Hopefully, you’ve already checked out our 2025 Consensus Second Base Rankings. If not, make sure you head on over there after you get done with this article. My initial rankings are there as well but in doing my projections and profiles, I have updated my second base rankings and will display them here. If you didn’t catch them, I’ve already done my projections and profiles for Catcher and First Base.
The accompanying profiles were written by a variety of our MLB staff. I did all the projections with a little help from a system called Projecting X. The system was developed by Mike Podhorzer, one of the top analysts in the industry for about as long as I can remember. I created a spreadsheet using the system with guidance from Tanner Bell and Smart Fantasy Baseball. Smart Fantasy Baseball features a whole bunch of incredible tools that help you be the expert you already thought you were. Tanner is also one half of the duo that wrote The Process, one book I would recommend to anyone who wants to get really good fantasy baseball.
You’ll find that the second base projections below are pretty conservative. Hot takes and bold predictions get attention but most of the time they don’t pan out and they rarely win leagues. Accurate projections do, and I’ll put these up against any in the industry. For now, we’ve profiled mostly just the second basemen in our Top 30 consensus rankings. As the season draws closer we’ll add some names when playing time starts to get a little more clear. Don’t worry, I’m one of those 12-team mono-league types so you know we’ll go deep.
Have fun and feel free to call us out in the comments. If there’s a second baseman missing that you’d like to see profiled, let us know and we’ll move them to the top of the to-do list.
Second Base Rankings, Projections, and Profiles
1. Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
A perennial top second base option for fantasy, Jose Altuve finds himself toward the top of the rankings yet again heading into 2025. In his age 34 season, Altuve appeared in 153 games, his highest mark since 2017. 2024 also marked his first 20/20 season since 2017. Under the hood, Altuve posted the worst whiff and chase rates of his career while his barrel rate regressed significantly from where it stood in 2023. In a thin second base market, Altuve’s draft price will be at a premium. Can he keep it up for one more season is the biggest question fantasy managers need to ask themselves. – Matt Heckman
2. Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
Ketel Marte broke out in a big way in 2024, showing MVP-like power at the plate while also maintaining a legitimate batting average. He absolutely crushed fastballs to the tune of .336 against them and 22 home runs hit. He also pulled the ball more, which could explain his jump in power, making him a four-category stud last season. An ankle injury that was handled poorly by the team resulted in a disappointing way to end a season, but he seems poised to return as one of baseball’s best second basemen in 2025. – Dave Funnell
3. Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves
There’s no question that Ozzie Albies is one of the best second basemen in baseball. He possesses power, speed, and the ability to be a five-category contributor while playing alongside a talented cast of characters in Atlanta. The problem is his inability to stay on the field, as the injuries have piled up over the years. Since the start of the 2022 season, he has fractured four different body parts, costing him significant time in two of those three seasons. While fractures are less concerning than sprains, it still highlights the fact that playing time needs to be a consideration when determining his value. That being said, when healthy, he is an exciting player to watch and an even more exciting player to roster in all fantasy formats. – Dave Funnell
4. Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers
For the first time since 2018, Marcus Semien did not appear in 160 games. Now 34, Semien generates most of his value through durability and counting stats that accumulate from playing in that many games. 2024 saw his home run, stolen bases, and batting average all dip significantly, but also saw his BABIP finish 33 points below his career average. Semien’s best offensive days are likely behind him, but if he appears in 150+ games, he is likely to finish in the top five at the position for fantasy managers. – Matt Heckman
5. Jordan Westburg, Baltimore Orioles
Jordan Westburg came into the season as someone who was holding down the fort until the Orioles’ high-profile prospects were ready to take over. What happened instead was that Westburg tore the cover off the baseball and was a big reason for the team’s first-half success. He finished the season with a .284 xBA and a .498 xSLG, leading some to believe that he could improve on last year’s breakout numbers. Still, he does play half of his games at Camden Yards and typically goes opposite field on just over 20% of his balls hit. Still, at the end of the day, his final line of 2024 looks in sync with his Minor League days, so this could be who he is, and that’s not a bad thing. Playing time could be an issue with so many productive players in the mix, but there is some upside, given the aforementioned expected stats. – Dave Funnell
6. Matt McLain, Cincinnati Reds
McClain had a great rookie debut in 2023, hitting for average and power, and also running whenever he got the chance. Then a shoulder injury and ensuing surgery knocked him out for the rest of the year and on into 2024. He then had a stress reaction in his ribs that derailed his return. McLain did log time in the Arizona Fall League and enters the 2025 season with a clean bill of health. The power and speed should be near 2023 levels but a look at his .385 BABIP that season tells us his batting average is likely to be much lower. He did run relatively high BABIPs in the minors, but I would still expect an average a lot closer to .260. McLain still looks like a productive player, just keep an eye on his ADP where sleeper hype can take away much of the bargain we might have had. One bonus is that McLain should offer eligibility at shortstop and second base if your league goes by his 2023 games played by position. – Doug Anderson
