Finding the Signal in the Second Base Noise: An In This League Breakdown

Fantasy baseball managers often treat second base like a chore, a position you simply have to "get through" rather than a place to find a league-winner. In the latest deep-dive from the In This League Fantasy Baseball Podcast, hosts The Welsh and Bogman lean into their "middle infield era" to prove that while the position is top-heavy, the real strategy lies in navigating the massive cluster of talent sitting in the middle rounds.

The episode kicks off with a major piece of news that stabilizes the top of the draft board: Ketel Marte is staying in Arizona. Despite trade rumors that suggested a move to a less hitter-friendly environment like Seattle, Marte remains the anchor of the Diamondbacks' offense. For fantasy managers, this keeps the 2B elite tier a two-man race between Marte and Jazz Chisholm Jr.

The Battle for Number One: Marte vs. Jazz

The debate between Marte and Jazz is a classic study in team construction. Bogman leans toward Jazz at the top spot, prioritizing the rare 30/30 power-speed ceiling that can win a category single-handedly. However, The Welsh makes a compelling case for Marte as the more well-rounded asset. While Jazz offers the speed, his 230-range batting average can be a liability. Marte, conversely, is a perennial batting title contender who projects for nearly 30 more RBIs than Jazz.

Both hosts agree on one sobering fact: both players are significantly injury-prone. If you are drafting either in the first two rounds, you are essentially gambling on health as much as performance.

Avoiding the Turang Trap

One of the most insightful segments of the show focuses on Bryce Turang. Currently climbing into the top 75 of ADPs, Turang is being priced as an elite contributor. The Welsh is skeptical, pointing out that Turang’s 2025 power surge was heavily concentrated in a single month.

The Power Concern: Turang’s barrel rates and launch angles don't necessarily support a 20-homer floor.
The Cost Factor: With an ADP around 62, you are passing up established stars like Riley Greene or Jackson Merrill for a player whose profile relies heavily on maintaining a high stolen base clip while avoiding a regression in quality of contact.

Finding Value in the "Massive Clump"

If you miss out on the top tier, the consensus strategy from the In This League crew is to wait. There is a perceived "dead zone" where several players offer similar production, but at wildly different price points.

Jordan Westberg emerges as a favorite target for those seeking power and batting average stability. He offers a 25-homer ceiling with a consistent .260 average, making him a more complete player than speed-only options like Nico Hoerner or Luke Raley. Meanwhile, the hosts are sounding the alarm on Ozzie Albies, describing him as a "falling knife." With three consecutive years of declining exit velocity and hard-hit rates, Albies is a name-value trap that savvy managers should likely avoid in 2026.

The Golden Nugget: "Between five and fifteen, it’s about the same. I just want to take the cheapest guy out of this group and figure out my categories later." — Scott Bogman

Prospect Watch: The Next Wave

For those in deeper leagues or looking for late-season stashes, the 2026 prospect class is unusually rich at the keystone. Three names to watch for a potential Opening Day impact include:

Travis Bazzana (CLE): A high-OBP machine who could win the job in Cleveland with a strong spring.
JJ Wetherholt (STL): A polished hitter who reached Triple-A quickly and could benefit from any St. Louis roster movement.
Kevin McGonigal (DET): A sneaky high-end talent who may find a home at second base despite working at third in the Fall League.

Ultimately, second base in 2026 is about discipline. Whether you pay up for the reliability of Ketel Marte or play the waiting game for a mid-round value like Westberg or Marcus Semien, the key is not to reach for a "falling knife" simply because of the name on the back of the jersey.