The development of second basemen in the MLB has drastically changed over the years, with more of an emphasis being placed on offense. In MLB The Show 24, second basemen who can put up solid hitting numbers and get on base will always outrank those who can keep runners off base. Should a second baseman be able to do both, their experience will be sought after by any player selecting their preferred team.
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Whether it's playing defense or taking the plate, second basemen are some of the most effective players in MLB The Show 24. They are relied upon more often at-bat and are given more opportunities to play the ball while covering the middle of the infield. For players looking to combine both of these aspects in their play, consider these 10-second basemen as part of a team that can challenge for their spot in the World Series.
10 Brandon Drury
MLB The Show Rating: 83
- Team: Los Angeles Angels
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Durability, Power L, and Contact L
Leading the infield of the Los Angeles Angels, Brandon Drury is a good starting option for second base and for a player's hitting needs. Drury's infielding stats are in the mid-to-high 70s, save for a lower Arm Strength rating. This may hurt a player's ability to get the ball across the infield quickly, but his accuracy when throwing the ball is precise enough to get the job done. The Angels aren't as deep in their infield, unfortunately, as Drury is the only player ranked between 80-89 overall.
Drury's bread and butter is a high Durability stat and an excellent presence at the plate when taking on left-handed pitchers. This will keep Drury in games that extend past nine innings, and he's more than likely to end up on base. Having a batting average of over .250 in three of his last four seasons is enough to convince players that Drury can get the job done at both ends of the field.
9 Nico Hoerner
MLB The Show Rating: 83
- Team: Chicago Cubs
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Durability, Vision, and Contact L
Similar to Drury, Nico Hoerner is also a capable batter who can challenge some of the best left-handed pitchers in MLB The Show 24. Being more of a contact hitter, Hoerner can also match well against pitchers on the right side and has the vision and durability to keep up with high pitch counts. With an 86 Batting Clutch rating, there won't be too many pitchers that can take Hoerner down swinging.
Where he marginally beats out Drury is in the infield, where players would want their second baseman to do well. Despite lower Arm Accuracy and Reaction stats, Hoerner possesses a 90 rating in Fielding, making him a superb option at his position. This will give Hoerner an extremely good chance at making the right play, which will overshadow some of his glaring weaknesses, particularly in his Arm Strength.
8 Matt Mclain
MLB The Show Rating: 84
- Team: Cincinnati Reds
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Contact L, Speed, and Batting Clutch
Matt Mclain is the ace on the Cincinnati Reds' roster, which indicates that the team has decent depth but no real star power. Luckily, the Reds have their depth players spread out in the infield and outfield, including players like Elly De La Cruz, TJ Friedl, and Spencer Steer. Mclain is capable of getting the job done with an equal spread on his infielding stats and a better Arm Strength rating compared to Drury and Hoerner.
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At the plate, Mclain has a better contact swing and decent Batting Clutch to make him a threat. While he isn't known for stealing bases, Mclain does have the speed to beat out close plays at the bag, which gives him a greater chance of earning a base. Mclain is more of a jack-of-all-trades kind of player, never mastering play at either side of the plate, but always serving as a reliable player that gets the job done.
7 Xander Bogaerts
MLB The Show Rating: 84
- Team: San Diego Padres
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Durability, Arm Strength, and Contact L
The San Diego Padres have some solid depth in the infield, led by three players with an overall rating of 80 or higher, which is a feat not many teams can claim to have. Xander Bogaerts represents the Padres as their second baseman, and he is well-equipped to keep runners off base. With Manny Machado and Ha-Seong Kim forming one of the most reliable trios in MLB The Show 24, their respect is not only demanded but earned.
Bogaerts is a quality contact hitter who can take on pitchers of both handedness and has the vision and durability to take them down. Defensively, his infielding stats are good enough to pair well with the rest of the team and his Arm Accuracy stat will frustrate many baserunners in MLB The Show 24. Bogaerts also adds some flexibility for a team needing some extra help at either the shortstop or 3rd baseman position.
6 Gleyber Torres
MLB The Show Rating: 85
- Team: New York Yankees
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Power, Durability, and Vision
Gleyber Torres is quite the enigma when it comes to second baseman options, as his overall play on the defensive side leaves a lot to be desired. An abysmal Arm Strength paired with sub-70 ratings for Fielding and Reaction means Torres is behind the pack, statistically speaking. His Arm Accuracy of 78 saves the day in the sense that his throws will, on average, make it to their destination, but players will need to be quick with their controller.
When picking up a bat, Torres goes to work and demonstrates why he is ranked slightly higher than the previous 2nd basemen on the list. His contact swing will frustrate left and right-handed pitchers, and Torres has a tremendous power swing when facing left-handed pitchers. His Vision, Batting Clutch, and Durability will allow for longer presences at the plate and prevent him from striking out, and his Plate Discipline of 70 is just enough to avoid swinging at those wild pitches.
