Fantasy Baseball 2026 Second Base Rankings (16-30)

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9 February 2026 at 15:45

The second base position is pivotal in fantasy as it’s become a bit of a “choose your own adventure” exercise when you are building your team’s roster. There really aren’t many 4-5 category stars anymore (aside from Jazz Chisolm), so you have to decide whether you want to use this spot on your roster to get stolen bases or if you want to take one of the few power-hitting options. Whichever way you choose, the field dries up fairly quickly, so you can’t wait too long to get your guy.

It’s not like the good old days when teams employed the shift and could play somebody like Mike Moustakas at “2B”. Never fear, there happen to be a few young guns in this year’s crop that I’m particularly interested in, so let’s take a look at the 16th-30th ranked players who qualify at the keystone for the 2026 fantasy season.

16) Jorge Polanco, Mets

Signed with the Mets this off-season and is projected to bat in the middle of their order and split 1b/DH duties with Mark Vientos. Polanco is a solid bad that has been able to put up decent numbers everywhere he has played. If he can stay in the lineup for 140+ games, he’s a good bet to put up a .250-25-75 type season

17) Luke Keaschall, Twins

There’s something about Twins prospects who get hurt a lot that has me a little worried about this kid. The skills are there for him to be a fantasy stud, but he is going to need to stay healthy to get there. I’m willing to brave the storm of the Minnesota jinx and chalk last season’s injuries to bad luck.

He has great bat-to-ball skills and has shown a proclivity for stealing bases. The power development is a question, but he has shown double pop in the minors, and that could translate into 10+ home runs.

18) Jose Caballero, Yankees

Sep 23, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Jose Caballero (72) reacts after hitting a walk off single against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

He qualifies at four positions but probably has the most value as a middle to later round 2b. He has led the AL in steals for the past two seasons and doesn’t need a full-time gig to pile up steals. He will begin the season getting a decent run at shortstop while Anthony Volpe rehabs from offseason shoulder surgery. Once the team is fully healthy, he’ll have to settle for a super utility role.

He’s a one-category guy, so you will have to make up for the lost power numbers elsewhere. The Yankees don’t exactly let their players run wild, so he will most likely top out around 30-35 steals. He gives you a ton of roster flexibility on top of those steals, so he’s a nice option at middle infield.

19) Nolan Gorman, Cardinals

Last year was a bit of a lost year for Gorman as it appeared that the Cardinals were going to make room for him in their lineup by moving the other Nolan, Arenado, before last season. A year later, they finally parted ways with the potential future Hall of Famer, opening up the hot corner for Gorman.

The power potential is real, but so is the K rate and the extreme fly ball profile. The batting average is going to be low, but if you need power, he has 30 home run upside potential.

20) Willi Castro, Rockies

Of all the landing spots for Castro, this is the one that put him back on my radar for fantasy. He was putting together a journeyman profile over the first 4 years of his career in Detroit, but then he was given a full-time job with the Twins, and he erupted with 33 steals in 2024.

He has enough pop in his bat that he could hit 15 or so out of Coors Field, and with every day at bats, he could get back over 20 steals. He’s likely a utility player in the long run, but for this year, he’s poised for every day at bats in a really bad lineup.

21) Brendan Donovan, Mariners

Traded to Seattle right before camp starts, Donovan figures to be the Mariner’s every day third baseman. At the end of the day, Donovan might be better in real life than he is in fantasy. He doesn’t have a ton of pop, and he doesn’t run.

He’s a steady bat that will chip in across the board while maintaining a solid batting average. There’s nothing sexy to see here, but if you need a safe option to give you .280-10-60-60-5, go ahead and pull the trigger at the end of your draft.

22) Josh Smith, Rangers

Sep 24, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Josh Smith (8) walks to the on deck circle during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Took a bit of a step backward last year as he wasn’t able to build on his 2024 numbers. The power and speed potential is still there, but at 28 years old, I would have expected to see more of it by now. He will play nearly every day around the diamond for Texas and will bat towards the bottom of that lineup, which should mute his run/RBI numbers. He’s a nice addition as he qualifies for a bunch of positions. Upside is 20 homers with 10+ steals.

23) JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals

He’ll qualify at shortstop on draft day, but he figures to be the Cardinals opening day second basemen after they dealt away Brendan Donovan this offseason. With the Cards in full rebuild mode, he’s going to get a shot at every day at bats, and he makes for an interesting late-round option after totaling 17 homers and 23 steals between AA and AAA last season.

The obvious concerns with taking a rookie over a proven veteran still loom, but his upside makes him a much better dart throw than most of the other options around here. I’d much prefer him to older players with low ceilings like Semien or Edman.

24) Marcus Semien, Mets

Semien is another player trying to outrun Father Time. At 35 years old and moving from the friendlier confines of Arlington to Citi Field, it doesn’t give me a ton of hope for this year. The Mets are committed to playing him every day at 2b, and he should bat right in the middle of that lineup.

If he can stay healthy, he has a great shot at slightly improving upon last year’s numbers. While they pale in comparison to his former glory days, a .260-20-70 line isn’t going to hurt your fantasy season

25) Tommy Edman, Dodgers

At this point, every player we discuss is going to have questions coming into this season. It just comes down to which questions we are more comfortable answering for the short term. Edman was a solid contributor in the steals department before chronic ankle injuries ruined that for him over the last 2 years.

He had surgery to address the ankle, so it’s possible he gets back to the 30-steal level he was playing at for the three years prior to 2024. It’s possible, but it’s not likely. He doesn’t have much pop, so we’re taking a flier here, hoping that the steals come back and he contributes to the runs and RBI categories just by being in that Dodger lineup.

26) Cole Young, Mariners

Young is a top 100 prospect, but he more likely profiles as a better real-life player than a fantasy asset. He had some growing pains after being called up, but his bat-to-ball skills tell us he’s much better than a .211 hitter. He should be able to hold off Ryan Bliss to keep the everyday job at 2b in Seattle.

While Bliss might be the more interesting prospect due to his base-stealing ability, Young is more likely the guy who gets the bulk of playing time. He’s solid, but he’s not going to move the needle much in any one category.

27) Lenyn Sosa, White Sox

Aug 17, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Lenyn Sosa (50) hits a solo home run against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

He qualifies at both 1b and 2b and should play multiple positions again for the White Sox in what should be a fairly fluid daily lineup that could use Sosa’s pop. Sosa is a free swinger who managed 22 home runs last year with a respectable .264 batting average despite a 127-18 walk-to-K ratio.

The bottom might fall out of that average, and his sub-300 OBP will have Chicago looking for better options long term. For now, he makes for a decent option at 2b, while he’s not quite a top 30 1b for me.

28) Romy Gonzalez, Red Sox

Gonzalez is the starter right now in Boston, and based on last year’s numbers, it’s well warranted. He had a bit of a breakout in his age-28 season, fueled by an elite hard-hit rate and his ability to smash left-handed pitching. The batting average is what stands out, as .300 hitters don’t just grow on trees. The power and speed combo is slightly lower than the replacement level for a typical fantasy player, so his upside appears limited.

Just be aware that this Boston team is pretty stacked, and no player is slump-proof. There’s always a chance that the Sox move Marcelo Mayer or Ceddanne Rafaela to 2nd to make room for another bat, so keep an eye on their roster during camp. Downside is he’s on the short side of a platoon.

29) Gabriel Arias, Guardians

He makes for an intriguing option as a late-round pick-up because of his upside potential. He has elite bat speed as well as an athletic profile that suggests he should be able to chip in with some stolen bases. He also swings and misses a ton, and the Guardians have a bunch of other options like Daniel Schneemann, Angel Martinez, and Brian Rocchio that they can plug in for Arias if they grow tired of his .270 on-base average. He’s a late-round flyer with a very low floor.

30) Jonathan India, Royals

He won the rookie of the year award in 2021, and it’s all been downhill since. He will continue to get at-bats for the Royals, and he’s playing for a contract, so there’s a chance that he can have a magical “out of nowhere” season at age 29. If he’s lying around late in your draft, go ahead and grab him and hope for a later career power surge. I’m more likely going to wait for it to happen while he’s on waivers and then pick him up when the younger player that I draft gets hurt or sent to the minors.