In the spirit of MLB Network’s “Top 10 Right Now” positional rankings that appear every offseason, I have decided to embark on my own journey to rank the best players at each position. These rankings fluctuate year-to-year and people’s subjective views on positional rankings can lead to many disagreements and much debate but this activity is always fun.
I’ll navigate my way through each position, moving next to the best second basemen right now. Prior to each write-up, I will explain my methodology to give readers an understanding of where I’m coming from. For each position, I’m looking at a wide range of factors, including recent success, track records, trends, age, injury history, etc. You can find my other top 10 lists below.
In regards to my second base rankings I will list here, the most important factors I am looking at are recent success, track record and age. Second base is an extremely stacked position at the top but the depth falls off very quickly after the top-tier guys. Ranking guys at the end of the list involved a lot of projection on my part based on them building on their strong 2019 seasons. I didn’t include players such as Max Muncy, Gleyber Torres, Jeff McNeil, Yoan Moncada and David Fletcher who have dual-eligibility at multiple positions but aren’t everyday second basemen or projected to play a lot at the position in 2020.
Listed below each second baseman is their Fangraphs version of Wins Above Replacement (fWAR) from 2019 along with their positional raking, their three-year stretch of fWAR from 2017 to 2019, their 2020 Steamer WAR projection and their age. These four tidbits give us a good idea not only about recent success but also help project what they may do in the upcoming seasons.
1. Jose Altuve (HOU)
- 2019 fWAR: 3.8 (sixth)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 13.6 (first)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 4.2 (first)
- Age: 29
The top of this list has three candidates who all have cases for the number one spot but I ultimately settled on Altuve due to his track record. Since his breakout 2014 season, Altuve has been one of the best players on the planet, ranking fourth among position players in WAR (32.4) in that time, ranking behind Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Josh Donaldson.
In that 2014-2019 timeframe, Altuve has absolutely mashed to the clip of .327/.380/.497 with a 141 wRC+. The five-foot-six-inch Altuve has been a vital cog for the Astros recent rise to the upper tier, winning the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 2017 (7.6 WAR and 160 wRC+), the same year the club won their first World Series. Injuries are the only reason he didn’t make 2019 his sixth straight season of four or more wins.
It’d remiss to not include two major caveats surrounding Altuve: the Astros sign-stealing issues that stem back to 2017 and the fact that he’s also a posteason legend. The investigation into the Astros is ongoing and even any potential revelations likely won’t tell us how much Altuve benefitted from this system. What we can quantify is his career .290/.345/.527 line in the postseason and his 13 home runs that are the most EVER by a second basemen in the playoffs.
Altuve is a legitimate superstar, will only turn 30 next year and has the most impressive track record of anybody on this list. Altuve is one the sport’s gems and should continue to produce as one of the best players for years to come.
2. Ketel Marte (ARI)
- 2019 fWAR: 7.1 (first)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 10.4 (third)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 4.1 (second)
- Age: 26
Marte was an absolute stud in 2019, leading all players at the position in WAR (7.1), wRC+ (150), batting average (.329), on-base percentage (.389), slugging percentage (.592) and home runs (32). In his age 25 season, Marte completely broke out and was a huge reason why Arizona stuck around in the playoff race. Marte finished fourth in National League MVP Voting behind Cody Bellinger, Christian Yelich and Anthony Rendon.
Viewed by many as a sleeper breakout candidate entering the season, Marte made monstrous changes that suggest his breakout was real. With his new approach, he set career-highs in average exit velocity (89.8 mph), launch angle (11.5), pull-percentage (40.2 percent) and hard-hit rate (40 percent). Many of these numbers have trended in a positive direction in recent years and that new approach, combined with the juiced baseball, led to a serious power surge.
My decision to place Marte second came down to his shorter track record than Altuve. I think both players will produce at a similar level moving forward but I feel slightly more optimistic about Altuve simply because he’s produced at a high level for so long.
3. Ozzie Albies (HOU)
- 2019 fWAR: 4.6 (third)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 10.3 (fourth)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 4 (third)
- Age: 22
Albies was also a strong contender for the top spot on this list based on his absurd production at his age. In 375 games from age 20-22, Albies has posted a .279/.332/.473 line with a 109 wRC+ and good defensive metrics (17 Defensive Runs Saved and 12.5 Ultimate Zone Rating). Albies is a truly special player with no definitive flaws in his game and will be a true star in the upcoming decade.
