Paul Sporer’s 2022 Second Base Rankings with Comments
by Paul Sporer
March 10, 2022
The difference being cited is from my first run of rankings. These are for standard league setups that include 2B, MI, and UT with 20-game eligibility. While I play mostly in 15-team mixers, these wouldn’t change much in 12- or 10-teamers. In the latter formats, I’d elevate injury concerns and small sample guys because the replacement level is much higher. The double- and triple-eligible guys also take a little hit in the shallower formats for that same reason.
2022 2B Rankings with Comments
| RK | SECOND BASE | TM | POS | LAST RK | DIFF. | NOTE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trea Turner | LAD | 2B/SS | 1 | 0 | Just a briliant ’21 and now gets a full year in LA w/that lineup! |
| 2 | Ozzie Albies | ATL | 2B | 2 | 0 | Posted just the 3rd 30 HR/20 SB yr at 2B since 2010; imagine if his AVG pushes back up |
| 3 | Marcus Semien | TEX | 2B/SS | 5 | 2 | Had 18 pt OPS adv. at home w/OAK at a park that plays similar to TEX |
| 4 | Whit Merrifield | KCR | 2B/OF | 4 | 0 | MLB-best 542 G since ’18 make him a strong bet to reach his high floor |
| 5 | Jose Altuve | HOU | 2B | 3 | -2 | Double-digit SBs might be gone, but 31 HR ea. of L2 full seasons |
| 6 | Ketel Marte | ARI | 2B/OF | 8 | 2 | R & L hammy IL stints dashes lingering SB hope; AVG & pwr carry this profile |
| 7 | Jonathan India | CIN | 2B | 9 | 2 | 1.058 OPS v. 4-seamers was 4th in MLB (min. 200 PA); will he see fewer in ’22? (hat tip Clay Link) |
| 8 | Javier Báez | DET | 2B/SS | 11 | 3 | Plate skills make him super volatile, but pwr & spd remain enticing |
| 9 | Jorge Polanco | MIN | 2B/SS | 6 | -3 | Modest 65% SB% says be careful betting on another 11; solid bet for .260/25 |
| 10 | Brandon Lowe | TBR | 2B | 7 | -3 | Was hitting .198 on 6/22 then hit .289 w/26 HR in L80 games |
| 11 | Tommy Edman | STL | 2B/OF | 10 | -1 | A 30 SB speedster who isn’t empty pwr and dual-elig., sign me up! |
| 12 | Chris Taylor | LAD | 2B/SS/OF | 12 | 0 | Played 11+ G at 5 pos. as today’s Zobrist; K% could bring AVG into .240s |
| 13 | Jazz Chisholm Jr. | MIA | 2B/SS | 13 | 0 | .681 OPS, 14 HR/SB from May on; has upside, but plate skills breed volatility |
| 14 | Jake Cronenworth | SDP | 1B/2B/SS | 14 | 0 | No single stat is excellent, but finished 14-14-16 at his elig. positions last yr |
| 15 | Jean Segura | PHI | 2B | 22 | 7 | AVG foundation w/pwr & spd is an overlooked bargain at this point |
| 16 | Ty France | SEA | 1B/2B | 19 | 3 | A repeat would be great, but I think there is real pwr upside (25+ HRs) |
| 17 | DJ LeMahieu | NYY | 1B/2B/3B | 15 | -2 | Must be healthy, but if so, hard not to see a sharp AVG rebound |
| 18 | Luis Urías | MIL | 2B/3B/SS | 18 | 0 | Under the hood backs pwr surge as LA surge drove much better contact results |
| 19 | Jonathan Schoop | DET | 1B/2B | 20 | 1 | Bankable full season lines that include a fun in-season rollercoaster ride |
| 20 | Enrique Hernández | BOS | 2B/OF | 24 | 4 | Found footing in summer w/14 HR, .876 OPS in final 334 PA; just a rock solid investment |
| 21 | Kolten Wong | MIL | 2B | 23 | 2 | Another Segura-type w/double-double skills & strong AVG available at a very fair price |
| 22 | Ryan McMahon | COL | 2B/3B | 16 | -6 | Finally broke out, but only 10 HR & .160 ISO after 13/.254 in Apr-May; where’d the pwr go? |
| 23 | Brendan Rodgers | COL | 2B/SS | 17 | -6 | Former #3 overall hit well in first big MLB sample, incl. an .873 OPS & 12 HR on the road |
| 24 | Gavin Lux | LAD | 2B/SS | 21 | -3 | Performance has to be there to sustain it, but should be given a full-time role this year |
| 25 | Max Muncy | LAD | 1B/2B | #N/A | #N/A | Still playing things cautiously until whatever we get for Spring Training starts |
| 26 | Eduardo Escobar | NYM | 2B/3B | 25 | -1 | Has been a legit pwr bat since ’17; lacks upside of 2 COL guys & Lux, but a more stable floor |
