Toronto Blue Jays 2026 Position Analysis: Second Base

Jays Centre is taking a close look at every position on the Toronto Blue Jays heading into the 2026 season. Check out prior entries in the series here:

• Catcher
• First Base

The Toronto Blue Jays' starting second basemen were considered a defensive strength, but not an offensive weapon, over the last couple of decades. The only offensive standouts were Aaron Hill, hitting 62 home runs between the 2009 and '10 seasons, and Marcus Semien, hitting 45 long balls in his only campaign with the Blue Jays (2021). Last season was no different, with Ernie Clement's 3.2 fWAR being heavily lifted by his 11.7 defensive runs above average.

However, over the course of the postseason, Clement became a Blue Jays legend. He set the single-postseason hits record with 30, breaking Randy Arozarena's 2020 record (29). That total led to a .411/.416/.562 slash line, 13 runs, and nine batted in. It was a performance that made the Blue Jays' second base decision for this season an easy one. The position is Clement's, but the Blue Jays have plenty of flexibility with players who can play multiple positions.

Toronto Blue Jays Second Basemen at a Glance

• Starter: Ernie Clement
• Backup: Davis Schneider
• Depth: Leo Jiménez, Andrés Giménez, Addison Barger,
• Prospects: Josh Kasevich, Arjun Nimmala

• Jays 2B fWAR in 2025: 13th out of 30
• Jays 2B FGDC Projection for 2026: 13th out of 30

The Good

The Blue Jays enter the season with a clear view of who their second baseman will be. Clement has continued his postseason hitting spree this spring, going 5-for-10 at the plate with a double and a triple while with the Blue Jays. With Team USA, he is 1-for-5 but has walked twice and scored three runs. During the WBC, he's played in four games in a complementary role.

Defensively, he's as sure-gloved as a player can get. In the last two seasons as a full-time utility man, he's received fWAR ratings of 2.1 and 3.2, respectively, but defensive ratings of 8.2 and 11.7 heavily skew these numbers. It's tough to find a more defensively sound player. 

Another benefit the Blue Jays have is defensive flexibility. Clement can play any position, even pitch if needed. However, he's not Toronto's only flexible defender. Schneider and Barger can also play all over the field, and shortstop Giménez can handle second and third base. 

Clement will never be a massive earner like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., due to his limits offensively. So, the Blue Jays are in a wonderful financial position with Clement. He's 29, making $4.6 million this season, and under team control through 2028. This makes him an excellent secondary teammate to the number of superstars above him in the batting order.

The future is bright at the position as well. Kasevich and Nimmala are primarily shortstops, but moving to second wouldn't be a massive transition, and most shortstops can move all over the infield. Of the two, Nimmala is the more promising prospect offensively (though Kasevich is closer to the majors).

Last season, Nimmala hit 13 home runs and stole 17 bases over 543 plate appearances at the High-A level. Though he showed power and speed, his contact skills need improving. He has yet to posta batting average higher than .240 over his three minor league seasons, and he struck out 21.4 percent of the time at High A. Despite these struggles, he's found ways to be productive offensively, with only one season under a 120 wRC+.  

The Bad

Toronto's downfall at second base is an awfully low offensive ceiling. Clement puts the ball in play exceptionally well, only striking 10.4 percent of the time last season, but that's where his offensive prowess ends. He hit 12 home runs in 2024, but that seems like a ceiling given how poorly his important power metrics are rated, according to Baseball Savant. 

These stats show Clement's lack of power. However, he will likely be in the ninth spot in the batting order. So, he won't be relied on to do the heavy lifting of carrying the offense. Let's be honest, though, second base isn't a position that you expect to get massive offensive production out of. Last season, only five primary second basemen hit more than 20 home runs: Jazz Chisolm Jr., Brandon Lowe, Ketel Marte, Jose Altuve, and Lenyn Sosa. This shows that second base is more thought of across MLB as a defensive position. 

The Bottom Line

The Blue Jays aren't asking Clement to hit 20 home runs. It appears they're fine with someone who can put the ball in play and perform well defensively, which Clement excels at. He's also known as a gritty player who can play through injuries. Last season, he suffered a hairline fracture in his left middle finger, a shin injury that required 10 stitches, and a knee injury from diving for a ground ball. However, he still played in 157 games. Clement brings stability and a solid glove to second base for the Blue Jays.