Ahead of a new fantasy baseball season, second base features two clear-cut elite options and some above-average alternatives worthy of ranking in the Top 100 overall.
However, there’s also a marked drop-off after the best players. The middle-of-the-pack alternatives are all pretty much interchangeable, and once the first 10 or 12 options are off the board, there isn’t a lot of upside regardless of format. After all, second base has always been recognized as a defense-first position. If you’re lucky (or savvy) enough to draft an elite second baseman, you can have an advantage in your league.
These are the 2B tiers ahead of the upcoming 2026 fantasy baseball season.
Tier 1: Elite Fantasy Baseball Second Basemen in 2026
Jazz Chisholm (New York Yankees), Ketel Marte (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Jazz Chisholm is, right now, the best second baseman in fantasy baseball ahead of the start of the 2026 season. He was one of the seven players who finished the 2025 MLB campaign with at least 30 homers and 30 stolen bases, and the third player in Yankees history to accomplish that feat. The overall line was impressive: a .242/.332/.481 slash line across 130 regular-season contests while adding 31 homers, 80 RBI, 75 runs scored, 31 stolen bases, 15 doubles, and an .813 OPS. Ketel Marte comes close to him in terms of offensive impact, but the combo of power and speed gives Chisholm the edge in this two-player battle.
Tier 2: Good 2026 Second Base Options With Question Marks
Brice Turang (Milwaukee Brewers), Maikel Garcia (Kansas City Royals), Nico Hoerner (Chicago Cubs), Jose Altuve (Houston Astros)
There’s a strong argument to say Brice Turang belongs in the Tier 1 category, as he doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses in his game. However, that’s also the reason why he lands in Tier 2, since he doesn’t really stand out in any particular category. Turang is the complete package, though. The 26-year-old slashed .288/.359/.435 with a career-high 18 home runs and 24 stolen bases over 156 regular-season contests for the Brewers in 2025, and he should have a bigger impact than the other players in this tier.
He has more power than Nico Hoerner, is more consistent than Maikel Garcia, who retains eligibility at 2B for the 2026 campaign, and is in the prime of his career compared to a declining Jose Altuve. Turang is certainly one of the players to watch in fantasy baseball in 2026 when it comes to second basemen.
Tier 3: Productive and Valuable Fantasy Second Basemen
Jordan Westburg (Baltimore Orioles), Luke Keaschall (Minnesota Twins), Ozzie Albies (Atlanta Braves), Brandon Lowe (Pittsburgh Pirates), Jackson Holliday (Baltimore Orioles), Xavier Edwards (Miami Marlins), Luis Garcia (Washington Nationals)
Jordan Westburg is a third baseman by trade, but he’s expected to open the season as the Orioles’ second baseman while Jackson Holliday (hand) is out. His name stands out here, and the positional eligibility makes him a valuable option for this list. Westburg missed a big chunk of the 2025 season due to hamstring and ankle injuries and was limited to just 85 games after logging 107 in 2024. However, what’s encouraging is that the output of both seasons was quite similar, setting the stage for a big 2026 season if the 27-year-old stays healthy.
That’s a big “if” for Westburg, as he hasn’t played more than 107 regular-season appearances in any of his three major league seasons.
Westburg had 17 homers, 41 RBI, 59 runs scored, and 10 doubles in 2025, hitting .265 with a .770 OPS. A 30-homer, 90-RBI, 100-run season could be within reach for Westburg if injuries allow him to be in the lineup on a regular basis.
Tier 4: Second Basemen With Limited Fantasy Upside
Marcus Semien (Texas Rangers), Brendan Donovan (Seattle Mariners), Gleyber Torres (Detroit Tigers), Bryson Stott (Philadelphia Phillies), Matt McLain (Cincinnati Reds)
All these players in Tier 4 are worthy of roster spots under the right conditions. However, in no scenario should you be entering the season with any of them as your top choice at 2B.
Out of these players, Torres could be a player to keep close tabs on as the season progresses. The veteran second baseman is not the player he was during his prime with the Yankees (perhaps similar to Marcus Semien with the Rangers), but he remains a productive player in the middle of the infield.
Torres has failed to hit above the .260 threshold in three of the last four seasons, but his .745 OPS was an upgrade compared to 2024. Torres isn’t going to be a game-changer in most formats, but he remains serviceable. He has had at least 15 homers, 20 doubles, 60 RBI, and 70 runs scored in each of the last four seasons.
Tier 5: Late-Round Fliers and Waiver Wire Targets at Second Base
This is a list of players who might not find a roster spot in 12-team leagues but could be worth a look as late-round fliers. This list includes names such as JJ Wetherholt (St. Louis Cardinals), Ernie Clement (Toronto Blue Jays), Luis Arraez (San Francisco Giants), Tommy Edman and Hyeseong Kim (Los Angeles Dodgers), Christian Moore (Los Angeles Angels), and Willi Castro (Colorado Rockies).
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