Fantasy Baseball 2nd Basemen Keepers

World Collection is over and the election has come and gone, which means we’re absolutely into the baseball offseason, and we’re additionally knee-deep into the Prime Dynasty Keepers for 2025. This week’s rankings focus turns to the second basemen.

Total, these rankings characteristic a younger group of gamers. Of my prime 50 gamers, 40 of them are 29 years previous or youthful, leaving solely 10 gamers who’re 30+ to be ranked beneath. And of these gamers older than 30, 4 of them are ranked in Tier 1 as they present no indicators of slowing down.

With so many younger gamers, when you don’t have one of many older Tier 1 gamers, then it is a place during which I might goal the youthful gamers with the excessive ceilings.

Now let’s get to the rankings…

Simply Lacking the Lower

Luisangel Acuña didn’t play sufficient video games at second base to qualify there at the beginning of the fantasy season. However with Francisco Lindor entrenched at quick, Acuña will slide over to second base in 2025, and assuming he breaks camp with the Mets, it gained’t take lengthy for him to realize eligibility at second base. Acuña’s predominant asset is his pace as he has 198 profession steals in 505 minor league video games. He additionally has some energy, however his skill to steal bases is why it is best to goal him.

Whit Merrifield, Jose Iglesias and Adam Frazier are gamers who’ve some worth, however at this level are simply damage replacements. Whitfield will probably be 36 subsequent season, and when he was hitting .280 and stealing a lot of bases, he was good to have round. He’s coming off a .222/.311/.314 slash line in 2024 and is now not value rostering. Iglesias will probably be 35 subsequent yr and actually solely provides an honest slash line however not a lot in the way in which of energy and steals.

Frazier, who turns 33 in December, hasn’t hit above .240 or slugged higher than .396 the final three seasons. He can play a number of positions, however once more, he’s an damage substitute participant.

Prime Prospects

• Kristian Campbell, Boston
• James Triantos, Chicago
• Ronny Mauricio, New York Mets
• Cole Younger, Seattle

Tier 5

Everybody wants infield depth, and that’s what most of those gamers present. Nevertheless, a couple of of them nonetheless have some upside.

The Pure Depth Gamers

Brandon Drury, Jeff McNeil and Jorge Polanco shouldn’t be starters in your staff until you’re in a 30-team league and you’ve got injured second baseman. That stated, they nonetheless have some worth.

Drury hit 28 homers in 2022 and 26 in 2023 however in 97 video games and 325 at-bats this previous season he hit solely 4 homers. Accidents performed an element in that large drop in manufacturing and if he can regain the ability then he’s a serviceable participant, particularly since he can play first, second and third base.  Polanco and McNeil each have some pop of their bats, however that’s actually all they provide at this stage of their careers.

The Intriguing Gamers

Curtis Mead is a former prime 100 prospect who has but to reside as much as expectations within the majors. In 62 video games over two seasons, he has a .244/.300/.312 slash line with a 23% strikeout price. However there may be hope that he can lastly flip issues round and he has the added bonus of having the ability to slot in at third base.

The Blue Jays acquired Will Wagner on the commerce deadline from the Astros as a part of the Yusei Kikuchi commerce. Wagner has by no means appeared on a prime prospect listing, however as he climbed the ladder within the minors, he demonstrated the power to hit and management the strike zone. In 290 minor league video games, he has a .297/.402/.441 slash line with 177 walks and 218 strikeouts. In 24 video games with Toronto, he slashed .305/.337/.451 with 4 walks and 16 strikeouts.

What has occurred to Vaughn Grissom? He burst onto the scene in 2022 when he slashed .291/.353/.440 in 41 video games with the Braves. The Purple Sox acquired Grissom forward of this previous season for Chris Sale, however that commerce is just not wanting good proper now after Grissom slashed .190/.246/.219 in 31 video games. Grissom has proven he can succeed within the majors, however his leash is getting very quick.

