Another week has passed, bringing us one step closer to the end of the season. If you’ve been following this series, you may have noticed a shift in focus. Earlier editions centered heavily on MiLB prospects, but as the season winds down, attention has shifted toward MLB talent. Our 4th edition highlights five players at the major-league level. Last week, I mentioned that we’d begin gearing up for the off-season, and this edition continues that approach. Even with fewer games on the schedule, plenty of variables remain in play. In this 4th edition of Who’s Up, those variables become clearer: dominant performances (Ralphy Velazquez, Ryan Waldschmidt), key promotions (Naibel Mariano, Drew Gilbert), injury returns driving momentum (Luke Keaschall, Johanfran Garcia), and collectors/investors holding out hope (Colby Thomas, Blaze Alexander), particularly those already breaking into the big leagues.

I want to remind you that I’ve started listing cards for players who have risen this season and met my criteria for ROI, with the goal of freeing up capital to reinvest during the off-season. My criteria isn’t gospel, but I think it’s important to keep perspective. If you buy a card for $20, set realistic expectations. You’re not going to get rich from one flip, and while huge returns do happen, they’re rare. The real growth comes from stacking smaller wins.

Here’s how the math breaks down if you sell at different price points (assuming $4.50 shipping, which is about average on eBay):

  • $40 sale → Profit: $13.55 (~70% ROI)
  • $30 sale → Profit: $4.91 (~25% ROI)
  • $27 sale → Profit: $2.32 (~10% ROI)

Too often, we get blinded by chasing big profits, but even a 10% margin is solid, especially in a more “passive” form of investing like this.

Remember that “specific circumstances” are always a mix of factors: age, performance (real stats), pricing (Hobby+ average price), and peak projections (via Hobby+ and the Prospects Live App Suite). There’s no exact formula or single “correct” approach. Use these articles, alongside your own historical experience, to make the most informed decisions possible.

Top 5 7-Day Risers

  1. Ralphy Velazquez: $15.35 → $48.98 (+219%)
    7-Day Stats: AVG .545 | ISO .818 | wRC+ 434 | HR 4 | Games 5

Analysis: Yes, you read the 7-day stats correctly. Since making his AA debut on 8/12/25, Ralphy Velazquez has been lights out, and the market has certainly taken notice. Prior to this, there seemed to be limited hobby interest, with only six unique sales between 6/27 and 8/3. All six sales were priced below $30, with some as low as $11.

Since August 15, we’ve seen 14 sales, with prices peaking at $50+. Coincidentally, Velazquez hit two home runs on 8/15, one on 8/16, and another on 8/17. There was an initial price dip on 8/15, likely from people trying to strike while the iron was hot, but it was quickly followed by a massive spike. His recent performance earned him Eastern League Player of the Week honors and significant attention across social media. With continued media coverage and eye-popping performances, his prices will likely keep climbing. However, I do worry that if (and when) this hot streak cools off, collectors may try to recoup their investments and begin panic-selling. In turn, we could see an immediate price drop.

Recommendation: Monitor The Situation
Power, plate discipline, age - it’s all there, and he’s finally putting it together for the entire prospecting community to see. Unfortunately, the immediate and explosive reaction to his breakout has put us at a disadvantage. Long-term, I think he has the potential to be a really strong investment, but we may be a little too late to the party. I have expressed this same sentiment in previous articles, but I will reiterate here:
Only 45 prospects have prices > $50 (5.24%). Only 25 prospects have prices > $75 (2.91%). Only 17 prospects have prices that eclipse $100 (1.98%)*. Do you feel that he can reach this upper echelon? It’s possible, especially if he continues to perform well above average, but I’d be wary. I would watch for prices to drop and revisit in the off-season.

*Prospects with prices > $100: Konnor Griffin, Max Clark, Spencer Jones, Marcelo Mayer, JJ Wetherholt, Jesus Made, Kevin McGonigle, Leo De Vries, Samuel Basallo, Walker Jenkins, Bryce Eldridge, Travis Bazzana, Carson Benge, George Lombard Jr., Colt Emerson, Owen Caissie, Luis Pena.

