Ranking Every MLB Team's Starting Second Baseman for the 2024 Season
Welcome to Bleacher Report's 2024 MLB position rankings series.
With the beginning of a new baseball season right around the corner, we'll be ranking each team's starter at every position in the coming weeks to provide a full position-by-position preview for the 2024 campaign.
Second base has quietly become one of the deepest positions in baseball, with established stars like Ozzie Albies, Luis Arraez, José Altuve, Ketel Marte and Marcus Semien joined by up-and-comers Andrés Giménez, Nolan Gorman Nico Hoerner and 2023 rookies Matt McLain, Edouardo Julien and Zack Gelof. A position change has also added Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts to the mix.
Players were ranked based on expectations for the 2024 season. Offensive and defensive contributions were both considered, and past track record played a major role in determining each player's outlook.
Included on each slide is also a look at the next man up at second base. This is who would take over if the current starter missed significant time. In some cases, it's a minor leaguer or bench player; in others, it's a starter moving over from a different position.
Let the debate begin.
Catch up on the 2024 Position Ranking series: First Basemen, Shortstops, Third Basemen
30. Liover Peguero, Pittsburgh Pirates
1 of 30
Next Man Up: Ji-Hwan Bae
The Pittsburgh Pirates have a wide open position battle at second base this spring, with Liover Peguero, Ji-Hwan Bae and Nick Gonzales all in the mix for the starting job, while top prospect Termarr Johnson is still at least a year or two away.
Peguero, 23, used to be a Top 100 prospect himself, checking in No. 78 on the Baseball America Top 100 list prior to the 2022 season. The Pirates acquired him during the 2019-20 offseason in the deal that sent Starling Marte to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
While he hit just .237/.280/.374 for a 77 OPS+ with seven home runs and six steals in 59 games last year, Peguero did post solid numbers in the upper levels of the minors.
29. Nicky Lopez, Chicago White Sox
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Next Man Up: José Rodríguez
Nicky Lopez hit .300/.365/.378 with 29 extra-base hits and 22 steals in a 4.4-WAR season for the Kansas City Royals in 2021, but he has been a non-factor in the two years since that breakthrough performance.
In 2022 and 2023, he hit a combined .228/.297/.284 for a 64 OPS+ over 742 plate appearances, and after getting traded to the Atlanta Braves last summer, he was on the move again this offseason in the roster-cleaning deal that sent five players to the White Sox in exchange for reliever Aaron Bummer.
With a solid glove and the ability to play both middle infield spots, Lopez fits best as a utility infielder on a contending team, but he'll get a chance at everyday at-bats while the South Siders retool in 2024.
28. Luis García Jr., Washington Nationals
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Next Man Up: Ildemaro Vargas
Luis García Jr. made his MLB debut shortly after his 20th birthday during the shortened 2020 season, and he showed some promise with a .276/.302/.366 line over 139 plate appearances as one of the youngest players in the big leagues.
In the years since, he has yet to take the next step forward in his development, and he enters the 2024 season with a .265/.295/.395 career line and a 91 OPS+ in 1,245 plate appearances.
The 23-year-old did set career-high marks in games (122), plate appearances (482), hits (119), home runs (9), RBI (50), steals (9) and WAR (0.7) in 2023, but he'll need to show more to hold onto the starting job going forward.
27. Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers
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Next Man Up: Joey Ortiz
One of the best defensive second basemen in baseball as a rookie, Brice Turang (12 DRS) joined Andres Gimenez (23 DRS), Marcus Semien (16 DRS), Nico Hoerner (12 DRS) and Ha-Seong Kim (10 DRS) as the only players with double-digit Defensive Runs Saved at the position.
The question now is whether he will hit enough to be an everyday player.
The 24-year-old batted .218/.285/.300 for a 62 OPS+ over 448 plate appearances in 2023, and he finished with 1.6 WAR in 137 games.
He still looks like the front-runner to break camp with the second base job, but newcomer Joey Ortiz could also see time there if Andruw Monasterio or Tyler Black make a case for playing time at third base.
26. Michael Massey, Kansas City Royals
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Next Man Up: Adam Frazier
A fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft, Michael Massey immediately lost a year of developmental time due to the canceled 2020 MiLB season, but he quickly emerged as one of the top prospects in the Kansas City system with a pair of impressive offensive seasons on the other side.
- 2021: 99 G, .289/.351/.531, 50 XBH (21 HR), 87 RBI, 12 SB
- 2022: 87 G, .312/.371/.532, 44 XBH (16 HR), 77 RBI, 13 SB
The 25-year-old served as Kansas City's primary second baseman in 2023, and while he hit just .229/.274/.381 over 461 plate appearances, he flashed some intriguing power potential with 18 doubles, 15 home runs and 55 RBI.