Tier 4

This tier is the blended bag tier. There are some one-dimensional gamers on this tier, gamers who’ve expertise however have by no means put collectively a whole season and children who’ve nice upside however I’m not utterly bought on them.

The One-Dimensional Participant

Christopher Morel can hit the ball a great distance. However that’s actually all he can do. He has a profession dwelling run price of 4.3%, which is means above the three% common. However he additionally has a .223 profession batting common and a 29% strikeout price. When you care solely about energy who can play third base and left discipline as nicely, Morel is nice to have. However that’s mainly all he’ll present.

What’s Their Future?

Marco Luciano, Nick Yorke, Orelvis Martinez and Thomas Saggese had been all, or nonetheless are, prime 100 prospects. However their preliminary style of the majors has both not gone very nicely or it’s too quickly to know precisely what we have to learn about their future.

Luciano can play each center infield spots and doesn’t precisely have nice expertise blocking his path to extra enjoying time. However his audition with the Giants hasn’t precisely set the world on fireplace. In 41 profession video games he has a .217/.286/.304 slash line with a 35.7% strikeout price. His profession minor league numbers don’t precisely scream that he will probably be something apart from a backup, however he has displayed some energy, so he can’t be ignored.

Yorke is a former first spherical draft alternative of Boston in 2020 earlier than being shipped to Pittsburgh for Quinn Priester previous to the commerce deadline this season. Yorke has respectable pace and energy, hitting 12 homers with 21 steals within the minors this yr. Proper now he’ll battle Nick Gonzales for the beginning job at second base, so there’s a clear probability for him to play. However I’m not utterly on board with Yorke and his future growth, so he lands on this tier.

Martinez appeared in just one sport for Toronto this season, going 1-for-3. However he has above common energy and might play third base as nicely. Of the gamers on this little grouping, I could also be rating him too low if you’re going for upside and never apprehensive about rapid enjoying time. Saggese appeared in 18 video games for the Cardinals and slashed .204/.250/.306 with a 27% strikeout price and 4% stroll price.

Whereas he has expertise, his path to numerous enjoying time at second base is blocked by Brendan Donovan and Nolan Gorman. His energy potential could enable him to get a while at second, third and DH, however he’s going to have to chop down on his strikeouts if he’s going to understand his potential.

Tier 3

Low-Value Pace and Versatility

In case you are on the lookout for steals after the highest gamers should not obtainable, it is a good group of gamers to select from. Six gamers – Jose Caballero, Xander Bogaerts, Willi Castro, Andres Gimenez, Maikel Garcia and Nico Hoerner – all reached double-digits steals this season, whereas Hoerner, Garcia, Gimenez and Caballero all reaching 30 or extra steals.

However out of these six gamers, solely Bogaerts reached double digits in homers with 11, however all of those gamers posted respectable slash traces, thus not hurting you within the common and OBP classes.

If you would like gamers who can play anyplace, then Castro is a participant to focus on as he qualifies at second and third base, shortstop, left discipline and middle discipline. Caballero can play second, quick and third and Garcia can play at second and third whereas Bogaerts and Hoerner are multi-positional candidates relying in your league’s guidelines.

Extra Energy, Much less Pace

In case you are on the lookout for energy over pace at second base, then Brandon Lowe is an effective goal after hitting 21 homers every of the previous two seasons and slugging 39 in 2021. He’s not going to assist your common or OBP and definitely not add numerous steals. He’s just a little too one-dimensional for me, so that’s the reason he’s on this tier. Brendan Rodgers and Brendan Donovan are good for 15 homers and 65 to 75 RBI, which is strong manufacturing. However each will probably be 28 subsequent yr and are doubtless at their ceilings.

