Buster Olney's 2026 Top 10 MLB Second Basemen Revealed

From Ketel Marte to Ernie Clement, here's the expert's ranking of the best second basemen for the 2026 season.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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ESPN's Buster Olney surveyed industry insiders to rank the top 10 MLB second basemen heading into the 2026 season. The list is headlined by Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks, followed by Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs and Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees. The rankings also include rising stars like Brice Turang of the Milwaukee Brewers and Brendan Donovan of the Seattle Mariners, as well as veteran standouts like Gleyber Torres and Marcus Semien.

Why it matters

Olney's annual positional rankings provide valuable insight into how MLB talent evaluators view the top players at each position. This list of the best second basemen offers a glimpse into which players are poised to have the biggest impact in the 2026 season and could command the highest salaries as impending free agents.

The details

The rankings are based on projections for the 2026 season, not long-term potential or career accomplishments. Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Yankees is highlighted as a potential record-setting free agent, but evaluators want to see more consistency from him this year. Other notable names include Gleyber Torres, who is looking to bounce back with the Detroit Tigers, and Ernie Clement, who is taking over at second base for the Toronto Blue Jays.

  • Buster Olney's 2026 MLB positional rankings are being released in the lead-up to the 2026 season, with second basemen being covered on February 20, 2026.

The players

Ketel Marte

The Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman has produced around $135 million in value over the past three seasons while making just $40 million under his current contract.

Nico Hoerner

The Chicago Cubs second baseman led all players at his position in FanGraphs WAR last season, excelling on defense and at the plate.

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

The New York Yankees second baseman is a candidate to land the biggest free agent contract among position players this offseason after posting a 30-30 season in 2025.

Brice Turang

The Milwaukee Brewers second baseman was a breakout star in 2025, earning down-ballot MVP votes after a season that included 97 runs scored and 24 stolen bases.

Brendan Donovan

The Seattle Mariners second baseman had a 119 OPS+ in 2025 and could be a prime candidate to lead off against right-handed pitching.

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The takeaway

Olney's 2026 second base rankings highlight the depth and diversity of talent at the position, with a mix of established stars, rising young players, and veterans looking to bounce back. The list underscores the importance of consistent production, as players like Jazz Chisholm Jr. look to parlay their immense potential into lucrative free agent deals.