  1. Colby Thomas: $22.89 → $43.80 (+91%)
    7-Day Stats: AVG .500 | ISO .500 | wRC+ 232 | HR 2 | Games 4

Analysis: Colby Thomas made his MLB debut on 6/30/25 for the Athletics. His cards were consistently selling for $40–$60 around the time of his debut. Afterward, he showed some struggles adjusting, which is common for prospects making their first MLB appearance. Because of his struggles, his prices dropped from $60+ to around $20 in a short period of time. More recently, however, he has started to turn it around. Over the last week, he posted a .500 batting average, .500 ISO, and 2 HRs, including back-to-back games with a home run and a 3-for-3, 3 RBI performance. I like his skillset but think we are better off passing for now.

Recommendation: Hold
It is always good to see a struggling player start to turn things around, but the sample size is simply too small. Since debuting in the MLB, he has a .255 BA. On the surface, this seems decent, but when you look at his game logs, you see that more than half of his MLB hits (13) have come over his last four games (7). I think we need to see a longer period of sustained success before deciding whether he may be a good long-term investment, and even then, his most recent prices were ~$40, with his highest prices reaching ~$65. I would rather invest my money elsewhere and find players with more long-term upside. If you have already invested and are currently holding some of his cards, I would recommend you continue to hold. If he can continue his hot streak, you may be able to profit more handsomely.

  1. Naibel Mariano: $5.86 → $10.57 (+80%)
    7-Day Stats: AVG N/A | ISO N/A | wRC+ N/A | HR N/A | Games 0

Analysis: Not much to say on Naibel Mariano. He is an 18-year-old prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization who has spent his first two seasons of professional baseball in the DSL. Of note, he displayed significant growth in his second season. His plate approach and discipline improved, and he showcased more speed and power. Interestingly, he was promoted from the DSL to the CPX after the end of the CPX season. From available information, it seems that he will be participating in the "bridge season", a league with nine CPX teams that play against the other clubs a few times a week, unofficially. This will be his first taste of stateside baseball. Albeit unsanctioned games, it could still be good for his market. Giving him more time and experience to adjust to stateside competition will put him at an advantage next year.

Recommendation: Monitor The Situation/Buy
There seems to be some underlying potential that may not have fully manifested itself yet. I feel comfortable buying a couple of cards at $10 and holding. Playing in the "bridge season," with his first taste of stateside talent, could help increase prices, but it could also decrease his prices. I don't know how impactful it could be, as it is considered unofficial/non-sanctioned, but this could play to our advantage. If he plays well against stateside talent, without many eyes on him, we could capitalize before too many collectors notice. The reason why I suggest monitoring the situation is to see how this impacts his prices. Regardless, I will likely look to buy a few at $10 and will likely buy more if his prices drop.

  1. Jakob Marsee: $36.30 → $60.68 (+67%)
    7-Day Stats: AVG .320 | ISO .480 | wRC+ 198 | HR 3 | Games 7

Analysis: Maybe the greatest player to ever play the game? I'm joking, but his recent performance since debuting has been nothing short of historic, and collectors have taken notice. I am sure you have seen some of the stat lines floating around social media, showcasing how he has (or had) ranked 1st in numerous statistical categories since his MLB debut. For example, through his first 13 games, he was batting .436/.542/.872 with 3 HR, 13 RBI, and 6 SB. This made him one of just five MLB players since 1995 to start their career with a .400/.500/.800 slash line.

Of note, over the last week his performance has started to cool off slightly, and prices may be starting to trend back down. I don't think his current prices are sustainable, and it feels like prices jumped more so due to hobby FOMO. As evidenced by the graph below, it appears that people are already starting to panic sell, likely looking to make some money on their initial investments.

