7 Undervalued 2nd Basemen in your Fantasy Baseball League:
Early Rounds ADP Value:
Brice Turang's 2025 numbers scream emerging power. His HardHit% sits at 47.4% (league average: 36.5%) and his Barrel% at 7.9% (league average: 7.0%), which resulted in an HR/FB% of 13.3% (league average: 9.6%). With that kind of hard contact, an expected jump in HR/FB% to 16.6% in 2026 should push him to 23 homers and 94 RBIs. On the discipline side, Turang posted a 22.8% K% (league average: 23.6%) and a 10.0% BB% (league average: 7.5%), meaning he's sticking on base more, while hitting at 80.7% (league average: 73.9%). His xBA of 0.263 (league average: 0.250) hints he might be overperforming his underlying approach if the actual average doesn't follow suit. His batted-ball profile, with a GB/FB ratio of 1.5 (league average: 1.4) and an above-average BABIP of 0.356 (league average: 0.276), shows that even routine plays are tilting in his favor. All these signs point toward a 2026 line featuring a 0.268 average, 92 runs, and 23 stolen bases - each stat an evolutionary step in his game. ADP:5.07
Nico Hoerner's 2025 season was built on a contact-first approach. Posting a HardHit% of 30.3% (league average: 36.5%) and a Barrel% of 2.3% (league average: 7.0%), his raw power was limited, as shown by his HR/FB% of 3.7% (league average: 9.6%). He was patient at the plate too, recording a Contact% of 89.9% (league average: 73.9%) and a very low K% of 7.6% (league average: 23.6%), though a BB% of 6.0% (league average: 7.5%) indicates slightly less plate coverage. His quality contact is evident in a BABIP of .313 (league average: .276), while an xBA of .292 (league average: .250) outpacing his actual batting average suggests missed chances on balls in play. Looking ahead to 2026, improved plate discipline and refined contact mechanics should boost his power. The projection stands at a .288 average, 14 home runs, 69 RBIs, 86 runs, and 28 stolen bases, with HR/FB% rising notably to 7.6% from 3.7%. This blend of solid contact, disciplined approach, and enhanced batted-ball outcomes should help narrow the gap between his xBA and batting average, translating to a more productive, well-rounded offensive season. ADP:8.06
Mid Rounds ADP Value:
Jackson Holliday's 2025 numbers hint at major power potential. He posted a HardHit% of 40.7% (league avg: 36.5%) and a Barrel% of 7.8% (league avg: 7.0%), proving he can drive the ball with authority. Expect his HR/FB% to climb from 11.2% (league avg: 9.6%) to 13.4% in 2026, paving the way for a projected 21 homers. At the plate, Holliday shows discipline with a K% of 21.6% (league avg: 23.6%) and a BB% of 8.6% (league avg: 7.5%), boosting his on-base skills. While his xBA was .244, a jump to a .254 average in 2026 should better reflect his true talent. His batted-ball profile - featuring a GB/FB ratio of 1.4 (league avg: 1.4) and a BABIP of .291 (league avg: .276) - suggests those hard-hit numbers and balanced fly ball approach are working in his favor. Even with limited playing time in 2025, his toolset bodes well for the 2026 projections: 60 RBIs, 82 runs, and 19 stolen bases, with an improved HR/FB% signaling adjustments in his swing mechanics and approach. ADP:11.11
Brandon Lowe's 2025 season proved his elite power potential. His HardHit% sat at 46.4% (league avg: 36.5%) and his Barrel% at 12.9% (league avg: 7.0%), showing he can drive the ball with authority. Still, his plate discipline needs work - a 26.9% K rate (league avg: 23.6%) paired with a 6.9% BB rate (league avg: 7.5%) has slightly dented his on-base consistency. His batted-ball profile, with a GB/FB ratio of 1.0 (league avg: 1.4), leans toward fly balls, which fits his high-hard contact. A BABIP of .297 (league avg: .276) confirms his quality contact usually finds gaps, though his batting average lags behind an xBA of .258. Looking to 2026, Lowe is projected to hit .246 with 26 homers, 80 RBI, 62 runs, 3 stolen bases, and a HR/FB rate of 19.3%. The slight drop from his current 22.0% HR/FB points to a bit of a regression in power efficiency. Nonetheless, his high HardHit% and Barrel% underpin a strong slugging profile, ensuring he remains a key run producer despite his struggles with strikeouts and contact. ADP:15.03
