The best time in all of sports has officially arrived: the summer of baseball. What does that mean exactly? Every other league takes a backseat while Major League Baseball drives through the warm months as the only professional sport with competitive games. And with that comes one of the game’s most beloved traditions: the MLB All-Star Game.
2025 MLB All-Star Frontrunners: Second Base Edition
In this series, we’ll go position by position, breaking down the players most deserving of MLB All-Star nods—along with a few dark horse names who might sneak in if the stars align. Next up, we have the position of second base.
National League
Starter – Brendan Donovan
Brendan Donovan, the starting second baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, is finally getting the recognition he deserves. He first broke onto the scene in 2022, batting .283 with 110 hits. From the start, he’s been a contact machine—and he’s shown that throughout his career.
In 2024, his numbers rank among the league’s best. He’s batting .310 with a .379 OBP and a 2.3 WAR in 64 games. Right now, the 25-year-old is on pace to shatter all of his career highs. He’s also tracking toward his first-ever All-Star Game appearance.
Donovan will continue being a valuable piece for the Cardinals, not just for his pure hitting, but also because he can play multiple positions. He deserves the starting recognition for the National League and could be the first Cardinal since Paul Goldschmidt in 2022 to earn that nod.
Backup – Ketel Marte
If Ketel Marte didn’t miss time this year, he’d likely be in the conversation to start for the National League. Marte’s breakout gained full attention in 2024 when he finished third in MVP voting. He batted .292 with 36 home runs and posted a 6.8 WAR.
He picked up right where he left off, batting .346 through the first 10 games before his injury. Since returning, Marte’s been just as productive. He continues to provide Arizona with one of the most valuable bats in the National League.
Dark Horse – Jeff McNeil
Just weeks ago, Mets fans were all over Twitter trying to trade Jeff McNeil. What’s happened since then? He’s flipped the script.
Over the last two weeks, McNeil has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball. Alongside Juan Soto and Pete Alonso, he’s helped carry the Mets’ offense. During this stretch, the former batting champ is hitting .317 with a 1.016 OPS, five home runs, and 11 RBIs.
Thanks to that surge, McNeil now owns one of the top OPS marks among NL second basemen. That’s enough to spark a legit All-Star conversation.
American League
Starter – Gleyber Torres
A month ago, Gleyber Torres might have had real competition from Red Sox rookie Kristan Campbell. Now? This race looks like a one-person show.
The Tigers’ offseason acquisition has been a pleasant surprise through the first half of the 2025 season. Torres signed a one-year, $15 million deal to bring experience and offense to Detroit, and he’s done exactly that.
Torres leads nearly every major category among AL second basemen. He’s hitting .267 with five home runs and 30 RBIs. Other names like Brandon Lowe and Jackson Holliday have stepped up lately, but Torres has delivered consistently all year.
Main Photo Credits: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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