Hot/Cold: Trout Is Back, Wemby Makes Playoff History, and Walker Comes Out of Nowhere

Beckett drops their weekly Hot/Cold list every Monday, and this week’s edition is loaded. Playoff basketball is in full swing, hockey first-round action kicked off, and MLB is a month in with a few early surprises. Here’s what’s moving in the hobby this week.

The Hot List

Mike Trout is the most interesting card story of the week. After years of injury-plagued seasons, Trout went on a five-home-run tear in a single series at Yankee Stadium and suddenly the question is back: is he for real? He’s leading the league with 22 runs scored, sitting at a .422 on-base percentage, and his 1.5 WAR is already equal to everything he produced across 130 games last season. The card to watch: 2011 Topps Update #US175. If he stays healthy for even 120 games, this card gets interesting again.

Victor Wembanyama is on his fifth consecutive week on the Hot List — and he earned it. In his playoff debut against the Portland Trail Blazers, Wemby dropped 35 points, setting a new Spurs franchise record for scoring in a playoff opener. He’s also a finalist for both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. Five weeks of heat and a dominant postseason debut? His 2025-26 Topps Chrome Image Variations #221 is the must-watch card of the moment.

LeBron James did LeBron things. Without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, he put up 19 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds to carry the Lakers to a 107-98 Game 1 win over the Rockets. At 41 years old. The man refuses to fade. 2025-26 Topps Chrome Sapphire Purple #127 gets the spotlight.

Jordan Walker is one of the more surprising breakouts of 2026. The Cardinals outfielder came into the season with a -2.6 career WAR across three big-league seasons. Through 21 games this year, he leads the majors with 8 home runs and is hitting .305 with a 1.8 WAR. His 2020 Bowman Chrome Draft Autographs Blue #CDA-JW is the one collectors are scrambling for.

Jayson Tatum made his return from the torn Achilles he suffered in last year’s playoffs and looked like nothing happened. 21 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and a 123-91 Celtics blowout of the 76ers. 2017-18 Panini Prizm Silver Prizms #16 is his benchmark.

Juraj Slafkovsky made history in Montreal’s Game 1 over Tampa Bay — becoming the youngest player ever to score a hat trick in an NHL playoff opener. All three goals came on the power play, and the third was an overtime winner. His 2022-23 Upper Deck Young Guns #451 is the one to know.

Tage Thompson led Buffalo into the playoffs for the first time since 2011 — then delivered in Game 1 with two goals and an assist in a 4-3 win over Boston. After a 40-goal, 41-assist regular season, he’s a legitimate star. 2017-18 Upper Deck Young Guns #228.

Nikola Jokić posted a 25/13/11 triple-double in Denver’s 116-105 Game 1 win over Minnesota. He’s also an MVP finalist. The man is relentless. 2025-26 Topps Midnight Stroke of Midnight Autographs Summer Solstice #SM-NJ is his featured card this week.

The Cold List

Nolan Arenado (2025 Topps Chrome), Paul George (2010-11 Donruss), and JJ McCarthy (2025 Panini Phoenix Paragon) are the three names cooling off this week — Beckett doesn’t elaborate much on the Cold side, but the playtime concerns for McCarthy and George’s ongoing inconsistency make both self-explanatory.

The Bottom Line

It’s a good week to be holding Wemby, Trout, and Slafkovsky. If Trout’s hot streak holds — and that’s a real “if” given his recent health history — his 2011 rookies and autos could see a meaningful bump. And Jordan Walker is the sleeper pick of the week: a breakout nobody saw coming with prospect paper that’s still underpriced.