Late Round ADP Value:
Matt McLain showed solid power in 2025 with a HardHit% of 40.6% versus a 36.5% league average and a Barrel% of 7.7% compared to 7.0% league-wide, proving he was packing the bat with extra-base potential. His plate discipline was a mixed bag: a 9.5% BB rate (league average: 7.5%) boosted his OBP, but a 28.9% K rate (league average: 23.6%) raised concerns about his consistency at the plate. He posted a BABIP of .292 (league average: .276), but his GB/FB ratio of 0.9 (league average: 1.4) showed a reluctance to hit ground balls, steering him toward more flyball outcomes given his high HardHit%. The difference between his xBA of .213 and an actual batting average above that suggests he underperformed his expected contact for reasons beyond quality of contact. Looking ahead to 2026, his projected .233 average rests on these power skills. The jump in HR/FB% from 9.9% to 13.9% signals a move toward more homer swings - expected to yield 22 homers, 53 RBI, 74 runs, and 20 stolen bases. His hard contact and better flyball production point to a natural progression, even though strikeouts remain a concern. ADP:17.08
Otto Lopez's 2025 season showed solid power potential. With a HardHit% of 38.3% (league: 36.5%) and a Barrel% of 7.1% (league: 7.0%), he posted a 9.5% HR/FB rate (league: 9.6%). His hard contact lays the groundwork for more power, and a projected 11.0% HR/FB rate in 2026 should help him hit 18 homers. His plate discipline stands out too - a K% of 13.8% (league: 23.6%) and a BB% of 7.4% (league: 7.5%) let him take full advantage of his on-base skills, supporting 2026 projections of 76 RBI and 74 runs. Lopez's xBA of .271 suggests his batting average will eventually reflect his contact skills. His batted-ball profile, with a GB/FB ratio of 1.4 (league: 1.4) and a BABIP of .264 (league: .276), implies that timing or defensive shifts, not just grounders, are behind the slight BABIP dip. Add in a likely increase in playing time from modest count stats last season, and his 2026 projection of 17 stolen bases fits right into his game plan. ADP:19.09
Luis Garcia Jr. displayed solid power in 2025 with a HardHit% of 45.8% (league avg: 36.5%) and a Barrel% of 9.0% (league avg: 7.0%), indicating that his batted-ball quality was on point despite a HR/FB% of 10.8% (league avg: 9.6%). That quality contact should push his power numbers higher, as reflected in his 2026 projection of 21 home runs with an HR/FB% rising to 15.7%. At the plate, his approach was disciplined, sporting a K% of 16.0% (league avg: 23.6%). His BB% is 5.1% (league avg: 7.5%), leaving a bit of room to sharpen his plate patience. Although his actual batting average in 2025 fell short of his xBA of .284, this gap could even out, especially with his 2026 projection of a .267 average - a closer match between expected and realized contact. His batted-ball profile, with a GB/FB ratio of 1.3 (league avg: 1.4) and a BABIP of .270 (league avg: .276), shows his high-quality contact is converting into hits. This consistency means that more playing time should boost his counting stats, as the 2026 projections suggest with 62 RBI, 65 runs, and 14 stolen bases. Garcia Jr.'s 2025 season of strong hard contact and disciplined approach sets up a promising 2026. An expected jump in HR/FB% to 15.7% paired with steady plate efficiency should elevate his overall production. ADP:20.10
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