Connor Norby is who I like essentially the most on this tier and I could also be rating him too low. He has nice energy potential with a profession SLG of .494 within the minors. In his 45 video games within the majors with Baltimore and Miami, he has 9 homers and a .438 SLG. However with the ability there may be numerous swing and miss as his profession strikeout price within the minors was 23% and thus far within the majors it’s 33%. And whereas he doesn’t have blazing pace, he’ll be capable to steal some bases. However his future could also be at third base with the Marlins, so rating him greater in these rankings could be a stretch.

Tier 2

Rengifo at No. 19?

Sure, I’ve Luis Rengifo ranked twelfth. In solely 78 video games this previous season he slashed .300/.347/.417 with six homers, 30 RBI and 24 steals. The pace was a brand new addition to his sport as his earlier profession excessive was six. However Rengifo hit 17 homers in 2022 and 16 in 2023 with a mixed slash line of .264/.315/.436. I consider he will probably be good for 17 homers and 20 steals per season for the subsequent three years as I believe he’ll proceed to steal bases.

Love the Energy

Nolan Gorman strikes out rather a lot (34% profession price) and doesn’t hit for a excessive common (.222 profession common), however what he does do nicely is hit homers. His 162-game common is 31 homers and 83 RBI. His energy potential is what has me rating him in Tier 2 as I can search elsewhere for gamers who’ve a greater slash line or pace.

Zack Gelof is just like Gorman in that he can hit for energy and struggles within the common and OBP departments. He has hit 31 homers in 207 profession video games however has a .231/.294/.412 slash line. The place Gelof is totally different from Gorman is that Gelof may also steal bases. He swiped 25 in 138 video games this yr and has 39 for his profession (162-game common of 31 steals). The ability/pace combo in a 25-year-old participant is sweet.

Finest Energy-Pace Combo

Adael Amador was one of many prime worldwide gamers through the 2019-20 signing interval and has proven a pleasant energy/pace combo within the minors whereas strolling practically as many instances as he has struck out. This previous season on the age of 21 he hit 14 homers and stole 35 bases at Double Some time strolling 62 instances in comparison with 88 strikeouts. Throughout his minor league profession he has 215 walks and 221 strikeouts.

As he grows and will get stronger, he ought to persistently drive the ball, resulting in a lot of double and triples in Coors Area with 15 to twenty homers besides. Add in his pace and I actually like his upside.

Pure Pace

Brice Turang is just not going to ship numerous dwelling runs. However that’s not why you need a participant like him. You need Turang as a result of he’s going to steal numerous bases. Turang stole 50 bases for the Brewers this previous season after swiping 26 in 2023. Generally a one-dimensional participant is sweet to have, and whereas there are increasingly steals within the majors now, having a participant who can attain 50 or extra steals is a precious participant to have.

Tier 1

Outdated Fogies

As you may see, this tier has 4 gamers who will probably be 31 or older subsequent season. If I used to be wanting 5 years down the highway, then Marcus Semien and Jose Altuve could be ranked in Tier 2 and Ketel Marte be on the perimeter between Tier 1 and a pair of. Mookie Betts would stay the place he’s ranked as a result of I don’t suppose there may be something Betts can’t do and I don’t see him slowing down anytime quickly.

Semien had a strong season with 22 homers and 73 RBI. However these two numbers are his lowest output since 2018 (not counting 2020) and in two of his final three years his OBP has been at .308 or decrease and his common has been at .248 or decrease. His OPS+ was 100 this yr and 106 in 2022 as he has had a pattern of getting a very good yr, then a mean yr, then a very good yr, and so on.

Jose Altuve can also be going to be 34 subsequent season, however I don’t see him slowing down as a lot as Semien. The Astros second baseman slashed .295/.350/.439 this previous season with 20 homers, 65 RBI and 22 steals. Since 2021 his 162-game common is 29 homers, 78 RBI and 18 steals with a .294/.367/.491 slash line.

