Top Fantasy Baseball Second Basemen for 2024: Ozzie Albies, Marcus Semien, Jose Altuve, Ketel Marte, Gleyber Torres and More

The 2024 MLB season is closing in quickly, so it’s time to start putting together your rankings for every position to make sure you’re lined up for your fantasy baseball draft.

The second base position is a little weak at the top end of things compared to most other spots, but there’s still plenty of talented 2B that can help out your fantasy team this season. Let’s discuss where some of the better options are being drafted and then determine if that’s a good spot to take them at.

We already covered some of the top starting pitchers, catchers and first basemen so be sure to check those articles out. We’ll cover other positions in stories to come, so check back for those.

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The Best of the Best

The versatile Mookie Betts has second base eligibility, so the Los Angeles Dodgers’ star is the top fantasy option at 2B. I’ve seen Betts ranked inside the top 10 for just about any league type, and it’s rare he falls outside the top 10 in drafts.

Betts had a .307 average, .408 on-base percentage, 40 doubles, 39 home runs, 107 RBIs, 179 total hits, 14 stolen bases and 126 runs scored. That made him the thirst-best fantasy hitter in points leagues, and he was No. 2 if you take out Shohei Ohtani.

Betts is still just 31 years old, so there’s no reason to believe his numbers can’t remain at similar levels this season. He’ll be hitting probably first in the stacked Dodgers’ lineup. That could limit his run-producing chances a bit, but a high average should allow him to possibly lead the league in runs scored. 

Betts has a good chance to be a top-three fantasy finisher among hitters again this season, so I’m fine taking him pretty much anywhere in the first round. Ronald Acuna Jr. is the consensus top pick, and I’d honestly be OK taking Betts starting at pick No. 2. Getting him after pick five already feels like a steal, so if you can land him after pick 10, you’re in great shape.

The first true second basemen off the board are Texas Rangers’ Marcus Semien and Atlanta Braves’ Ozzie Albies. Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve usually goes a little after them. Semien and Albies are usually picked in the early 20s, while Altuve goes in the mid-30s more often than not.

Semien posted a .276 average and .348 on-base percentage a season ago. He clubbed 40 doubles and 29 homers on his way to driving in 100 runs. He stole 14 bases, had 185 total hits and scored 122 runs across 162 games played.

Being an everyday player is a huge deal in fantasy baseball, and Semien is a really well-rounded player already, so it’s no surprise to see him going pretty early in drafts. He’s projected to hit atop a great Rangers’ lineup, so another big season should be in store. Because Semien is 33 and Albies is 27, I tend to like Albies just a touch more, but am fine taking Semien anywhere from pick 24 on - if I can get him in the 30s, I’d love that.

Albies fell under the radar a bit last season with Acuna and Matt Olson mashing around him, not to mention Austin Riley, but Albies put up great numbers too. He had a .280 average, .336 on-base percentage, 30 doubles, 33 homers, 109 RBIs, 13 stolen bases, 167 total hits and 96 runs scored across 148 games played.

The Braves’ lineup should be just as good this season, so another big season for Albies seems inevitable. I’m good taking Albies starting at or around pick 22, and if he falls into the late 20s or early 30s, you’re sitting pretty.

Altuve was great again last season, albeit in just 90 games, posting a .311 average, .393 on-base percentage, 21 home runs, 17 homers, 51 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, 112 hits and 76 runs scored. A full season of similar production would have had Altuve going much earlier in fantasy drafts, so there’s a chance he’s a steal if he can get through the season.

Altuve will turn 34 before this season is over, so there is definitely some risk involved with picking him early in drafts, especially after missing so many games last season. He should hit atop the good Astros’ lineup again this season. Altuve’s mid-30s ranking/ADP seems spot on, although I’d prefer to grab him at or after pick 40. There’s other good 2B to possibly draft later on, so don’t feel like you need to reach on Altuve.

Other Guys Worth Mentioning

There’s a bunch of guys I’d like to mention here, but I’ll limit things to Cincinnati Reds’ Matt McLain, Chicago Cubs’ Nico Hoerner, New York Yankees’ Gleyber Torres, San Diego Padres’ Ha-Seong Kim and Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryson Stott.

McClain is typically the fourth player with 2B eligibility off the board. He also has SS eligibility at the start of this season, so that’s a big deal.

McLain was great in his first 89 MLB games last season, posting a .290 average and .357 on-base percentage. He had43 extra-base hits, 50 RBIs, 14 steals, 106 total hits and 65 runs scored. A full season with similar levels of production could make him a huge steal. 

I see him drafted/ranked most often between 40-55 and would prefer to draft him somewhere in the middle of that range. There’s some risk involved, but if he hits as well as he did in year one, he could help you win a fantasy title.

If you’ve seen some of my mock drafts, you already know I like Hoerner. He’s another guy who opens the year with 2B/SS eligibility. He’s a career .279 hitter and posted a .283 average last season. He also had a .346 on-base percentage, 40 extra-base hits (only nine homers), 68 RBIs, 43 stolen bases, 175 total hits and 98 runs scored.

Most fantasy owners let Hoerner fall because he lacks a ton of pop in his bat. I understand that, but he makes up for it with a great average and big stolen base numbers. He usually is ranked/drafted in the mid-60s and I’m personally fine taking him in the mid-50s - getting him in the 60s is a huge win in my books.

Torres has one of the better seasons of his six-year career last year. He had a .273 average, .347 on-base percentage, 55 extra-base hits (25 homers), 68 RBIs, 12 steals, 163 total hits and 90 runs scored. 

What held him back from a bigger fantasy season, or from going higher in drafts this season, was his low RBI numbers. He’s expected to hit in the middle of the team’s lineup, which could be good and bad - good because there should be plenty of at-bats with guys on base, but bad because power hitters Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo could clear the bases before he gets to the plate.

I’ve seen Torres going anywhere from 80-100, and like most people, I’m torn on Torres. His numbers rival some of the top fantasy 2B, but without RBIs, he’s not going to be nearly as good a fantasy asset. Not many other 2B are left that had better numbers, so he’s being drafted in a good spot in my opinion. I’d like him personally in the 90s or later, otherwise I’d pass on him.

Kim had his best season in his short three-year career, finishing with a .260 average, .351 on-base percentage, 40 extra-base hits (17 homers), 60 RBIs, 38 steals, 140 total hits and 84 runs scored.

He too will hit atop the Padres’ lineup, which is very top heavy. That should mean plenty of stolen bases and runs scored if his average and on-base percentage is similar to last year’s numbers. Kim typically is drafted between 85-100. He’s got a little worse average than Torres, but the big upgrade in steals makes me prefer Kim. I like taking him around pick 90, especially because he’s got eligibility at 3B and SS too.

Stott hit .280 and had a .329 on-base percentage a season ago. He also had 49 extra-base hits (17 homers), 62 RBIs, 31 stolen bases, 164 total hits and scored 78 runs.

He should hit in the middle or bottom portion of a good Phillies’ lineup. He should have some RBI chances, but his runs scored might lack a bit unless the lineup hits top to bottom. Stott is usually drafted around picks 105-110, and sometimes falls a bit further than that. I’m good at drafting Stott around 110, and if you can land him later than that, it should work out well in your favor.

We’ll cover more second basemen in stories to come, so keep checking back!