The second base position has vacillated between being shallow and deep over the last few seasons. The position is fairly deep this season with some fun, interesting players littered throughout the average draft position (ADP), but it lacks top-end talent.
The strategy with drafting second basemen is to wait unless there is a top-tier player that stands out as undervalued. With the depth of the position, there is no reason to reach for expensive talent.
Here are my fantasy baseball second base rankings and tiers for 2025.
- 2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit
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- Fantasy Baseball Research & Advice
- Fantasy Baseball Average Draft Position (ADP)
Fantasy Baseball Second Basemen Primer: Rankings & Tiers
Check out our latest fantasy baseball draft primer. This article dives into the second base position. Here’s a rundown of the top second basemen in fantasy baseball, including fantasy baseball rankings, tiers and player notes to help guide your fantasy baseball drafts.
Tier 1 & Notes
Ketel Marte is coming off his best season as a pro, hitting 36 home runs and stealing seven bases in 583 plate appearances. He has struggled with health as a pro, but he has been able to play in over 135 games in each of the last three seasons. I wouldn’t project 30+ home runs again, but he is a stable contributor with upside.
McLain missed all of last season with injury but played in the Arizona Fall League and has looked good in spring training. He has power and speed, and plays in the best park in the Majors for power. The price is rising but I am in on it.
Tier 2 & Notes
Marcus Semien is coming off a down season, but the Rangers were down as a whole in 2025. I expect a rebound for Semien and the rest of the team. He is an Iron Man in the game, missing just four total games over the last four seasons. You can’t underestimate the volume he provides with over 700 plate appearances in every season since 2018 except 2020.
Jose Altuve is not the star he once was but he is still a very good player, posting a 20/20 season last year. He still delivers a great average and five-category production. His move to the outfield will give him greater flexibility.
Tier 3 & Notes
Ozzie Albies is coming off of another injury-plagued season, but when he is on the field, he can still be an elite player. If you could guarantee 600 plate appearances, I would probably have Albiez as my No. 1 overall-ranked second baseman, but the risk keeps him in Tier 2.
Brice Turang had a fantastic first half and then faded in the second half. However, he was unlucky in the second half with just a .265 batting average on balls in play (BABIP). He makes a lot of in-zone contact, so I expect the first half to be more indicative of who he is. I think we could see a pretty good average with a ton of stolen bases in 2025.
Luis Garcia finally had the breakout season we have been waiting for. He showed power and speed and did it with a good average. With the Nationals starting to get better around him, he could be in a position for counting categories as well. He is the perfect glue guy in your lineup because he is so reliable.
Bryson Stott makes a lot of contact and has great speed, but he has been struggling versus left-handed pitching, which is starting to make him a platoon bat. He is still young enough to improve there, but the risk is that he only plays versus righties.
Tier 4 & Notes
- Luis Rengifo (2B, 3B – LAA)
- Xander Bogaerts (2B, SS – SD)
- Colt Keith (2B – DET)
- Luis Arraez (1B, 2B, DH – SD)
- Andres Gimenez (2B – TOR)
- Maikel Garcia (2B, 3B – KC)
Luis Rengifo has never been a full-time guy in L.A. because of being blocked off and injuries. However, it looks like he could have a chance at being a full-timer in 2025. There is a lot of speed in his profile and the Angels like to run. The upside is immense here.
Xander Bogaerts is a steady contributor known for accumulating stats. However, he struggled with injury last year, which prevented him from doing so. He appears healthy now, so there is no reason he can’t go back to being what he has been for the last few seasons.
I am a big Colt Keith guy. His hit tool is very good and there is a ton of power in the bat waiting to come out. I think this is the year that power blossoms. Keith will be moving to first base because he is not a good defender, which means he will pick up extra eligibility shortly into the season.
Maikel Garica gets a bad rap that he isn’t very good, but that is more about people having higher expectations for him that were unrealized. He was unlucky in the batting average department and while there isn’t much power, there is a ton of speed and the team around him is getting better.
Tier 5 & Notes
- Brandon Lowe (1B, 2B, DH – TB)
- Brendan Donovan (2B, 3B, OF – STL)
- Jonathan India (2B – KC)
- Jordan Westburg (2B, 3B – BAL)
- Nico Hoerner (2B, SS – CHC)
- Gleyber Torres (2B – DET)
- Willi Castro (2B, 3B, SS, OF – MIN)
- Jackson Holliday (2B – BAL)
- Jeff McNeil (2B, OF – NYM)
- Thairo Estrada (2B – COL)
Brendon Lowe struggles with health, but when on the field, he is a nice power source. There is going to be plenty of power with the Rays playing in a Minor League ballpark.
Jonathan India’s trade to Kansas City isn’t great for his fantasy value. He will lead off, but the park is terrible for power and the Royals don’t run as much as the Reds. I am not a believer that this is going to be a good year for India.
Jordan Westburg is shooting up the ADP board and it has to do with a nice rookie season and the Orioles moving in the left-field fence. That said, he is more of an accumulator and while there is nothing wrong with that, his current price is paying up for a player with limited upside.
Nico Hoerner would be much higher on this list, but he is going to miss time recovering from offseason surgery. Once he is back, he can be a high-contact and speed guy, but there is no timetable for his return.
Jackson Holliday’s ADP is starting as drafters are hoping to hit on the upside of the former first-overall pick. However, he is still super young and has yet to look good at the Major League level, so I’m not buying this rise much.
Thairo Estrada is coming off his worst season, but a move to Colorado might be just what the doctor ordered. He will never be a stud, but there is speed and power in the profile. Hitting in Colorado will help with the average.
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