Top 20 Fantasy Baseball Second Basemen Rankings 2026

4. Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs

It is hard to say what you might get from him because his RBI and stolen base production have been hard to predict and his batting average took a 24 point swing last season in a good direction. He doesn’t quite steal enough to be elite at the position and his batting average isn’t quite high enough either, but overall Hoerner is a very solid contributor and is worth being a starting fantasy second baseman if you miss out on the top options.

Tier 3: Solid Veterans & Mid-Tier Value

5. Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

His power numbers rebounded last season, but the batting average continues to fall and the speed is really cratering which isn’t surprising for a 36-year-old. I know the home park is tiny, but how much longer do we think a 5-foot-6 man can swat 25 home runs? There is a chance that he can duplicate 2025 again, but at the cost it is probably better to take a younger player and hope for some upside.

6. Jackson Holliday, Baltimore Orioles

He has to get his contact rate up and his strikeouts down, but the future is still bright for Holliday. He also needs to handle left handed pitching better, but even with all of that said he nearly went 20/20 in 2025. He only just turned 22 and was a number one overall pick in the draft there is definitely room for him to grow with more experience in the majors.

Tier 4: Upside & Risk Plays

7. Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers

It appears his days of stealing some bases are over as he had his second straight season with just four swipes. He improved his strikeout to walk ratio pretty well last season, but it didn’t help his production much at all. Approaching age 30, it seems like this is what Torres is, mid-to-high teens in home runs, 70 or so RBI and a .250-ish average. There’s nothing wrong with that, just don’t pay more than what that is worth.

8. Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves

Health has been a problem every other year for Albies and the not good news is he was healthy last season. That is mostly in jest, but Albies does come with injury risk. The larger problem is that his production seems to be waning as he approaches 30 years old. Even in a healthy season he only hit 16 home runs which is half of what he hit in 2023 the other time he played near 150 games. His batting average was once a strength of his and he has watched it drop for consecutive seasons. Even decreasing Albies is still good Albies at second base where 15/15 guys don’t exactly grow on trees. You’d love to see the average bounce back, but he is still a starting option at the position regardless.

9. Luke Keaschall, Minnesota Twins

A forearm fracture in April cost him half the season, which also ended early with a thumb injury. I do believe there is more power in his bat, although I am not saying he is going to hit 20 home runs but 15 certainly seems possible. Keaschall is going to really bring the value on the basepaths, as he swiped 14 bases last season in just 49 games. His plate discipline is elite with 29 strikeouts and 19 walks a year ago, so OBP leagues rank him up a couple of notches. He's a young, exciting player who hasn’t reached his ceiling yet and helps you in categories that are harder to control.

10. Marcus Semien, New York Mets

We have been watching his numbers slowly decline over the past four years, but they took an even steeper decline in 2025. A foot injury did end his season early, but 15 home runs an 62 RBI with a .230 batting average is hard to stomach for a guy who was a fairly high pick just a few seasons ago. He is 35 years old and has played a lot of baseball. Can his new home and new ballpark rekindle his ability to hit the ball hard and maybe get his average over .250? After the past couple of years, that is looking like more of a pipe dream. But if he can get back to 20 home runs and still steal 10 bases, he still has decent fantasy value at second base.

11.  Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays

The guy can really mash, and he even got his batting average over .250 for the first time since 2020 last season. Unfortunately, he can rarely stay healthy. His 134 games played in 2025 were the second most of his career and he has as many seasons under 100 games played as over 100 games played. He is one of the best power hitters at this position, but you really have to build your team with a backup option for what seems like the yearly inevitable injury.

12. Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals

The beginning and end of the year were awesome for Donovan, while the middle really saw him struggle and miss time with a groin strain. Overall, he is a solid contributor across the board on a team that is not exactly booming with run producing bats. He is a plus on your batting average and he can certainly get over 15 home runs. He could also be traded, and if he goes to a better lineup, that could help him reach the next level of production.

13. Xavier Edwards, Miami Marlins

After the way we saw him run in 2024, I really thought Edwards was going to lead the league in stolen bases, but somehow in double the plate appearances he stole four fewer bases! The 45-point drop in batting average certainly was a factor there. You’d really like to see a steals based guy walk more. This ranking is on the assumption that he will return to his form from 2024 at least from the stolen bases angle, I don’t think we will see him hit near .330 again. He is another player that helps you out in the categories that are often hard to make up ground in.