Ketel Marte is coming off an ideal 2024 marketing campaign with 36 homers and 95 RBI to go together with a .292/.372/.560 slash line. That’s the manufacturing stage of the very best second baseman in baseball. And it’s not prefer it was a fluke season as he hit 25 homers with 82 RBI in 2023 with a .276/.358/.485 slash line. Over the past three years his batting common, SLG and OBP have all elevated every season, however on the age of 31 subsequent yr, I’m not going to position him within the prime 5.

Future Prime 5 Second Baseman?

Matt McLain missed the entire 2024 season because of a shoulder damage that required surgical procedure. However in 2023 he slashed .290/.357/.507 with 16 homers, 50 RBI and 14 steals in 89 video games. That interprets to a 162-game common of 29 homers, 91 RBI and 25 steals. Give that manufacturing yearly and I’m a contented man. He ought to slide again into the beginning slot at second base with Jonathan India getting extra time at DH.

Earlier than the beginning of the season the Detroit Tigers inked Colt Keith to a six-year cope with three staff choices. They did this earlier than Keith ever performed a serious league sport. In his rookie yr Keith slashed .260/.309/.380 with 13 homers and 61 RBI. After a gradual April, Keith slashed .282/.328/.426 with 13 homers and 56 RBI over his remaining 122 video games. The ability will improve and he ought to get near his minor league profession common and OBP of .300/.382 quickly.

The Prime 5

Jordan Westburg could not final at second base with the Orioles because it is determined by the place Jackson Holliday and Gunner Henderson play on the sector. Proper now Westburg is a second baseman and third baseman, and at second base he is a superb participant as he’s a 20 homer, 80 RBI participant with a strong slash line. Even when Westburg settles in at third base, he’ll doubtless get time at second to maintain him certified there for a number of extra years.

The 2024 season was not variety to Ozzie Albies. Accidents restricted him to 99 video games and damage his manufacturing as he slashed .251/.303/.404. However when Albies is wholesome, he is a superb second baseman. In 2021 he slugged 30 homers and drove in 106 runs in 156 video games and in 2023 these numbers had been 33 and 109 in 148 video games. His 162-game common is 26 homers, 94 RBI and 16 steals with a .270/.322/.470 slash line.

Luis Garcia is a former prime 100 prospect who broke in with the Nationals as a 20-year-old after which took a while to achieve his potential. However that potential was on full show in 2024 as Garcia hit 18 homers, drove in 70 runs and stole 22 bases whereas slashing .282/.318/.444. I don’t suppose Garcia has reached his ceiling as I anticipate him to develop extra energy whereas sustaining his pace.

Betts vs. Holliday

I discussed Betts above as being one of many Outdated Fogies on this group. And whereas he will probably be 32 subsequent season, his manufacturing on the plate is just not going to decrease over the subsequent three years and sure not the subsequent 5 years. Betts hits for common and energy, drives in runs, steals bases and might play anyplace on the sector. The one cause Betts isn’t my prime second baseman is he could not play on the place sufficient subsequent yr to qualify there in future seasons and since he isn’t 21 years previous.

Technically, Jackson Holliday is just not 21 years previous. He gained’t attain that age till December 4. And Holliday didn’t have an ideal rookie season with the Orioles as he slashed .189/.255/.311 with 5 homers, 23 RBI and bitter steals in 60 video games. However the prime choose within the 2022 draft has means an excessive amount of expertise to not seize if in case you have the prospect. In 2023, his first full season as a professional on the age of 19, he performed at 4 totally different ranges and slashed .323/.442/.499 with 12 homers, 75 RBI and 24 steals in 125 video games. He additionally walked 101 instances with 118 strikeouts.

He has cut up most of his time between second base and shortstop. However second base is probably going his future, with Henderson at quick and Westburg at third. It will be a shock if Jackson doesn’t begin to attain his potential quickly and be a prime second baseman for yr

Come Again Subsequent Week

Thanks for studying and are available again subsequent week for the highest 50 shortstops.

Earlier Rankings

Prime 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Relievers
Prime 100 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Beginning Pitchers
Prime 40 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Catchers
Prime 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – First Basemen