The addition of Adam Frazier and Garrett Hampson in free agency gives the team a fallback plan if he struggles, but Massey will be given every chance to stake claim to the starting job in 2024 and beyond.
25. Davis Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays
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Next Man Up: Cavan Biggio
Davis Schneider has already beat the odds simply by reaching the big leagues after going in the 28th round of the 2017 draft, and now he has a chance to solidify his spot in the starting lineup for the Toronto Blue Jays.
The 25-year-old debuted with a bang last season, hitting .403/.535/.881 with 17 extra-base hits in 86 plate appearances during his first 21 games in the big leagues while jumping into the middle of a playoff push.
However, he went just 5-for-49 with 21 strikeouts the rest of the way after that scorching start, and now that teams have a scouting report on him, he will need to prove he can make the necessary adjustments.
24. Vaughn Grissom, Boston Red Sox
7 of 30
Next Man Up: Emmanuel Valdez
Vaughn Grissom looked like a potential star on the rise for the Atlanta Braves when he hit .291/.353/.440 for a 119 OPS+ with six doubles, five home runs and 18 RBI in 41 games as a rookie in 2022 while filling in for an injured Ozzie Albies at second base.
However, questions about his ability to handle shortstop defensively led to him spending the bulk of the 2023 season back in the minors, and this winter he was traded to the Boston Red Sox in the deal that brought Chris Sale to Atlanta.
The 23-year-old now has a clear path to the everyday second base job, and while he is expected to start the year on the injured list with a groin strain, he has post-hype breakout potential heading into the 2024 season.
23. Jordan Westburg, Baltimore Orioles
8 of 30
Next Man Up: Connor Norby
I'll preface this by saying there is still a possibility the Baltimore Orioles go with Jackson Holliday at second base, Gunnar Henderson at shortstop and Jordan Westburg at third base, but for now I still expect Holliday to play his natural position of shortstop if he breaks camp with a roster spot.
Westburg, 25, crushed Triple-A pitching last season to the tune of a .295/.372/.567 line with 15 doubles, 18 home runs and 54 RBI in 67 games before making his MLB debut on June 26 and making 35 starts at second base.
He hit .260/.311/.404 for a 100 OPS+ with 22 extra-base hits in 228 plate appearances, and the defensive metrics (3 DRS, 10.4 UZR/150) were also a fan of his work at second base en route to a 1.2-WAR debut.
22. Brendan Rodgers, Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Next Man Up: Alan Trejo
After years as a top prospect and some injury-plagued seasons following his initial MLB debut, Brendan Rodgers finally put it all together in 2022 when he hit .266/.325/.408 with 30 doubles, 13 home runs and 63 RBI in a 4.3-WAR season while winning Gold Glove honors.
The injury bug kept him from building on that performance last season as a shoulder injury limited him to 46 games, and he once again has something to prove heading into the 2024 season.
With top prospect Adael Amador viewed as the future at second base, Rodgers will likely depart in free agency following his final year of arbitration eligibility in 2025.
21. Colt Keith, Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Next Man Up: Andy Ibáñez
The Detroit Tigers signed top prospect Colt Keith to a six-year, $28.6 million extension in January, and it could max out at $82 million over nine years with club options and performance escalators.
The 22-year-old hit .306/.380/.552 with 38 doubles, 27 home runs and 101 RBI in 126 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season, and he has moved quickly through the minors since going in the fifth round of the 2020 draft.
The contract extension should make him a lock for a spot on the Opening Day roster, and he will break camp as one of the AL Rookie of the Year front-runners alongside Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter and Baltimore Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday.
20. Luis Rengifo, Los Angeles Angels
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Next Man Up: Brandon Drury
Luis Rengifo has quietly been a terrific offensive player for the Los Angeles Angels over the past two seasons while serving in a super-utility role, and he started multiple games at second base, shortstop, third base and all three outfield spots in 2023.
- 2022: 511 PA, 102 OPS+, 43 XBH (17 HR), 52 RBI, 2.4 WAR
- 2023: 445 PA, 111 OPS+, 35 XBH (16 HR), 51 RBI, 1.9 WAR
With David Fletcher and Gio Urshela gone and Brandon Drury expected to serve as the team's primary designated hitter, Rengifo looks like he will get a chance to settle in as the everyday second baseman in 2024.
The 27-year-old has two years of club control remaining before he reaches free agency.