7. Luis Arraez, San Diego Padres
Fantasy managers know what they are getting with Luis Arraez. He is the best pure hitter in baseball and is a near lock to hit over .300. His incredibly low strikeout rate makes him an attractive option in points leagues, but his lack of power and speed prevent him from being a difference-maker in standard formats. If you are seeking runs and batting average in the mid to late rounds, target Luis Arraez but plan to make up steals and home runs elsewhere. He is a better target to fill your second base slot instead of first base where the replacement level is much higher. – Matt Heckman
8. Luis Garcia Jr., Washington Nationals
Luis Garcia broke out in a big way last season, becoming a low-level five-category stud over a full season for the Nationals. He did so at the age of 24 and came into his own with the mindset of making last year a prove-it year for him. He elevated the ball more, evidenced by his significantly reduced groundball rate, and spread the ball around the field even more. He also increased his Barrel rate up from 5.8% in 2023 to 8.0% in 2024, while also increasing his Exit Velocity by almost 1.0 mph. Heading into 2025, it remains to be seen if he can achieve a higher level, but that answer will come if he can fix his struggles against left-handed pitching, to which he hit just .259 against and just one home run. If he fixes that, then we could see him rise up the rankings past the names above him. – Dave Funnell
9. Andres Gimenez, Toronto Blue Jays
Andres Gimenez saw his home run total dip again in 2024 but his stolen base production remained steady. Gimenez’s elite defense keeps him in the lineup every day despite below-average offensive numbers. For fantasy managers, Gimenez is a high-floor, low-ceiling option. He is going to provide a boost in stolen bases, and league-average results in RBIs, runs, and batting average. The lack of power prevents him from being a top option, but he certainly holds value later on in drafts. The trade to Toronto will have minimal effects on his fantasy value but his counting stats could see a bit of an uptick. – Matt Heckman
10. Bryson Stott, Philadelphia Phillies
While many in the fantasy industry were expecting Bryson Stott to take another step forward in 2025, Stott wound up struggling for most of the season. His average dipped down to .245 although the nearly 40-point drop in his BABIP is certainly notable. Despite regression to his average, Stott still managed to steal over 30 bases and has some of the best contact skills in baseball. He is a safe bet for around 10 homers and 30 steals next season and should see his average rebound in 2025. – Matt Heckman
11. Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres
The scary part about Xander Bogaerts is that he will be 32 years old next season and the worry of regression starts to take over. While he might be years away from that being a significant factor, it’s still something that needs to be considered. After suffering through a sore wrist during the 2023 season, Bogaerts fractured his shoulder early in 2024, causing him to miss significant time in the process. The hope is that a normal offseason will lead to his first healthy season as a member of the Padres. If that does in fact happen, perhaps we see his batting average rise closer to his career .289 mark with both 15 home runs and 15 steals being in play. All that said, he is much more valuable as a second baseman in fantasy than at shortstop. – Dave Funnell
12. Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers
Brice Turang is one of the best base stealers in baseball. Turang appeared in 155 games and stole 50 bases with a much-improved batting average. Weak contact and a high ground ball rate prevent Turang from getting to much power, but fantasy managers can be confident they will get stolen bases. His 65 wRC+ against lefties is concerning, but his glove should keep him in the lineup most nights. He is a back-end 2B1 with risk. Any reduction to his batting average could limit him to being a one-category contributor. – Matt Heckman
13. Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers
After a slow start, Gleyber Torres posted a .292/.361/.419 slash in the second half. Despite the strong second half, his regression to just 15 homers and 4 stolen bases is certainly not what fantasy managers were expecting. The move to Detroit could mean further regression for Torres as the ballpark and supporting lineup are a step down. Torres owns a career 118 wRC+ in Yankee Stadium while that number drops to just 108 on the road. Even with that, it’s still a bit of a crapshoot with Torres. When he’s hitting well he can produce in any ballpark but if we see more of the 2024 version he becomes a lackluster option at second base. – Matt Heckman
14. Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs
Nico Hoerner had a fantastic second half of baseball in 2024, quelling any concerns that fantasy owners had for a disappointing campaign. Over his final 72 games, the speedy second baseman hit .307 and stole 17 bases, looking more and more like the player who was drafted early last spring. Still, there is the question of health, as he did have flexor tendon surgery in October. While the expectation is that he will be ready, anything is possible in the offseason. If he can come into the season healthy and ready to play, there is a good chance that he can post numbers similar to those in 2023 and be a steady contributor for speed. – Dave Funnell
15. Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays
