The new MLB season is still in its infancy, but there are two players that just about everyone is keeping an eye on. Bryce Harper has been the most touted prospect of our generation, and has started the year on an absolute tear. The other is Mike Trout, who hasnt had the same type of success for his sophomore campaign. While Harper’s cards have gone from expensive to EXPENSIVE, Trout’s are staying put for now while people are waiting to see if he can turn it around after a slower start.

Check these out:

2013 Topps Tribute Bryce Harper Auto 15/15

2011 Bowman Chrome Bryce Harper Auto BGS 9.5

2012 Topps Archives Bryce Harper Throwback Auto

2011 Bowman Sterling Bryce Harper Gold Refractor Auto /50

I have often said that there are very few people in baseball that can carry a product. With Harper’s autographs bringing higher than 200 a pop, now in their third year, he is quickly entering company that Trout joined at the end of last year. That’s not saying that this season could easily tank for Harper and go nuts for Trout, but this is the joy of small sample sizes. Harper is batting close to .350, and already has 5 HR, which is something that is quite an accomplishment with all the pressure already in play. I mean, his rookie cards are still selling for more than anyone ever has in this era.

Trout is still selling pretty well:

2009 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout Auto RC BGS 9

2009 Bowman Sterling Mike Trout Auto RC Refractor BGS 9.5

Both teams are primed to make a deep playoff run, and its likely that Harper should end up being an integral part of said success. Trout is going to be buffered by Pujols and Hamilton, as long as all three are raking, its going to be a Yankee level lineup to stop. Its interesting that collectors are paying what they are for Harper’s and Trout’s cards, as the relative value of MVP hitters does not measure up. However, the potential that both have is about as high as can be seen in any sport, maybe only out shined by a guy like Andrew Luck in football.

Prospecting has become a juggernaut of its own in baseball, almost to the point where the draft based products have become on par with the non-prospect stuff. Considering that many of the guys are talent that has yet to see a major league at bat, its odd how much money people want to dump into these cards. Oscar Taveras and his crazy prices are a great example. If that’s your thing, more power to you, but man, I dont know if I could deal with that type of risk. Harper and Trout have both exited that phase of their collecting career, and Harper did so the second his first card was released. Its NOT the right time to buy either guy, it just isnt. You cant prospect a guy who is already selling so high.

I love that both Harper and Trout are the apple of the general collector’s eye right now, as baseball has become less and less a focus for me. They kind of bring me back in, as its tough to avoid noticing their prowess in a sport that functions on stats. Im just curious to find out what might happen if both end up tanking like prospects have been known to do.