19. Thairo Estrada, San Francisco Giants
12 of 30
Next Man Up: Brett Wisely
The San Francisco Giants acquired Thairo Estrada from the New York Yankees in exchange for cash considerations prior to the 2021 season, and he has developed into one of the team's best all-around players the last two years.
- 2022: 541 PA, 105 OPS+, 22 2B, 14 HR, 62 RBI, 21 SB, 1.6 WAR
- 2023: 530 PA, 101 OPS+, 26 2B, 14 HR, 69 RBI, 23 SB, 2.3 WAR
The 28-year-old led the Giants in hits (134), doubles (26), total bases (208) and steals (23), and he should slot into the No. 2 spot in the batting order behind newcomer Jung Hoo Lee.
Estrada has also started 67 games at shortstop in his career, and if top prospect Marco Luciano struggles early or misses time, he could potentially move to the other side of second base as needed.
18. Jorge Polanco, Seattle Mariners
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Next Man Up: Josh Rojas
The emergence of Edouard Julien in 2023 made Jorge Polanco a trade chip for the Minnesota Twins, and after exercising his $10.5 million club option at the start of the offseason, he was flipped to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for a package of four players and cash.
Polanco, 30, has a 117 OPS+ in 2,362 plate appearances over the past five seasons dating back to making his lone All-Star appearance in 2019. That included a career year in 2021 when he posted a 125 OPS+ with 35 doubles, 33 home runs and 98 RBI while tallying a career-high 4.9 WAR.
He has a $12 million club option for 2025 that carries a $750,000 buyout, so he can be more than just a one-year stopgap option for the Mariners if he produces.
17. Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays
14 of 30
Next Man Up: Amed Rosario
Slugger Brandon Lowe has consistently produced whenever he has taken the field for the Tampa Bay Rays, posting a 126 OPS+ in six seasons while averaging 34 home runs, 98 RBI and 4.4 WAR per 162 games.
He finished in the top 10 in AL MVP voting in 2020 and 2021, ranking among the game's most productive sluggers during the '21 campaign when he had a 140 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 39 home runs and 99 RBI.
However, injuries have limited him to 174 games over the past two seasons, and with young infielders Curtis Mead and Junior Caminero knocking on the door, he will need to prove he can stay healthy. The 29-year-old is in the final guaranteed season of his contract, with club options in 2025 ($10.5 million) and 2026 ($11.5 million).
16. Zack Gelof, Oakland Athletics
15 of 30
Next Man Up: Nick Allen
Zack Gelof did not make his MLB debut until July 14 last season, but he ended up leading a 112-loss Oakland Athletics team with 2.6 WAR in 69 games.
The 24-year-old hit .267/.337/.504 for a 137 OPS+ with 20 doubles, 14 home runs, 32 RBI, 40 runs scored and 14 steals, and he also played a solid defensive second base after playing primarily third base in college and at the onset of his pro career.
Gelof will be arbitration-eligible for the first time following the 2026 season, so the clock is likely already ticking on his time in Oakland if recent history is any indication of how they churn through talented players.
15. Edouard Julien, Minnesota Twins
16 of 30
Next Man Up: Kyle Farmer
Edouard Julien hit .400/.563/.686 with five doubles, five home runs and 17 RBI in 21 games in the 2022 Arizona Fall League, and that provided a springboard into a breakout rookie season in 2023.
The 24-year-old hit .263/.381/.459 for a 130 OPS+ with 16 doubles, 16 home runs and 37 RBI in 109 games last year, finishing seventh in AL Rookie of the Year balloting, and the Minnesota Twins saw enough in that performance to trade away Jorge Polanco and clear a path to the everyday second base job.
He was a below-average defender (-3 DRS, -7.6 UZR/150) at second base last year, so he has something to prove on that side of the ball, but his on-base ability and extra-base power should make him an impact player in the batter's box.
14. Matt McLain, Cincinnati Reds
17 of 30
Next Man Up: Jonathan India
On a Cincinnati Reds roster that was loaded with exciting young rookies, Matt McLain was the best of the bunch in 2023, hitting .290/.357/.507 for a 129 OPS+ with 23 doubles, 16 home runs, 50 RBI and 14 steals.
The 24-year-old dealt with an oblique injury down the stretch, but he still finished with 3.7 WAR in 89 games while finishing fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting and cementing his place as a foundational part of Cincinnati's long-term plans.
With 2021 NL Rookie of the Year Jonathan India shifting into more of a utility role this season, he will provide a productive fallback option if McLain continues to be slowed by another oblique injury that has plagued him this spring.