At this point, it’s getting difficult to count on much more than 120-130 games out of Brandon Lowe. When he’s on the field though, the power production is there, and Lowe is quite efficient. It’s difficult to ignore his ISO from the last two seasons, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to see him finish with 21 home runs each year. Lowe had a 12.5% barrel rate last year as good things happen when the bat hits the ball. The issue is that it doesn’t happen often enough and he is a middle infielder who doesn’t run. If we get closer to a full season out of Lowe, we could be looking at a 30-home-run season. – Ray Kuhn
16. Luis Rengifo, Los Angeles Angels
If you take Luis Rengifo’s 2024 season and prorate it across 600 plate appearances, he would have finished with 47 stolen bases, 12 home runs, and a .300 batting average. So, why are we not talking more about his potential for 2025? Despite never playing in more than 127 games, Rengifo has shown flashes of being an excellent fantasy asset with both corner and middle infield eligibility. Fantasy managers should not expect a .300 batting average in 2025, but 15 homers and 40 stolen bases is certainly in the realm of possibilities. Rengifo could turn into one of the biggest draft-day steals in 2025. – Matt Heckman
17. Zack Gelof, Athletics
A high strikeout rate caught up to Zack Gelof in 2024 as he saw significant regression to his batting average and home run rate. While Gelof possesses the tools to be a premier option at second base, a strikeout rate of 34.4% prevents him from being a reliable fantasy option. Expectations should be tempered for Gelof as he has not shown any signs of improving his hit tool. He is a volatile option late in drafts for those chasing upside. – Matt Heckman
18. Colt Keith, Detroit Tigers
Colt Keith entered his rookie season as one of the league’s most promising prospects, and for the most part, he lived up to the hype. He did struggle to begin the year, but over his last 90 games, he hit .286 with 11 home runs, and was one of the reasons the Tigers were so successful down the stretch. Overall, there was nothing special about what he did, but perhaps that’s just good enough for a rookie who can put the bat to the ball and is a good hitter. The key for him will be to see if he can take that next step forward, and given the makeup of the Tigers, he should be given a chance. As a bonus, for at least 2025 Keith will likely offer eligibility at two positions as the Tigers’ signing of Gleyber Torres means Keith will be moving to first base. – Dave Funnell
19. Matt Shaw, Chicago Cubs
Shaw seems set to begin the 2025 season as the Cubs’ starting third baseman. Because of his games played in the minor leagues, he will offer eligibility at second base as well. Despite his limited time in the minors, Shaw has the pedigree and tools to come in and immediately produce, both for the Cubs and fantasy baseball managers. Strikeouts are not much of a concern and Shaw also took plenty of walks during the 2024 season. His upside likely tops out around 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in 2025 but there’s certainly room for growth in the next few years. Matt Shaw is not getting the hype a lot of top prospects usually get and I think that’s a mistake. It’s not hard to see him end the 2025 season as a top-10 second baseman.
20. Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals
Seeing Brendan Donovan drop to nine games at third base last year and lose that additional eligibility hurts his value. Entering the off-season, Donovan is projected as the fifth hitter in the Cardinals’ lineup and that is interesting from an RBI perspective. With an 86.6% contact rate last season, Donovan truly does a great job at putting the bat on the ball. The problem though, is that with a 5.5% barrel rate, he doesn’t do a large amount of damage most of the time. If he remains in the middle of the lineup though, Donovan could surprise from an RBI perspective. – Ray Kuhn
21. Jonathan India, Kansas City Royals
Given the emphasis around the league on power and speed, Jonathan India being a 15/15 player no longer holds the same impact. It was a disappointing season for India as he actually did worse statistically than in 2023 despite playing a full season. India does a solid job of getting on base, but he brings limited power to the table. His .418 xSLG did outpace his .392 SLG last season, but at this point, what you see is what you get. his 7.7% barrel rate and 36.2% hard hit rate fail to generate much optimism. His home (.273 with 11 home runs) and road (.225/4) splits are a big concern now that he’s in Kansas City and won’t get the benefit of Great American Ball Park. – Ray Kuhn
22. Willi Castro, Minnesota Twins
Will Castro had himself a 2024 season that was more reminiscent of his career prior to his 2023 breakout. What makes that breakout year even more alarming is the fact that he finished with the lowest xBA of his career, seeing his output crater in 2024. With that in mind, he does still have some value, due to his double-digit power and speed output. Even more, he should provide fantasy owners some versatility, given that he has positional eligibility everywhere except at first base and catcher. That being said, he should be thought of as a secondary bench bat for when injuries possibly take over your team. – Dave Funnell
23. Thairo Estrada, Colorado Rockies
Can Coors Field help resurrect the Thairo Estrada we saw in 2022 and 2023? There’s certainly no better place for it to happen. Estrada should have a direct line to full-time at-bats and if he can stay healthy, double-digit homers and steals is certainly in the realm of possibility. Second base is actually a pretty deep position is 2025, but Estrada could easily sneak into the top 15 options if things fall right. Seve him for the end game and hope the thin air agrees with Estrada.