Recommendation: Sell
Maybe I am a sucker, but I just don't feel like his current market value is sustainable long-term. Sure, his performance has been nothing short of remarkable, but it's certainly not sustainable. As his performance becomes more realistic, his prices will likely decrease. Although we are not at his market peak, I think there is money to be made, especially if you bought in before he started dominating the MLB.

  1. Johanfran Garcia: $9.06 → $14.40 (+59%)
    7-Day Stats: AVG .278 | ISO .333 | wRC+ 151 | HR 2 | Games 4

Analysis: One of my favorite players currently in the MiLB, Johanfran Garcia was reinstated from the 60-day IL in May, where he played 12 "rehab" games with the CPX before being promoted to High-A. Since being promoted to High-A, he has posted a .246/.330/.466 slash line and a concerning 31.0% K%. His initial return from injury was nothing remarkable, but he began to show some resurgence in July. This resurgence has seemingly continued into August, as he appears to have settled into High-A relatively well. He has hit .278, with at least one hit in each of his last four games and a K% below 20%. Of course, the sample size is small, but people seem to be buying in, perhaps out of fear of missing out.

Recommendation: Buy/Get Creative
It seems his base autos have started to increase in value, which is good. I definitely think there is some money to be made with his base autos, but I feel that the real money comes from his parallels/varieties. I would recommend looking for "cheap" parallels/varieties and holding those as a longer-term investment. Age and power are definitely there; the only thing we need to see is improved plate discipline.

Top 5 14-Day Risers

  1. Drew Gilbert: $11.00 → $26.99 (+145%)
    14-Day Stats: AVG .136 | ISO .136 | wRC+ 7 | HR 1 | Games 9

Analysis: It feels like Drew Gilbert has been present in each of our Who's Up articles, and I am honestly not quite sure why. He was traded from the Mets to the Giants in July and was quickly called up on August 8th. Since his debut, he has struggled mightily, posting a .136/.136/.273 slash line in his first nine MLB games. Regardless of his struggles, the Giants have kept him on the active roster, though his role seems to be diminished. It seems as if his initial role was that of a starter, averaging three or four ABs per game. Over his last five games, he has had two games with one AB/PA and one game with zero AB/PA. Of note, he did hit his first MLB HR on 8/17, which is likely responsible for the $50 sale on 8/18.

Recommendation: Sell
I don't want to be negative, but Drew Gilbert is one of those players who makes me wish I could short the market. A $50 sale with his stat line and diminished role is mind-boggling. Sure, he has played well in the minor leagues, but players who struggle at the MLB level, especially to this extent, almost never see an increase in their value. As I type this, I try to understand, but some things in prospecting are impossible to explain or quantify, and I think this may be one of those “things". If you are holding any of his cards, I would recommend selling while you can and trying to maximize your profits. It seems that the market has weighted his promotion and HR more than it should have.

  1. Kaelen Culpepper: $26.20 → $60.20 (+130%)
    14-Day Stats: AVG .229 | ISO .208 | wRC+ 93 | HR 3 | Games 11

Analysis: Kaelen Culpepper has been playing rather well in his first season at AA. He started hot, hit a bit of a cold streak, but has seemingly turned things around. I am not sure his recent performances have been good enough to justify the massive price increase we’ve seen, but I think this may be more of a gamble on potential than anything else. I would also argue that the $60.20 average is massively inflated by his two most recent sales, both above $80, with only one other sale ≥ $60 over the last three months.

Recommendation: Sell
I know that many prospectors are high on Kaelen Culpepper, including myself, but I am not high enough on him to buy in at $80+, at least not yet. I will wait for his prices to come back down before making any decisions. However, if you currently have any Culpepper cards, it may not be a bad idea to try selling now, take profits, and look to reinvest later.

  1. Luke Keaschall: $38.00 → $85.75 (+126%)
    14-Day Stats: AVG .333 | ISO .188 | wRC+ 149 | HR 2 | Games 12

Analysis: Another player who has seemingly appeared in all of our Who’s Up articles, and for good reason. He returned from his forearm injury in early August and immediately got back to form. He has delivered numerous clutch hits, including a walk-off home run on August 10th, and was named AL Player of the Week for his dominant performances. While his production has started to slow down, it has still remained impressive, and as such, his market is likely correcting to where investors and collectors feel it should be. Regardless, his plate discipline, power, speed, and timely performances have been exciting to watch.

