World Collection is over and the election has come and gone, that means we’re absolutely into the baseball offseason, and we’re additionally knee-deep into the High Dynasty Keepers for 2025. This week’s rankings focus turns to the second basemen.
Total, these rankings function 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 this can be a place by which I’d goal the youthful gamers with the excessive ceilings.
Now let’s get to the rankings…
Simply Lacking the Minimize
Luisangel Acuña didn’t play sufficient video games at second base to qualify there at first of the fantasy season. However with Francisco Lindor entrenched at brief, 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 velocity as he has 198 profession steals in 505 minor league video games. He additionally has some energy, however his capability to steal bases is why you must goal him.
Whit Merrifield, Jose Iglesias and Adam Frazier are gamers who’ve some worth, however at this level are simply damage replacements. Whitfield might be 36 subsequent season, and when he was hitting .280 and stealing plenty of bases, he was good to have round. He’s coming off a .222/.311/.314 slash line in 2024 and is now not price rostering. Iglesias might be 35 subsequent yr and actually solely gives an honest slash line however not a lot in the best way 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.
High Prospects
Kristian Campbell, Boston
James Triantos, Chicago
Ronny Mauricio, New York Mets
Cole Younger, Seattle
Tier 5
RANK
PLAYER
2024 TEAM
AGE
50
Richie Palacios
TB
27
49
Brandon Drury
LAA
32
48
Curtis Mead
TB
24
47
Otto Lopez
MIA
26
46
Will Wagner
TOR
26
45
Jeff McNeil
NYM
32
44
Jorge Polanco
SEA
31
43
Vaughn Grissom
BOS
24
42
Jorge Mateo
BAL
29
41
Nick Gonzales
PIT
25
Everybody wants infield depth, and that’s what most of those gamers present. Nonetheless, just a few of them nonetheless have some upside.
The Pure Depth Gamers
Brandon Drury, Jeff McNeil and Jorge Polanco shouldn’t be starters in your workforce except you’re in a 30-team league and you’ve got injured second baseman. That mentioned, 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 charge. However there’s 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 Pink 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 brief.
Tier 4
RANK
PLAYER
2024 TEAM
AGE
40
Christopher Morel
TB
25
39
Thairo Estrada
SF
29
38
Marco Luciano
SF
23
37
Nick Yorke
PIT
22
36
Orelvis Martinez
TOR
23
35
Edouard Julien
MIN
25
34
David Hamilton
BOS
27
33
Gavin Lux
LAD
27
32
Thomas Saggese
STL
22
31
Michael Massey
KC
27
This tier is the combined bag tier. There are some one-dimensional gamers on this tier, gamers who’ve expertise however have by no means put collectively an entire season and kids who’ve nice upside however I’m not utterly offered 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 charge of 4.3%, which is approach above the three% common. However he additionally has a .223 profession batting common and a 29% strikeout charge. When you care solely about energy who can play third base and left discipline as effectively, 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 have been all, or nonetheless are, prime 100 prospects. However their preliminary style of the majors has both not gone very effectively or it’s too quickly to know precisely what we have to find out about their future.
Luciano can play each center infield spots and doesn’t precisely have nice expertise blocking his path to extra taking part in 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 charge. His profession minor league numbers don’t precisely scream that he might be something aside from a backup, however he has displayed some energy, so he can’t be ignored.
Yorke is a former first spherical draft selection of Boston in 2020 earlier than being shipped to Pittsburgh for Quinn Priester previous to the commerce deadline this season. Yorke has first rate velocity 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 likelihood 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 recreation for Toronto this season, going 1-for-3. However he has above common energy and might play third base as effectively. Of the gamers on this little grouping, I could also be rating him too low if you’re going for upside and never anxious about rapid taking part in time. Saggese appeared in 18 video games for the Cardinals and slashed .204/.250/.306 with a 27% strikeout charge and 4% stroll charge.
Whereas he has expertise, his path to lots of taking part in 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 appreciate his potential.
Tier 3
RANK
PLAYER
2024 TEAM
AGE
30
Jose Caballero
TB
28
29
Brendan Donovan
STL
28
28
Xander Bogaerts
SD
32
27
Brendan Rodgers
COL
28
26
Willi Castro
MIN
27
25
Connor Norby
MIA
24
24
Andres Gimenez
CLE
26
23
Brandon Lowe
TB
30
22
Maikel Garcia
KC
25
21
Nico Hoerner
CHC
27
Low-Price Velocity and Versatility
In case you are on the lookout for steals after the highest gamers will not be out there, this can be 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 first rate slash strains, thus not hurting you within the common and OBP classes.