Albies had his best season so far in 2019, hitting .295/.352/.450 with 4.6 WAR and a 117 wRC+. All of those numbers were career-best marks and nothing seems flukey about them at all. Albies is a dynamic player who possesses elite athleticism that he flashes both at the plate, in the field and on the bases.
The Braves struck gold when they signed Albies to a seven-year $35 million deal (with two club options) prior to last season. Albies is not only one of the most talented players at the position and in the game but he is one of the top values based on his production, age and contract.
4. DJ LeMahieu (NYY)
- 2019 fWAR: 5.4 (second)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 9.4 (fifth)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 3.2 (fifth)
- Age: 31
LeMahieu was a revelation in his first year in Yankee pinstripes, hitting .327/.375/.518 with a 136 wRC+ and 5.4 WAR. The longtime Rockie proved that he wasn’t just a byproduct of Coors Field and was one of the shrewd signings of last offseason, providing loads of surplus value on a two-year $24 million deal. LeMahieu finished fourth in MVP voting and very nearly became the first player to win a batting title in both the National League and American League.
LeMahieu was utilized all over the infield last year, appearing in 40 games at first base, 52 games at third base and 75 games at second base. His defensive versatility and career year at the plate made him a vital part of the Yankees success and his career season catapulted him up this list.
5. Whit Merrifield (KCR)
- 2019 fWAR: 2.8 (eighth)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 10.9 (second)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 1.8 (16th)
- Age: 30
Merrifield’s projections for next year seem awfully light given the sheer numbers he’s produced over the past few years. Since 2017, he is baseball’s second-most valuable second baseman by WAR (10.9) thanks to his diverse skillset. In that time since 2017, he’s hit .298/.348/.454 with a 112 wRC+ and 47 home runs while stealing 99 bases and providing good defense at the position.
Merrifield’s light 2020 projection might stem from the fact that he’ll be 31 next Opening Day and didn’t have a minor league track record that suggested he’d be this good. However, Merrifield has done nothing but produce and should be one of the few bright spots on the Royals roster next year. Signed to crazy-friendly deal (four years and $16.25 million with a club option), it’ll be interesting to see if the Royals decide to shop him and what he’d garner in a return.
6. Mike Moustakas (CIN)
- 2019 fWAR: 2.8 (eighth)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 7.2 (ninth)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 2.8 (fifth)
- Age: 31
Moustakas finally got the long-awaited free agent contract he was looking for, signing a four-year $64 million deal with the Cincinnati Reds. With Eugenio Suarez penciled in as the everyday third baseman, Moustakas will make the switch full-time to second base, a position he appeared in 40 games at last year. The contract represented a big win not only for Moustakas but also for the Reds, who are legitimately serious about contending in 2020.
The 31-year-old put together his third consecutive strong season in 2019 and, not including his injury-riddled 2016 season, has been a strong everyday player since 2015. Moustakas has crushed 101 home runs over the last three years, a top 20 figure among all players in that time. He’s combined his power with roughly average on-base ability (career .310 OBP) and average defense over the course of his career, making for a solid-average everyday player.
As a clubhouse leader and vital part of the Royals championship runs and recent Brewers playoff runs, Moustakas also brings some intangible elements that the Reds will certainly appreciate. This is a quality everyday player and Moustakas should continue to produce near a league-average rate over the next few years.
7. Kolten Wong (STL)
- 2019 fWAR: 3.7 (fifth)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 8.7 (sixth)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 2.4 (eighth)
- Age: 29
Wong has been a steady and underrated everyday second baseman in St. Louis since he took over full-time in 2014. After years of providing slightly below-average offense, plus defense and good baserunning, Wong’s bat has come to life a bit more in recent years. In two of the past three years, Wong has posted a wRC+ of 108, making him a super valuable player with the valuable defense and running.
