highly coveted redemption auto, the crown jewel of rookies. Sales for Kim’s redemption autos have already breached the grand mark, gleefully dancing between $1,200 and $1,704. Sleeper picks these are not; they’ve awakened to find a full-blown frenzy in their name.
But while redemption autos are making bank, it’s the unique treasures like one-of-ones and low-numbered parallels that truly tickle a collector’s fancy. Kim’s Gold Foil 1/1 punched a hefty $650, while a Black Diamante out of 10 spanned $600. Not to be outdone, the Fireworks Foil marked out of 10 lit up minds and wallets at $350. Meanwhile, whispers of a scarce Red Fireworks Foil out of 5 continue to spark curiosity and keen glances.
In a scene that’s more Casablanca than baseball, there’s Kim’s 1990 Topps Baseball Mojo Foil RC, complete with a breezy, retro essence and those iconic Dodger Blue borders. While casual strolls yield a modest $10, the autographed editions from this line are already knocking on the door of $400, marking it as both a collector’s delight and an investment centerpiece.
Yet among all these treasures, one card dances in the realm of quirk and charm: Kim’s Golden Mirror Variation. This distinctive piece features the rookie caught mid-conference—a tableau both unconventional and inexplicably endearing. Flipping through listings reveals asking prices ranging wildly between $150 to a robust $425, a testament to its enigmatic appeal.
For those truly in the know, the orange foil autograph from the versatile Flagship Real One, limited to a mere 25 copies, has sky-high aspirations. Just recently, one redemption closed at $1,704, while another confidently struts in the marketplace at $1,500, turning heads and loosening purse strings.
In an impressive display, three of Kim’s cards have sauntered their way into the top 20 sales eclipsing $1,000 in value from the entire 2025 Topps Series 2 lineup. When you’re stacking up against trading card titans like Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki, having your name etched alongside them is no small feat. The Dodgers, well-known for their swagger and pocketbook, dominate this set’s upper echelon with 16 out of 20 prime sales locked in their vault, a collective exclamation point on their high-stakes investment in young Kim.
As his on-field escapades continue to evolve—flashing leather at second and exhibiting grace at center field—Kim’s star shines with increasing intensity, casting a long, exciting shadow over the hobby. Whether it’s his lithe silhouette patrolling the outfield or silently pushing card price metrics skyward, Hyeseong Kim is a rookie worth every piece of attention.
And as the numbers of collectors keeping a keen eye on his upward trajectory grow, it’s evident that Kim is indeed the newest object of collector affection, admired both for his dynamic game and the dazzle of his accompanying rookie cards. Here’s looking at Kim—on the field and through glossy card sleeves alike.