24. Jake Cronenworth, San Diego Padres
Jake Cronenworth is about as average as you can get. He finished 2024 with a .241/.324/.390 slash line and a 105 wRC+ across 656 PAs. However, what Cronenworth lacks in flashiness, he makes up for in consistency. Outside of a 2023 season cut short by a wrist fracture, Cronenworth has logged at least 640 PAs per year since 2021. He’s also popped 17-21 home runs, collected 155+ runs and RBI, and thrown in 3-6 steals each season. There’s nothing eye-popping here, but that production plays, especially in a barren first base landscape. Cronenworth is a safe bet to put up similar numbers in 2025. – Lauren Auerbach
25. Maikel Garcia, Kansas City Royals
From May 28 forward, Maikel Garcia was one of the worst offensive players in baseball slashing .207/.261/.278 with a 49 wRC+. Still just 24 years old, Garcia has the potential to continue developing. He has plus raw pop, strong contact skills, and plus speed but is far from a finished product. Another prolonged slump like we saw in 2024 could land Garcia on the bench for a Royals team looking to compete in 2025. Right now, he should be viewed as a plus base stealer with upside, but not a reliable starter for fantasy managers. – Matt Heckman
26. Jackson Holliday, Baltimore Orioles
Holliday certainly fizzled in his first look at Major League pitching. After getting just two hits in his first 36 plate appearances, he was sent back down and didn’t immediately set the world on fire there. He did eventually resemble the prospect we saw rocket through the Orioles minor league system and got called back up and played a bit better. His 33.2% strikeout rate in Baltimore is way out of line with his minor league track record. If he gets the Ks under control the rest of his game will likely follow. All the hype from last draft season is gone and Holliday is available very late in drafts. With a starting job likely locked up, he enters 2025 as a very high-upside sleeper.
27. Christopher Morel, Tampa Bay Rays
The talent is obvious and at times Christopher Morel has appeared to break out, only for the strikeouts to rear their ugly heads and derail any progress. 2024 was more of the same for Morel. The power was there but a .233 BABIP took his batting average under .200 and things didn’t get better after his arrival in Tampa Bay. Morel enters 2025 pencilled in as the Rays left fielder but playing time is far from guaranteed. If you’re late in a draft and find yourself short on power, Morel is not a bad lottery ticket. Just expect damage to your batting average and be quick with the hook if he struggles as badly as he did in the second half of last season.
28. Gavin Lux, Cincinnati Reds
Gavin Lux flashed why he once ranked as the top prospect in baseball. From July 9 through September 4, Lux slashed an insane .333/.404/.592 with eight homers. His 600 PA pace over that time frame was 29 home runs. To be fair, his 600 PA pace over the rest of the season was just four. Lux also only received 50 plate appearances against lefties this year and hit just .152 off of them with zero home runs. The trade to Cincinnati is a positive as far as the ballpark goes and it probably gives him one last chance to establish himself as something more than a platoon player. Bump him up just a bit in your rankings but there’s still a lot of competition in Cincy so his leash should be short. – Matt Heckman
29. Jeff McNeil, New York Mets
Jeff McNeil is on the wrong side of 30 and has seen his performance decline significantly since he hit .326 back in 2022. In fact, not once did his batting average in 2024 rise above his final 2023 batting average, bringing to question if he should remain the starting second baseman for the Mets. While he’s always had a good eye at the plate, he’s never been able to produce much else other than batting average, making him a lackluster option. Furthermore, with many middle infield prospects on their way to the big leagues soon, he may be out of a starting job before his contract runs out in two years. – Dave Funnell
30. Jose Caballero, Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays signed Ha-Seong Kim to be their starting shortstop but he’ll likely be out for at least the first month of the season. Jose Caballero likely gets the nod to start the season but at-bats could get scarce real fast if everybody is healthy. Caballero will get some time at second and third as well as shortstop, so he will get some time, but the AB projection above is probably the extreme ceiling. Through his first two Major League seasons, Caballero owns an 88 wRC+ and slashed just 209/.255/.324 in the back half of last season. Caballero’s base-stealing ability is legit, but fantasy managers should not enter 2025 with the expectation Caballero will play in 139 games again. – Matt Heckman
For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.