5 Ozzie Albies
MLB The Show Rating: 88
- Team: Atlanta Braves
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Contact L, Durability, and Arm Strength
The Atlanta Braves are one of the best teams in MLB The Show 24, thanks to a roster that boasts four players with an average of 90 or higher. Their 2nd baseman, Ozzie Albies, doesn't even crack the top-5 on their roster, despite his 88 rating. If his stats were more favorable on the defensive side, he'd join the likes of Austin Riley and Matt Olsen. Unfortunately, his Fielding, Arm Strength, and Reaction are all sub-70, saved only by an 88-rated Arm Accuracy.
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Like Torres, Albies is more prominent when stepping up to the plate on offense. He's double trouble against both pitching handedness, with a 99 contact hitting rating against left-handed pitchers and an impressive 85 power hitting rating against right-handed pitchers. Combined with high Batting Clutch and Durability, it's no surprise that Albies' lowest batting average over his eight-year career is .247 in 2022.
4 Ketel Marte
MLB The Show Rating: 89
- Team: Arizona Diamondbacks
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Batting Clutch, Contact L, and Contact R
Ketel Marte ranks among the top three highest-rated players on the Arizona Diamondbacks, and his work alongside Christian Walker is the reason why the team has done well defensively. Known more of an offensive player, Marte's infielding stats are slightly better than the previous two 2nd basemen, and his Arm Accuracy is good enough to mask the inconsistencies in his game. He's a sharp player who can get the ball to the right place quickly enough to beat out the fastest runners.
Marte is an excellent contact swinger, rating 92 against left-handed pitchers and 86 against right-handed pitchers. Paired with a 99 Batting Clutch, Marte's chances of earning a base with each swing are higher than most players in the league at his position. While he won't swing for the fences, his power hitting against pitchers on the left side is still good enough to occasionally hit a home run, but players shouldn't rely too heavily on this.
3 Marcus Semien
MLB The Show Rating: 90
- Team: Texas Rangers
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Durability, Fielding, and Arm Strength
The first player to breach the 90 overall rating as a 2nd basemen is Marcus Semien of the Texas Rangers. He and Corey Seager, the team's shortstop and highest-rated player, form an excellent yin-and-yang duo, as they excel at opposite ends of the field. Semien's infielding stat spread is one of the best of his position, with an 87 in Fielding, 86 in Arm Accuracy, and 76 in Reaction. This gives Semien ample time and focus to make the right plays when the ball ends up in his glove.
Unlike Seager and some other 2nd basemen listed above, Semien isn't the most notorious batter on the team. His contact swing is good enough to get by, and a power swing against right-handed batters to match it, Semien lacks the plate discipline to stay in high pitch counts. Semien's biggest strength is on the defensive side of the game, and he thankfully has a 98 Durability rating to keep him in each game.
2 Jose Altuve
MLB The Show Rating: 93
- Team: Houston Astros
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Contact L, Batting Clutch, and Contact R
Not only do the Houston Astros have one of the most iconic outfield duos in Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker, but Jose Altuve is just as capable in the infield, on second base. The Astros place a tremendous amount of focus on their offensive game, which means most of their players will prioritize swinging the bat over making the right play. Altuve's Arm Accuary is about as average as they come and is infielding statistics around that lack the necessary strength.
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Fortunately, for players who prefer playing offensively, Altuve is one of the best second basemen to take advantage of. His contact swing against left and right-handed pitchers rates over 90 on each side, and his power swing is good enough to put up some home runs from time to time. His Vision, Batting Clutch, and Durability come in at 85 or higher, making him one of the stronger presences at the plate in MLB The Show 24.
1 Mookie Betts
MLB The Show Rating: 99
- Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Power L, Discipline, and Durability
Mookie Betts almost didn't make the list on a technicality, as the Los Angeles Dodgers are focusing his game more at the shortstop position. Prior to the 2024 season, Betts was routinely considered as the best second baseman in professional baseball before moving over to shortstop. Luckily, MLB The Show 24 still adds the 2nd base position as a secondary role, which means players can continue adding him in that spot.
Betts combines a flashy defensive style with one of the most dominant at-bat appearances. Capable of making a play in the infield as quickly as anyone else, his Reaction rating of 74 is his lowest defensive stat, but ranks higher than some 2nd basemen's best stats. On the other end of the field, Betts is a super contact hitter and devastates right-handed pitchers with his power swing. Considering he has Plate Discipline, Batting Clutch, and Discipline all in the mid-90s, there's simply no stopping Betts when he swings the bat.
MLB The Show 24
San Diego Studio's MLB The Show 24 provides an in-depth baseball sim experience, allowing players to work their way up from the minor leagues to the World Series.
- Franchise
- MLB The Show
- Platform(s)
- PC , PS4 , PS5 , Switch , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- March 19, 2024
- Developer(s)
- San Diego Studio
