10 Fantasy Baseball Takeaways from 2025: Second Base

We are in the full swing of this article series now. With shortstop, third base, and catcher all available to read, we shift now to second base. Second base is an interesting position for fantasy baseball players. It is far from the thinnest position (as it used to be), but it is not as deep as shortstop. There are plenty of good players, but not many great players to choose from. This article provides 10 takeaways from the 2025 season for fantasy baseball managers.

10 Second Base Takeaways from 2025

1) Sometimes, a player is not who we think they are: Brice Turang’s power breakout is for real

Entering 2025, there was a general consensus on who Brice Turang was. A great fielder, with excellent speed, and a plus hit tool who hit for little to no power, or so we thought. Turang was all of that and more for Milwaukee this past season. After hitting just 13 homers in his first two seasons, Turang broke out with 18 in 2025.

Turang added over four mph to his average bat speed, increased his barrel rate, and has seen the homers come in bunches. His 600 plate appearance home run pace from August forward was 37 homers. He could easily become a 20/20 player in 2026 and finish as the top second baseman in fantasy baseball.

2) Bryson Stott adjusted his hands for the second half

Stott’s offensive inconsistencies have frustrated fantasy baseball managers over the past few seasons. Flashes of excellence with plus speed and everyday playing time make him an enticing option.

His batting average struggled early on in 2025, as did his power, but an adjustment to his hands during the second half unlocked the kind of production Stott flashed in 2023. In the second half of the season, Stott slashed .294/.368/.487 with a 135 wRC+. His 600 PA pace after the hand adjustment was 20 homers and 28 stolen bases. This is something to keep in mind when evaluating where to draft Stott in 2026.

3) There are very few elite options at the position

Second base is among the thinnest positions in fantasy baseball. According to FanGraphs Auction Calculator (FGAC), Brice Turang is the only player who returned value north of $20. In comparison, first base had eight, shortstop had seven, and third base had five.

The issue is not that there are no useful players at the position, but rather that there are very few difference makers. Turang is excellent, but Jorge Polanco finished as the 2B8. No offense to Polanco, but he is not a highly sought-after fantasy asset. The takeaway here? If you can wait on the position, it could be worth it. If you miss Turang, take some shots late in drafts, because the bar is not set very high.

4) Jordan Westburg’s injuries continued in 2025

Heading into 2026, Jordan Westburg profiles as a player heavily targeted at a value. Westburg has dealt with injuries in both 2024 and 2025, masking what could be an excellent fantasy option at second base.

While durability is an obvious concern, none of the injuries have been overly serious or are projected to linger into next season. Fantasy baseball managers should hesitate before placing the injury-prone label on Westburg. In 85 games this season, Westburg hit .265 with 17 home runs. Isolating the period of the season in which Westburg was truly healthy, you get a two-month stretch from June 10 through August 18 during which Westburg slashed .304/.354/.513. His 600 plate appearance pace for homers during that time was 32.

5) The end is near for Marcus Semien

Really, the end was near following 2024. We are past the end of Semien’s reign as a top fantasy option at second base. After seeing his batting average drop from .276 in 2023 to .237 in 2024, Semien’s batting average fell again to .230 in 2025. While there was no notable difference in Semien’s batted ball data or plate discipline, that was not where he was generating his fantasy value.

Semien’s fantasy value stemmed from durability. Semien had played in at least 159 games in every season dating back to 2018. In 2025, Semien appeared in just 127 games for Texas. Expecting Semien to play every game at 35 years old was always unrealistic. Still, it is sad to see the drop off from a player who was once a dominant force in fantasy baseball.

6) We could have two top-five prospects open the 2026 season on Opening Day Rosters

This takeaway is not fully a takeaway from this past season, but rather something for fantasy baseball managers to know heading into 2026. As discussed earlier, the position is thin. There are reinforcements coming that could add much-needed depth to the position.

Both Travis Bazzana and JJ Wetherholt were excellent in 2025. Wetherholt hit .304 with 16 homers and 23 stolen bases. Bazzana hit nine homers and stole 12 bases, but settled in nicely to end the season at Triple-A. Both players will have an opportunity to earn an everyday role in Spring Training this season. They should have an impact for fantasy baseball managers as soon as they make their Major League debut.

7) Fantasy baseball managers should not ignore a risky hit tool: Matt McLain

After missing the entirety of the 2024 season, Matt McLain was a popular breakout pick in 2025. On the surface, McLain had the power and speed combination that fantasy baseball players love to target.

While true, a hyper-fixation on these skills led to an ignorance of his suspect hit tool. This came back to bite fantasy managers as McLain hit just .220 this season and even lost playing time during different parts of the year. Moving forward, fantasy baseball managers need to be careful not to ignore obvious flaws when targeting upside.

8) Platoon bats should always scare fantasy managers: The Luis Garcia Jr. conundrum

When drafting, fantasy baseball managers need to account for what can make the floor drop out from underneath a player. While it seems obvious, routine days off against left-handed pitching could be enough to turn a player into a bust.

Coming off a breakout 2024 season, expectations for Luis Garcia Jr. were high. He was being drafted as the eighth second baseman off the board. Garcia wound up hitting just .252 with 16 homers and 14 steals while consistently riding the bench against left-handed pitchers. Sitting against lefties is not the end-all be-all, but it adds additional risk that fantasy baseball managers could be wise to avoid.

9)The Mets have an opportunity waiting if a young player will step up

The opportunity will be there in 2026. The opportunity was even there in 2025 after Jeff McNeil started the season on the IL. All three of Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, and Luisangel Acuna got playing time at one point or another this season. Baty performed by far the best, but all three have prospect pedigree that would make them interesting if thrust into a starting role in 2026.

Technically, Jeff McNeil is under contract through 2026, but he hit just .243 on the season and could be used as more of a utility player in his final season with the team. In 130 games, Baty hit .254 with 18 homers and a 12.8% barrel rate. This will be a Spring Training battle worth paying close attention to.

10)The fantasy baseball community can finally stop pretending that Ozzie Albies is an elite option at second base

Albies is not a bad player by any means. He has also put together some very good seasons for fantasy baseball managers. However, he has been inconsistent throughout his professional career and has now struggled to produce offensively in two consecutive seasons.

In 2025, Albies appeared in almost every game, batting .240 with 16 homers and 14 stolen bases. His wRC+ dropped to a career-low 86. Thanks in part to the strong seasons in his past, Albies always finds himself near the top of draft boards every spring. Even after a down 2024, Albies was still the fourth second baseman taken in fantasy drafts.

At this point, Albies has shown us enough to know he should no longer be considered an elite fantasy option at the position. Do not fall for the hype when it comes back around in 2026.