14. Bryson Stott, Philadelphia Phillies

He continues to produce at a pretty similar level, but things did not look great for him, before he finished August and September quite strongly. He has the potential to be a 15/30 guy as he already did it once in 2023, but that sure does feel like his ceiling. His batting average has been down the past couple of seasons, and it largely has to do with how he hits left-handed pitching which is not well. You certainly can do worse than Stott as he is right on the cusp of being a top 12 option at second base.

15. Ceddane Rafaela, Boston Red Sox

The good news about Rafaela is that he has produced pretty similar numbers in his first two seasons, giving you a decent idea of what to expect in his third full season. The bad news is, he swings at absolutely everything and somehow has only walked 47 times in 1247 plate appearances. His stolen base rate was far better in 2025, and he definitely hit the ball with more authority. He has been a healthy player so far and hits in a good lineup. He has some negative traits, but so far Rafaela has been a steady producer, and you have to love that for fantasy baseball.

16.  Jake Cronenworth, San Diego Padres

Those of you who believe in the trends of every other year will love where Cronenworth stands. In 2022 and 2024 he hit 17 home runs and drove in over 80 runs while in 2023 and 2025 he fell well short of that mark. A rib fracture did cost him a month to start the season, and perhaps that contributed to his subpar outing. Cronenworth is a guy who always belongs on a fantasy roster due to his decent stats and multi-position eligibility, but he is certainly not someone who is going to make a big impact on your team.

17.  Luis Garcia, Washington Nationals

For those who thought his 18 home runs in 2024 were a fluke, Garcia parked 16 in the seats last year, although his stolen bases and batting average dropped significantly. He is almost always in a platoon and sits against lefties, which caps his upside, and his walk rate is atrocious. That being said, this is second base and he has a outside chance of a 20/20 season with 15/20 being more likely and if he can raise his batting average by ten or so points you have yourself a nice middle infielder for your roster build.

18.  Jorge Polanco, New York Mets

It was a nice rebound for Polanco of sorts as his power and batting average got back to levels he hasn’t been at in four years. He now goes to the Mets and you have to wonder what guy are they getting? Is it the oft-injured guy who hits 15 home runs and hits .230 or will he repeat in the 25 homer and .260 range? His inability to stay healthy is a major factor as last year was the first time since 2021 that he played 120 games. He has a chance to make a nice impact in fantasy this season, but he also has the capability to drag your team down so build your roster accordingly.

19.  Matt McLain, Cincinnati Reds

He missed a good portion of 2023 and all of 2024 to injury which left us not knowing what to expect with McLain last season. While his batting average was a drain, he performed admirably in the rest of the categories. If healthy, I do think there is a little more room for growth in the power department, although hitting 20 is probably his ultimate max, and with what he gives you in the speed department, McLain is not a bad middle infielder to have on your squad.

20.  Andres Gimenez, Toronto Blue Jays

Everything went wrong for him in 2025 including ankle and quad injuries, and while his power numbers were pretty much in line with his career, his batting average tumbled 40 points and his run producing numbers weren’t good. He could steal 20 bases in a healthy season and perhaps get back to double digit home runs but he comes with a heavy amount of risk.

Conclusion

Again, we have a bunch of guys who are eligible at second base that play other positions that can help you here because this list got ugly fast. But keep an eye on Jordan Westburg in Baltimore, Maikel Garcia for the Royals, Gleyber Torres of the Tigers, or Tommy Edman in Los Angeles. Once the top shelf goes away, there are a lot of guys who might be good and might be sending you to the waiver wire. Good luck with your second basemen and fantasy leagues this season. 

People Also Ask

Who is the best fantasy second baseman in 2026?
Ketel Marte is the top option due to his power, run production, and elite plate discipline.

Is second base a weak fantasy position in 2026?
Yes. After the elite tier, production drops quickly and replacement value is low.

Are stolen bases still important at second base?
Yes. Speed is one of the main ways second basemen separate from the pack.

Which second basemen are risky in 2026 drafts?
Aging veterans like Jose Altuve and Marcus Semien carry batting average and durability risk.