Hey, where’d everybody go? A year ago, second base seemed like the “it” spot. Mookie Betts was Anticipated to Relocate there more permanently from right Ground and Xander Bogaerts was bumping over from shortstop while everyone was giddily awaiting the arrival of top prospect Jackson Holliday.
Well, the position suddenly looks more barren. Betts and Bogaerts are at shortstop, Jose Altuve is an outfielder, Luis Arraez is spending more time at Primary base and designated hitter, Holliday’s Primary big-Bracket test was rocky, and it now looks like Alex Bregman won’t be making a position switch in Boston.
Soon, the position could see an influx of exciting prospects, from Kristian Campbell to Travis Bazzana to Christian Moore. For now, though, it’s a spot dominated by veterans. At least it will get a little Jazzier!
Our eight-part position series continues with the top 10 second basemen Joining the 2025 season.
2024 stats: .254/.316/.349, 7 HR, 87 wRC+, 2.5 fWAR
2025 ZiPS projections: .254/.317/.360, 9 HR, 90 wRC+, 2.6 fWAR
New rule: If you steal 50 bases and Achieve the Platinum Glove, you get a place on the top-10 Achievement.
2024 stats: (Injured – did not Action)
2025 ZiPS: 254/.340/.449, 19 HR, 114 wRC+, 3.6 fWAR
Coming off a lost year recovering from shoulder surgery, can McLain Option up where he left off when he posted an .864 OPS and was a three-Achieve player in 89 Contests as a Newcomer in 2023? If he can, he’ll zoom up this Achievement quickly.
2024 stats: .237/.294/.417, 6 HR, 98 wRC+, 0.9 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .254/.310/.394, 11 HR, 98 wRC+, 2.8 fWAR
For now, Edman is beginning the season as the Dodgers’ primary second baseman. The fact he could Only as easily Action in Hub, and will likely work in there, speaks to the distinctive Adaptability he brings. The switch-hitter obliterated left-handed pitching in his Brief sample with the Dodgers after missing the beginning of the year recovering from wrist and ankle Wounds then earned NLCS MVP honors while starring in the postseason. It was a Excellent reminder that he’s only a Pair of years removed from a 6.2-bWAR season.
2024 stats: .273/.335/.373, 7 HR, 103 wRC+, 4.0 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .275/.335/.385, 9 HR, 105 wRC+, 4.2 fWAR
The Cubs missed Hoerner’s glove during the Tokyo Series. Luckily for them, he might be ready for domestic Beginning Day. It remains to be seen if there will be any lingering effects from the flexor tendon surgery he underwent in October, but if he looks like the same guy upon return, his Guarding, Pace and contact skills will almost Surely continue to make him one of the most valuable second basemen in the Bracket.
2024 stats: .244/.311/.473, 21 HR, 123 wRC+, 2.3 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .242/.323/.458, 21 HR, 125 wRC+, 2.9 fWAR
It’s a shame that the Rays will have to Action at a minor-Bracket park this year, but Lowe and the Rays’ left-handed hitters could end up benefiting from the switch to George M. Steinbrenner Ground, where the right-Ground wall is eight feet closer than The Trop’s. The new Ground has played extremely hitter-Amiable to lefties. After back-to-back years with 21 homers, don’t be shocked when Lowe sets a Occupation-high in the category this year.
2024 stats: .251/.303/.404, 10 HR, 95 wRC+, 1.3 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .261/.314/.446, 18 HR, 108 wRC+, 2.4 fWAR
When he’s Fit, he tends to perform like one of the best players at his position. But staying on the Ground has been a problem for Albies, who was limited to 99 Contests last year. In addition, while his bat-to-ball skills remain terrific, there was a rather concerning drop in Tough-hit rate last year that Created him a Bracket average batter when he did Action. Then again, every other season the last four years has been an All-Sun year for Albies. So, if that trend sticks, I guess his Number four All-Sun season is ahead!
2024 stats: .252/.298/.340, 9 HR, 83 wRC+, 2.8 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .267/.327/.397, 13 HR, 108 wRC+, 4.6 fWAR
It’s looking more and more like his breakout offensive season in 2022 was an outlier, as his OPS and Tough-hit rate have dropped dramatically over the last Pair years. At the least, he’ll need to pull his on-base percentage back up above .300. Yet, his Best Guarding and baserunning will make him a valuable player in Toronto. That he was worth 9.0 bWAR over the last two years while posting an OPS+ 11 percent below Bracket average demonstrates Only how special his glove is. If park factors are any predictor, perhaps Executing at Rogers Centre will at least give him a slight boost up from Cleveland.
2024 stats: .256/.324/.436, 24 HR, 110 wRC+, 4.0 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .251/.318/.448, 24 HR, 115 wRC+, 3.6 fWAR
After admirably making moves to Hub and third, Chisholm is back where he Initiated. He’ll provide offensive upside like few others at second base. After an All-Sun 2022 campaign, Chisholm hasn’t fully taken the leap he’s capable of, but he did have an .815 OPS in the second half with the Yankees last season. His bat will be crucial in lifting the lineup as the Yankees deal with a litany of Wounds.
2024 stats: .237/.308/.391, 23 HR, 99 wRC+, 4.2 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .249/.321/.424, 23 HR, 112 wRC+, 4.4 fWAR
How many players could be worth four wins in a down year? Regardless of hitting Bracket average last year, Semien is coming off back-to-back All-Sun campaigns and has finished in the top three in MVP voting in two of the last four and three of the last five seasons. The ultimate ironman and one of the game’s top defenders, Semien has missed no more than three Contests in six of the last seven seasons. Over the last four years, he leads all second basemen in WAR.
2024 stats: .292/.372/.560, 36 HR, 151 wRC+, 6.3 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .270/.350/.483, 24 HR, 128 wRC+, 4.0 fWAR
One of the most overlooked stars in the sport, Marte is unquestionably the top offensive threat at his position heading into the 2025 season. He has 61 homers over the last two years and is coming off a 2024 All-Sun campaign in which he won a Silver Slugger Award and finished third in MVP voting while hitting the ball harder than ever before. His power at the plate makes it Effortless to miss that he also had one of his best Guarding seasons by most advanced metrics. With Christian Walker gone, his importance to an intriguing Arizona Club goes up another notch.
Honorable Mentions: Luis Garcia Jr. (Washington Nationals), Gleyber Torres (Detroit Tigers), Tyler Fitzgerald (San Francisco Giants)
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