With second base being a shallow position, ranking them is not easy.Once you get beyond the few sure things, it becomes a bit difficult to predict how everything will shake out.Still, that doesn’t stop us from trying.With some players changing teams and others switching positions, many wild cards that could put a wrench into any predictions, but those are also the things that keep it interesting and fresh. It’s a long season and anything can happen.That’s why hitching your wagon to clear-cut studs is a valuable strategy. Some of those players are obvious, while others will not come into focus until well into the season.Just remember that once we’re into the season the key is to remain flexible, but right now do as much research as you can and go into your draft with a plan.
Top 10 Second Basemen Rankings
1. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
This may come as a bit of a surprise since Mookie Betts spent most of his 2023 season in the outfield, but Betts did play 70 games at second base last year and is expected to be the primary second baseman for the Dodgers in 2024. Last season, Betts had one of the best statistical seasons of his career, hitting .307 with a career-high 39 homers, 107 RBI, 126 runs and 14 stolen bases. Betts also finished within the top-5 in MVP voting for the fourth time, including each of the last two years. Betts is also very disciplined at the plate, proving adept at drawing walks while also limiting strikeouts. With manager Dave Roberts saying Betts will be their everyday second baseman heading into the season, it’s fair to assume far more than the 70 games at the position he logged last year. Currently going as the top second baseman and No. 2 overall in many drafts, Betts isn’t cheap, but with his consistency and what he will contribute to this offense he is worth the high price tag.
2. Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves
After a 2022 season defined by injury in which he missed 68 games with foot and hand injuries, Albies was back to his All-Star form in 2023. Albies set career highs in home runs (33) and RBI (109) with a .280 batting average. Albies also contributed 13 stolen bases and 96 runs scored. While fantasy managers would prefer to see more than 13 stolen bases, it simply might be the case that Albies has lost a step, dropping from 88th percentile speed in 2017 to 54th percentile in 2023. Still, with the myriad of ways he can contribute to a fantasy squad, Albies is being drafted as the No. 2 second baseman and 26th overall. The reality is you could make an argument for either Albies or Texas Rangers’ second baseman Marcus Semien at the No. 2 spot, but when looking at the two players statistically they are so close that the smarter move is to go for the younger (27) Albies over Semien who is six years his senior.
3. Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers
No matter what metric you’re using to judge a player’s production, Marcus Semien was successful in 2023. Semien led the American League in runs (122) and hits (185) while adding 29 home runs and 100 RBI. Semien has also proven to be durable and reliable, playing at least 161 games in each of his last four full seasons. He has missed just one game in the last three seasons and has not been on the IL list since 2017. Semien was not a major contributor in the stolen base department with only 14, but that hardly hurt his overall value. Semien was elite. Only four players scored more runs than him and only seven players reached triple digits in runs and RBI. While no one should expect 120 runs again, Semien is on a solid Rangers offense, and it was his fourth consecutive full season with 100 or more runs, so anything’s possible. At 33 years of age, some may be concerned that a decline is coming, but with an ADP in the top 2-3 at the position and 20-23 overall, clearly, the concern is not substantial, and it shouldn’t be.
4. Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
Jose Altuve has been as consistent as they come throughout his 13-year career, and there’s no reason to doubt he will keep it up in ‘24. Altuve’s 2023 season was shortened due to a fractured right thumb, but once he debuted, he more than pulled his weight. In just 90 games, Altuve hit 17 home runs, stole 14 bases, scored 76 runs, and batted in 51 RBI. He also finished with a .311 average. While there might be reason to think a decline is on the horizon, the 33-year-old (soon to be 34) Altuve should still have more than enough left in the tank to return value for those who draft him. While he is currently going as the fourth-second baseman off the board, he has an ADP of 78th overall, well behind players like Betts, Albies, and Semien. As a great contact maker playing in a solid offense, Altuve should still be good for at least 15 home runs, 100 runs, and 15 stolen bases.
5. Matt McLain, Cincinnati Reds
The situation for McLain is similar to that of Betts. McClain played the majority of his games at a different position (shortstop) in 2023 but is expected to be the primary second baseman for the Reds when the season starts, so I am ranking him as a second baseman. McLain was a rookie in 2023 and made an immediate impact, hitting .290 with 16 homers and 14 steals over 89 games. The Reds had several exciting debuts by young players in 2023, but McClain was a surprising revelation, producing the best numbers of the group. McLain has substantial power and great speed, and should only be able to improve upon his numbers from a season ago. With an ADP of 50 overall, McLain is not a cheap investment, but based on what he showed in his rookie season, he has enough skill and upside to make him more than worth the asking price. While you never know for sure just how a player will progress, McLain is someone I would be willing to target at his current ADP.
6. Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs
Hoerner was one of the best values on the board as far as second basemen go during the 2023 season. But after what he was able to do last season his ADP should rise. Hoerner led all second basemen in stolen bases (43), finishing sixth overall in that category. He also hit nine homers, 68 RBI, and 98 runs in 150 games. The difference between Hoerner and some other speedsters is that he should also be able to provide a solid batting average while scoring plenty of runs. Hoerner also enjoyed an 86% success rate in stolen bases so there is reason to believe that 2023 was not an outlier and we could see him steal 40+ bases once again. The only real downside to Hoerner is his lack of power. You aren’t likely to see a lot of home runs. But with an ADP of 105th overall, if Hoerner can hit around 10 homers in 2024, he’d be an ideal option for any manager who chooses to focus on power over speed early in the draft.
7. Ha-Seong Kim, San Diego Padres
Kim was an all-around good player in 2023, providing solid play at the plate as well as Gold Glove defense for the Padres. Kim also had career highs nearly across the board with 17 homers, 38 stolen bases, 60 RBI, 84 runs scored, and a .260 batting average, while playing a career-high 152 games. This made him easily one of the team’s most consistent performers. Early on in his career, Kim tended to look overmatched by big-league pitching, but that is no longer the case, with most of his damage coming as a lefty. The one issue is that this has created a major shift in the market value for Kim, and he has gone from being a bargain to a player that some argue is overpriced. But with multi-position eligibility at shortstop, second base, and third base I would argue the ADP of 7th at the position and 82nd overall is justified. There’s still room for improvement in his batting average, but there is enough flexibility in his game and far more to like than not that he is worth the chance.
8. Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees
Gleyber Torres played well in 2023 with a lot to like about what he can contribute to a fantasy roster. Torres hit 25 home runs, drove in 68, and scored 90 runs last season. He also contributed a .273 average and 13 stolen bases in 672 plate appearances. Another encouraging sign is his improvement in other areas such as his walk rate rising from 6.8% in 2022 to 10% in 2023 and posting a career-low strikeout rate of 14.6%. Torres has not always been the most consistent asset throughout his career, showing a lot of fluctuation in both his batting average and power, but he has shown to be a valuable player on a very strong Yankees team when things are humming. Torres is being drafted between 5th and 8th among second basemen and around 81st to 90th overall. He also represents a tier-break for me who provides more versatility and upside than others drafted in this range. All of this makes him worth the ADP.
9. Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
Ketel Marte had a disappointing 2022 season but bounced back in 2023 to have one the best seasons so far in his career. It doesn’t hurt matters when you’re on a team like the Arizona Diamondbacks who won the National League Championship. Marte was one of three second basemen (the other two being Albies and Semien) to have 25+ home runs, 90+ runs scored, and 80+ RBI, with a .329 average. Marte continued his success in the postseason with 10 base hits (including two home runs) which is hopefully a sign of things to come in 2024. His strikeout rate also went from 18.1% to 16.8% while his walk rate went from 9.9% to 10.9% and he finished 2023 with a .358 OBP. His positioning in the Diamondbacks lineup should also lead to continued opportunity. Marte should be batting in the top half of a strong Arizona lineup, which means he will have the chance to both bat in runs as well as score them himself. Marte’s ADP currently sits around 111th overall, making him the 9th second baseman taken, and one of the safer investments in fantasy baseball this season.
10. Bryson Stott, Philadelphia Phillies
After a decent rookie season in 2022, Bryson Stott saw improvement in nearly every category. In his first season as the full-time second baseman for the Phillies, Stott started on a strong note, surpassing Puddin’ Head Jones for the longest hitting streak to begin a season (17) in franchise history. In 151 games, Stott stole 31 bases, improved his batting average to .280, had 62 RBI, and hit more home runs (15) than he did in his first year in the league. There is no guarantee that this improvement will continue but if Stott can replicate a similar leap in ’24, he’ll be someone to keep your eye on. Currently, Stott is projected to take a bit of a step back in 2024 with 13 homers, 51 RBI, and 12 steals, but, with an ADP of 161 overall, if Stott outperforms those projections, as I think he will, he could end up as one of the best values in fantasy this season.
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