Nos. 10-65 of 10
10. Jeff McNeil, New York Mets
Offense: 427 PA, 119 wRC+, .255/.346/.432, 36 XBH (12 HR), 3 SB
Defense: 502.2 INN, 2 DRS, 3 OAA
WAR: 2.3
McNeil has seen semi-regular action in center field this year for the first time in his career, but the bulk of his playing time has still come at second base. The 33-year-old posted a wRC+ under 100 in 2023 and 2024, but he has bounced back nicely this year, thanks in part to a career-high 10.8 percent walk rate.
9. Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
Offense: 620 PA, 110 wRC+, .263/.325/.440, 48 XBH (25 HR), 9 SB
Defense: 432.1 INN, -6 DRS, 0 OAA
WAR: 1.7
Altuve has split his time between second base (432.1 innings) and left field (371.0 innings) this year, playing below-average defense at both spots, but he continues to be an impact player in the batter’s box. The 35-year-old is up to 2,379 hits, 254 home runs, 324 steals and 59.5 WAR over 15 seasons in the majors, not to mention his impressive postseason resume.
8. Bryson Stott, Philadelphia Phillies
Offense: 523 PA, 100 wRC+, .256/.330/.390, 35 XBH (12 HR), 23 SB
Defense: 1,053.0 INN, -1 DRS, 7 OAA
WAR: 2.8
A quality defender who has quietly logged three straight seasons with at least 10 home runs and 20 steals, Stott represents a homegrown, reasonably-priced everyday player on a Phillies roster loaded with expensive veterans. He is hitting .356/.423/.622 over 52 plate appearances in September, and has an .889 OPS since the All-Star break.
7. Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers
Offense: 585 PA, 114 wRC+, .254/.361/.394, 37 XBH (16 HR), 4 SB
Defense: 1,060.0 INN, -7 DRS, -3 OAA
WAR: 2.5
Torres has been a great pickup for the Tigers on a one-year, $15 million deal after spending the first seven seasons of his big league career with the Yankees. Still only 28 years old, he has put himself in position for a nice multi-year payday this offseason, and a career-high .361 on-base percentage and 14.0 percent walk rate have helped elevate his offensive game.
6. Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals
Offense: 496 PA, 113 wRC+, .281/.348/.407, 36 XBH (10 HR), 3 SB
Defense: 774.0 INN, -1 DRS, 0 OAA
WAR: 2.4
Donovan spent the first three seasons of his career as one of baseball’s best super-utility players before settling in an everyday role of sorts at second base this season and earning his first All-Star selection. He is the classic “whole is greater than the sum of its parts” player who gets the most out of his game, cut from the same cloth as Ben Zobrist.