In order for you gamers who can play wherever, then Castro is a participant to focus on as he qualifies at second and third base, shortstop, left discipline and heart discipline. Caballero can play second, brief 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 Velocity
In case you are on the lookout for energy over velocity 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 lots of 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 might 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’s lots of swing and miss as his profession strikeout charge within the minors was 23% and to date within the majors it’s 33%. And whereas he doesn’t have blazing velocity, he’ll have the ability to steal some bases. However his future could also be at third base with the Marlins, so rating him larger in these rankings could be a stretch.
Tier 2
RANK
PLAYER
2024 TEAM
AGE
20
Luis Arraez
SD
27
19
Luis Rengifo
LAA
28
18
Gleyber Torres
NYY
28
17
Jake Cronenworth
SD
31
16
Nolan Gorman
STL
24
15
Adael Amador
COL
21
14
Jonathan India
CIN
28
13
Bryson Stott
PHI
29
12
Zack Gelof
OAK
25
11
Brice Turang
MIL
25
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 velocity was a brand new addition to his recreation 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 imagine he might be good for 17 homers and 20 steals per season for the following three years as I believe he’ll proceed to steal bases.
Love the Energy
Nolan Gorman strikes out lots (34% profession charge) and doesn’t hit for a excessive common (.222 profession common), however what he does do effectively 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 velocity.
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 completely different from Gorman is that Gelof may steal bases. He swiped 25 in 138 video games this yr and has 39 for his profession (162-game common of 31 steals). The facility/velocity combo in a 25-year-old participant is good.
Greatest Energy-Velocity Combo
Adael Amador was one of many prime worldwide gamers through the 2019-20 signing interval and has proven a pleasant energy/velocity combo within the minors whereas strolling almost 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 constantly drive the ball, resulting in plenty of double and triples in Coors Subject with 15 to twenty homers besides. Add in his velocity and I actually like his upside.
Pure Velocity
Brice Turang is just not going to ship lots of dwelling runs. However that isn’t why you need a participant like him. You need Turang as a result of he’s going to steal lots of bases. Turang stole 50 bases for the Brewers this previous season after swiping 26 in 2023. Typically a one-dimensional participant is nice to have, and whereas there are increasingly more steals within the majors now, having a participant who can attain 50 or extra steals is a worthwhile participant to have.
Tier 1
RANK
PLAYER
2024 TEAM
AGE
10
Marcus Semien
TEX
34
9
Matt McLain
CIN
25
8
Colt Keith
DET
23
7
Jose Altuve
HOU
34
6
Ketel Marte
ARI
31
5
Jordan Westburg
BAL
26
4
Ozzie Albies
ATL
28
3
Luis Garcia
WAS
24
2
Mookie Betts
LAD
32
1
Jackson Holliday
BAL
21
Outdated Fogies
As you may see, this tier has 4 gamers who might 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’s 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 median 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 excellent 2024 marketing campaign with 36 homers and 95 RBI to go along 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. During the last 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 put him within the prime 5.
Future High 5 Second Baseman?
Matt McLain missed all the 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 workforce choices. They did this earlier than Keith ever performed a serious league recreation. In his rookie yr Keith slashed .260/.309/.380 with 13 homers and 61 RBI. After a sluggish April, Keith slashed .282/.328/.426 with 13 homers and 56 RBI over his ultimate 122 video games. The facility will enhance and he ought to get near his minor league profession common and OBP of .300/.382 quickly.
The High 5
Jordan Westburg could not final at second base with the Orioles because it will depend on the place Jackson Holliday and Gunner Henderson play on the sphere. Proper now Westburg is a second baseman and third baseman, and at second base he is a good 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 harm his manufacturing as he slashed .251/.303/.404. However when Albies is wholesome, he is a good second baseman. In 2021 he slugged 30 homers and drove in 106 runs in 156 video games and in 2023 these numbers have 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 velocity.
Betts vs. Holliday
I discussed Betts above as being one of many Outdated Fogies on this group. And whereas he might be 32 subsequent season, his manufacturing on the plate is just not going to decrease over the following three years and certain not the following 5 years. Betts hits for common and energy, drives in runs, steals bases and might play wherever on the sphere. The one motive Betts isn’t my prime second baseman is as a result of 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 excellent 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 decide within the 2022 draft has approach an excessive amount of expertise to not seize if in case you have the possibility. In 2023, his first full season as a professional on the age of 19, he performed at 4 completely 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 break up most of his time between second base and shortstop. However second base is probably going his future, with Henderson at brief and Westburg at third. It might 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
High 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – RelieversTop 100 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Beginning PitchersTop 40 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – CatchersTop 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – First Basemen
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