Recommendation: Hold/Sell
I feel like a broken record saying this, but I recommend holding. He has had a strong start to his MLB career, and his market has been volatile, swinging up and down with each performance. Over the last week, his market has dipped alongside a slower stretch at the plate. It’s unclear whether he will pick things back up, but I think we’re too close to his most recent “bottom” to sell now. Hold for another week, see what happens, and if you still want to move off him, you can. The margin for profit when buying in now feels far too small, especially when comparing peak prices to his current sales.

  1. Blaze Alexander: $7.31 → $12.80 (+75%)
    14-Day Stats: AVG .255 | ISO .255 | wRC+ 152 | HR 3 | Games 14

Analysis: Blaze Alexander hit four home runs in a 9-game stretch and posted a .281/.386/.525 slash line for the month of April, both of which seemingly contributed to his short-term bump in pricing. However, it was short-lived. He has very limited hobby interest and sales volume, and his prices are far too concerning for me to invest any time or money. He’s 26 years old, has been around since 2018, and is now in his second MLB stint in the last two years. At this point, the market has set his value, and very little seems likely to cause long-term price growth. He performed above average for a stretch, and his market jumped, only to quickly come back down.

Recommendation: Pass
Blaze Alexander is an interesting player with little to no hobby interest. We’ve seen a total of 13 sales for his base Bowman Chrome auto over the last two months, and as of this article, his prices are already trending downward. Even if we were to buy in at $10 or less, I struggle to see a scenario where we could make money. Blaze has spoken, and the hobby has responded.

  1. Ryan Waldschmidt: $15.25 → $25.70 (+69%)
    14-Day Stats: AVG .415 | ISO .415 | wRC+ 247 | HR 5 | Games 11

Analysis: Another player, another rather ridiculous stat line, this time over a 14-day window. He has posted a .415/.580/.829 slash line over the last 14 days, with a .415 ISO and 5 HRs. His performance led to him being named Texas League Player of the Week on 8/18. Since his AA debut on 6/24/25, he has recorded 38 runs, 43 hits, 6 home runs, and 26 RBI. Although he may not be ahead of the curve in terms of development or age-to-level, he is right on track, something that may not earn him many points in the eyes of collectors, but certainly will not hurt him. He has good plate discipline, good power, and good speed, the trifecta for collectors and investors. I think he remains one of the best investments currently available, especially considering his price point.

Recommendation: Buy/Monitor
As mentioned above, I think Ryan Waldschmidt may be one of the best current investments. He has all the tools investors and collectors love, yet his prices are still relatively cheap. I would not mind picking up his cards at ~$25, but I’ll also keep him on my radar as we move into the off-season. Less than three weeks ago, his cards were under $20, with a couple of sales under $16. If they drop back to that range, I’d be more than comfortable snagging every card I could at that price.

As we head into the final stretch of the season, it’s becoming clear that the market is moving in different ways depending on performance, hype, and timing. Some names are breaking out and generating real momentum, while others are seeing their prices spike on FOMO rather than sustained production. That’s why it’s so important to approach this space with a mix of patience and discipline. Quick flips can build steady returns, but the real wins come from identifying the right long-term holds before everyone else catches on.

The next few weeks will bring even more volatility as call-ups, injuries, and end-of-season story lines play out. My advice is to stay measured, don’t get caught chasing a price that’s already peaked, and don’t be afraid to take profits when the opportunity is there. At the same time, keep your eyes on the players who are still flying under the radar or who could benefit from a reset in the off-season.

This stretch run is less about chasing hype and more about setting yourself up for the months ahead. If you stay focused on process, realistic ROI, and finding value in overlooked spots, you’ll be ready to make the most of the off-season opportunities when they come.

Sell Heat, Buy Skill.