| 27 | Cesar Hernandez | WAS | 2B | 41 | 14 | Just 10 SBs since ’19 (15+ from ’15-18); if OBP returns to career .345 area, could get 100 R |
| 28 | Andrés Giménez | CLE | 2B/SS | 30 | 2 | Some prospects aren’t quite ready, but still had 15 HR/19 SB in AAA+MLB; is ’22 the leap yr? |
| 29 | Josh Rojas | ARI | 2B/SS/OF | 28 | -1 | At 28 y/o, could just be a less established Segura/Wong-type option |
| 30 | Abraham Toro | SEA | 2B/3B | 26 | -4 | Has AVG upside from ’21 mark; don’t extrapolate SBs over 600 PA; pay for .250/20/5 |
| 31 | Garrett Hampson | COL | 2B/OF | 31 | 0 | Exhbit 384,097 that Coors can’t make a player (.741 OPS in 506 home PA); spd worth it for some |
| 32 | Ha-Seong Kim 김하성 | SDP | 2B/3B/SS | 27 | -5 | Rough debut stateside, but didn’t come over fully formed like many before him; still just 26 y/o |
| 33 | Nick Madrigal | CHC | 2B | 32 | -1 | AVG stud w/some spd upside, but completely devoid of pwr making him a fit on specific tms only |
| 34 | Nick Solak | TEX | 2B | 39 | 5 | Pwr outage from ’20 held & just 7-for-12 in SB; there is upside, but don’t overrate the 27 y/o |
| 35 | Nico Hoerner | CHC | 2B | 33 | -2 | A poor man’s Madrigal |
| 36 | Dylan Moore | SEA | 2B/OF | 43 | 7 | A poor man’s Hampson |
| 37 | Ramón Urías | BAL | 2B/SS | 40 | 3 | A poor man’s Urias… and also his brother! |
| 38 | Josh Harrison | FA | 2B/3B/OF | 46 | 8 | Will sign somewhere & can drop a double-double w/a full-time role |
| 39 | Tommy La Stella | SFG | 2B | #N/A | #N/A | Injuries ate up 1/2 of last 2 full yrs, but still has AVG w/a little punch available super late |
| 40 | Tony Kemp | OAK | 2B/OF | #N/A | #N/A | Without some changes, could have <10 HR even in 600 PA, but did have great plate skills in ’21 |
| 41 | Wilmer Flores | SFG | 1B/2B/3B | #N/A | #N/A | Has tightened platoon split & can play everywhere; offers some late AVG |
| 42 | Edmundo Sosa | STL | 2B/SS | 42 | 0 | Sprint Spd ≠ SBs as 98th percentile delivered a 4/8 in SBs; but if gets sharper, then 10+ could come |
| 43 | Nolan Gorman | STL | 2B | 52 | 9 | StL loves the bat enough to move him to 2B so he can reach MLB quicker; has ROY upside |
| 44 | Luis Arraez | MIN | 2B/3B/OF | 34 | -10 | Starts off our empty average crew of guys who are best used as fill-ins during the yr |
| 45 | Jeff McNeil | NYM | 2B/OF | 35 | -10 | Rabbit ball brought 23 HR in ’19, but then just 11 in 635 PA since; should improve .251 from ’21 |
| 46 | David Fletcher | LAA | 2B/SS | 36 | -10 | Hit .255 in first 48 gms, .340 in next 66, but closed w/a .150 in 44 gms; only dual elig.,too |
| 47 | Adam Frazier | SDP | 2B | 37 | -10 | Trade highlights regression of hot start as he went back to being himself w/SDP |
| 48 | Michael Chavis | PIT | 2B | 54 | 6 | Has 26 HR in 664 career PA, but huge swing-and-miss could bring sub-.200 AVG too |
| 49 | Robinson Canó | NYM | 2B | #N/A | #N/A | Now age-39, but was great the last time we saw him (142 wRC+, 10 HR in 182 PA) |
| 50 | Luis García | WAS | 2B | #N/A | #N/A | Don’t forget the 22 y/o; makes solid contact & could pop 20 HR w/a full yr role |
| 51 | Hoy Park | PIT | 2B | 44 | -7 | Great patience w/some intriguing spd, but can the bat sustain a consistent role? |
| 52 | Zach McKinstry | LAD | 2B/OF | 50 | -2 | If Muncy inj. is severe enough to cost him time, McKinstry likely benefits; bat has upside |
| 53 | Leury García | CWS | 2B/OF | 47 | -6 | Super deep league Swiss Army Knife with a tinge of SB upside |
| 54 | Willi Castro | DET | 2B/SS | 45 | -9 | .448 BABIP from ’20 came back to earth & took AVG w/it (.220); now jobless w/Baez in town |
| 55 | Rougned Odor | BAL | 2B/3B | #N/A | #N/A | Last 2 yrs feels like the right projection: .191 AVG, 25 HR, 0 SB in 509 PA… have fun, Jason! |
I’m curious how many years before a player suiting up every night finally wears down. There must be a limit for Whit, right? I hope this year he continues his ironman prowess.