13. Nolan Gorman, St. Louis Cardinals
18 of 30
Next Man Up: Brendan Donovan
Nolan Gorman immediately became one of baseball's most promising power-hitting prospects the moment he was selected No. 19 overall in the 2018 draft, and he could develop into a consistent 30-homer threat in the middle of the St. Louis lineup.
The 23-year-old launched 14 home runs in 313 plate appearances as a rookie in 2022, then posted a 117 OPS+ with 17 doubles, 27 home runs and 76 RBI in 119 games last season while splitting his time between second base, third base and designated hitter.
With Tommy Edman shifting to center field and Brendan Donovan expected to bounce around defensively, Gorman will get a chance to prove he can make an impact defensively and be more than just a power bat.
12. Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees
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Next Man Up: Oswald Peraza
Gleyber Torres sent expectations soaring when he launched 38 home runs in his age-22 season in 2019, and while he has failed to match that level of offensive impact in the years since, he has developed into a more well-rounded player.
The 27-year-old shifted from shortstop to second base in 2022, and he has quickly developed into a plus defender at the keystone after struggling at shortstop.
He hit .273/.347/.453 for a 118 OPS+ with 28 doubles, 25 home runs and 68 RBI in a 2.9-WAR season last year with a career-best 14.6 percent strikeout rate, and similar numbers in 2024 will put him in position for a nice payday in his first trip to free agency next winter.
11. Jeff McNeil, New York Mets
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Next Man Up: Joey Wendle
Jeff McNeil won the 2022 NL batting title when he hit .326/.382/.454 while tallying 39 doubles, nine home runs and 62 RBI in a 5.7-WAR season to earn his second All-Star selection and win NL Silver Slugger honors.
The 31-year-old took a step backward last year in the first season of a four-year, $50 million extension, hitting .270/.333/.378 for a 96 OPS+ over 648 plate appearances in a 2.4-WAR campaign.
With limited defensive value and middling power, his value is largely tied to his ability to hit for a high average and post a strong on-base percentage.
10. Bryson Stott, Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Next Man Up: Whit Merrifield
Bryson Stott held his own as the Philadelphia Phillies starting shortstop during the team's run to the World Series in 2022, playing solid defense and showing some playable pop with 19 doubles, 10 home runs and 49 RBI in 127 games as a rookie.
The addition of Trea Turner in free agency pushed him to second base, and he put together a breakout 2023 season, hitting .280/.329/.419 for a 104 OPS+ with 32 doubles, 15 home runs, 62 RBI and 31 steals.
The 26-year-old also made a smooth transition to second base, posting strong metrics (6 DRS, 3.0 UZR/150) to earn a spot among the NL Gold Glove finalists.
9. Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs
22 of 30
Next Man Up: Nick Madrigal
On the strength of elite defense, good contact skills and plus speed, Nico Hoerner has quietly racked up 9.4 WAR over the past two seasons, a total that trails only Marcus Semien (13.1) and Andrés Giménez (12.7) during that span.
The 26-year-old shifted from shortstop to second base after the Chicago Cubs signed Dansby Swanson in free agency last winter, and he won NL Gold Glove honors while hitting .283 with 175 hits, 43 steals and 98 runs scored.
The Cubs locked him up with a three-year, $35 million extension last year that kicks in at the start of the 2024 season, and his 5.1 WAR last year made him one of only 23 position players to crack the 5-WAR mark in 2023.
8. Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
23 of 30
Next Man Up: Jordan Lawlar
Ketel Marte has been the face of the franchise for the Arizona Diamondbacks for years now, and he has gone from a young up-and-coming star to the veteran leader of a team coming off a surprise trip to the World Series.
The 30-year-old hit .329/.380/.534 with seven doubles, one triple, two home runs and 11 RBI in 17 games during the postseason last year, and in the process he ran his postseason hitting streak to a record 20 games.
He has four years remaining on the five-year, $75 million extension he signed in 2022, and after posting a 128 OPS+ with 26 doubles, 25 home runs and 82 RBI in a 4.9-WAR season last year, there is little question he is one of the game's best offensive second basemen.
7. Luis Arraez, Miami Marlins
24 of 30
Next Man Up: Jon Berti
Luis Arraez won his second straight batting title in his first season with the Miami Marlins last year, briefly making a run at a .400 average during the first half before finishing with a .354/.393/.469 line and 133 OPS+ to finish eighth in NL MVP balloting.