2019 was his best year yet, a year where he set career highs in WAR (3.7), SLG (.423) and BaseRunning Runs (7.1) all while winning his first Gold Glove. If Wong’s new offensive level sticks around, he’s a borderline top five second baseman given the value he adds elsewhere. Following his extension in 2016 that paid him roughly $37 million through 2021, Wong has been an absolute bargain for the Cardinals, providing league-average stability and reliability at second base.
8. Keston Hiura (MIL)
- 2019 fWAR: 2.1 (13th)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 2.1 (40th)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 2.4 (10th)
- Age: 23
Hiura, the 2017 ninth overall pick, immediately crushed baseballs when he reached the majors last season and was one of the best hitters in baseball from the time he arrived. From May 14th (his MLB debut) onward, Hiura hit .303/.368/.570 across 348 plate appearances. His 139 wRC+ was a top 30 mark in that time, sandwiched around players like Jeff McNeil and DJ LeMahieu.
The fact that Hiura produced right away was not surprising given he was arguably the best bat from the 2017 draft class. After posting a 1.047 OPS in his college days at U.C. Irvine, Hiura posted a .928 OPS in his three seasons in the minors and a .938 OPS in his first season in the majors. Hiura’s shiny 2.4 WAR projection for 2020 reflects his sterling track record of offensive performance.
Not everything around Hiura is rosy, however. His strikeout rate jumped to 26.3 percent in Triple-A last year and was at 30.7 percent in the majors, showing an issue he’ll need to clear up. He also benefitted from a .402 BABIP that is certain to fall down to Earth a bit next year. With the added question about defensive concerns that could move him off the position, Hiura will be interesting to follow in 2020 and beyond.
9. Brandon Lowe (TBR)
- 2019 fWAR: 2.6 (tenth)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 3.5 (27th)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 2.5 (fifth)
- Age: 25
This is right around the point the list got very complicated for me. The top eight guys were pretty easy to identify but the last two spots could have been filled by a wide range of players. I settled on Lowe at number nine even though his shorter track record and red flags make him a bit of a riskier pick.
Lowe’s 2019 season has to be deemed a successful one. He earned his first trip to the All Star Game, finished third in American League Rookie of the Year voting and earned 2.5 wins despite just playing in 82 games. Lowe was super productive in that time, hitting .270/.336/.514 with a 125 wRC+ and 17 home runs across 327 plate appearances.
Through his first 125 MLB games, Lowe has hit .259/.333/.494 with a 122 wRC+ and 3.5 WAR. Given his age (25), production and history as a top 100 prospect, there is serious potential for Lowe to fly up this list. There’s also a chance his huge swing-and-miss issues (34.6 percent strikeout rate last year) and struggles against left-handed pitching (career 81 wRC+ against lefties) could cap his upside.
10. Jonathan Villar (MIA)
- 2019 fWAR: 4.0 (fourth)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 5.5 (15th)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 1.8 (15th)
- Age: 28
Villar grabs the last spot on this list, which may appear weird given one of the worst teams in baseball just traded him for essentially nothing… to one of the other worst teams in baseball. Villar was an incredibly tricky player to rank even with some of the questions in his game.
Let’s start with the negatives. The projection systems don’t love Villar because of his atrocious 2017 season (negative 0.4 WAR and 72 wRC+) that occurred in a large 122 game sample. Villar has also bounced around from team-to-team in recent years, with his recent trade to the Marlins signaling the second time he’s been traded to one of the league’s worst teams in the past two years. That certainly accounts for something as does inconsistent year-to-year output.
From a positive lens, Villar has been a solid-to-good player in three of the last four years. Villar hits for some power (49 home runs since 2017), plays competent defense and is one of the premier base runners in the game (tops in majors with 10.5 BaseRunning Runs in 2019). It’s a bit perplexing that Villar and his projected $10.4 million cap hit for 2020 was valued so low so perhaps that’s a sign of how he’s valued across the game.
Just missed the list
- Cesar Hernandez (Declining numbers in three straight years and recent non-tender raises questions)
- Cavan Biggio (Good mix of power/speed & strong MiLB track record)
- Luis Arraez (Elite plate discipline+ability to hit for average made him a strong contender for list)
- Robinson Cano (2018 PED suspension, bad 2019 season and age kept him off list)
- Adam Frazier (Roughly a two win player each of past two years)
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