Disclaimer: This post reflects my personal opinions and experiences. I am not sponsored by Arena Club, and this is not financial advice. Always make your own informed decisions when trading or purchasing sports cards.

Every baseball card collector loves the thrill of adding a promising prospect to their collection, and I just had one of those moments. Let me walk you through why I bought a Walker Jenkins 2024 Bowman Chrome Mega Box 1st Bowman Orange Refractor /25, graded an Arena Club 9.5, for $125—and why I think it’s worth the gamble.

---

Why Walker Jenkins?

Walker Jenkins is one of baseball’s top prospects, currently ranked #3 by MLB.com, with an ETA to the majors of 2026. As a power-hitting outfielder with strong plate discipline, Jenkins has the tools to hit for both average and home runs—exactly the type of player collectors like myself love. If he hits his ceiling, Jenkins could easily become one of the best players in the game.

---

Why This Card?

I’m usually not a fan of parallels (especially from retail), but this card stood out for two reasons:

1. 1st Bowman: The first licensed card of a prospect, always a coveted card for collectors.
2. Scarcity (/25): While retail boxes are a dime a dozen, this card has the built in scarcity of being limited to 25.

---

What Comps Did I Use?

These are the eBay sales I used as reference:

• Jasson Dominguez Bowman Chrome Mega Box Orange Refractor /25 (BGS 9): Sold for $227.50 on 11/10/24. While Dominguez’s value is inflated from being a Yankee, Jenkins is considered a better prospect.
• James Wood Bowman Chrome Mega Box Orange Refractor /25 (PSA 10): Sold for $434.89 on 12/3/24. The PSA 10 certainly boosts the value, but Jenkins and Wood are comparable prospects.

---

My Thoughts

Planned Hold Time: I’m prepared to hold this card for at least 3 years, waiting to see how Jenkins progresses through the minors and (hopefully) into the majors.

Price Paid: I offered $125 for this card on Arena Club and it was accepted immediately. In hindsight, I may have been able to offer less, but I’m happy with the purchase. I am assuming that a 9.5 from Arena Club would equate to a 9 from PSA, but if it somehow graded as a 10 this could turn out to be a steal.

Purchase Grade: I would give myself a B for this purchase. Based on the level of player Jenkins becomes in the majors, I believe a realistic ceiling for this card is ~$500, but even in the best case scenario it would take a while to reach that price .

---

What Do You Think?

What do you think of the purchase? Do you think I got a good deal or overpaid? I’d love to hear your thoughts or compare notes on similar purchases!

---

Check out the card on my Arena Club showcase here!