The 26-year-old is baseball's best contact hitter, putting the ball in play in roughly 86 percent of his plate appearances over the past two seasons, and he has recorded just 165 strikeouts in 2,186 career plate appearances.
While he is limited athletically relative to some of the other players on this list, he did produce solid defensive metrics (4 DRS, 4.2 UZR/150) at second base, and he should be a perennial batting title contender in the coming years.
6. Andrés Giménez, Cleveland Guardians
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Next Man Up: Gabriel Arias
Andrés Giménez won AL Platinum Glove honors during the 2023 season, leading all AL players and trailing only Fernando Tatis Jr. leaguewide with 23 Defensive Runs Saved, and he also took home his second AL Gold Glove at second base.
The 25-year-old had a breakout season offensively in 2022 when he hit .297/.371/.466 for a 141 OPS+ with 46 extra-base hits and 20 steals in a 7.4-WAR campaign, and while he didn't match those numbers last year he was still productive.
He hit .251/.314/.399 for a roughly league-average 98 OPS+ while tallying 27 doubles, 15 home runs, 62 RBI, 76 runs scored and 30 steals in 153 games, and that level of production at the plate still made him a 5.3-WAR player thanks to his glove.
5. Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres
26 of 30
Next Man Up: Jackson Merrill
One season into his 11-year, $280 million contract, Xander Bogaerts is changing positions, shifting from shortstop to second base to swap spots with the defensively superior Ha-Seong Kim.
The four-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger winner has never been a great defensive shortstop, with minus-54 Defensive Runs Saved for his career, and he has seemingly welcomed the move with open arms.
"I was like, 'Listen, man, if this is the way that you guys view the team is better,' " Bogaerts told reporters. "I respect [Ha-Seong] Kim, especially defensively. I actually admire him a lot."
Even in a down year by his standards at the plate last year, Bogaerts still posted a 120 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 19 home runs and 58 RBI in a 4.4-WAR season, and now he profiles as one of the league's top-tier offensive second basemen with a chance to also provide more value defensively.
4. Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves
27 of 30
Next Man Up: Luis Guillorme
With seven big league seasons, three All-Star selections, two Silver Slugger Awards and 20.2 WAR, it's easy to forget that Ozzie Albies is still only 27 years old and just entering his prime by usual career trajectory standards.
He set personal bests in OPS+ (124), home runs (33) and RBI (109) last season while recording the third 4-WAR performance of his career, and in the process successfully put an injury-plagued 2022 in the rearview.
With two guaranteed seasons and two $7 million club options remaining on the team-friendly extension he signed all the way back in 2019, he remains one of the best values in baseball playing for a World Series contender.
3. José Altuve, Houston Astros
28 of 30
Next Man Up: Mauricio Dubón
The Houston Astros assured that José Altuve will play out the remainder of his career with the organization after signing him to a five-year, $125 million extension in February that will run through the 2029 season.
The 33-year-old got a late start to the 2023 season after suffering a fractured thumb in the World Baseball Classic, and he also missed time in July with a strained oblique, but he still posted a 151 OPS+ with 21 doubles, 17 home runs and 51 RBI in 90 games.
He went on to hit .286/.314/.592 with three doubles, four home runs and six RBI in 11 games during the playoffs, adding to one of the best postseason resumes of his generation, which includes an .851 OPS and 27 home runs in 103 games.
2. Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers
29 of 30
Next Man Up: Ezequiel Durán
The Texas Rangers signed Marcus Semien to a seven-year, $175 million contract during the same offseason when they inked Corey Seager to a long-term deal, and that stacked middle infield helped lead them to a World Series title in 2023.
Semien, 33, hit .276/.348/.478 for a 122 OPS+ with 40 doubles, 29 home runs and 100 RBI while leading the AL in hits (185) and runs scored (122) in a 7.4-WAR season, and he has already racked up 13.1 WAR during his first two seasons in Texas.
One of baseball's most durable players, he has played in 859 of 870 games over the past six seasons.
1. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
30 of 30
Next Man Up: Miguel Vargas
Originally drafted as a middle infielder and developed as a second baseman by the Boston Red Sox, Mookie Betts eventually shifted to right field where he became an elite defender and six-time Gold Glove winner.
Injuries created an opportunity for him to see some time at both middle infield spots for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, and he showed enough at second base (485 INN, 6 DRS, 4.6 UZR/150) that he will be making a full-time move to the position in 2024.
The 31-year-old finished runner-up in NL MVP voting last year when he hit .307/.408/.579 for a 163 OPS+ with 40 doubles, 39 home runs, 107 RBI, 126 runs scored and 8.3 WAR in 152 games.
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