Paul Sporer’s Top 55 Second Basemen

by Paul Sporer

February 9, 2021

The keystone is an interesting position in 2021. It definitely has some depth that you really start to see once you get in the trenches and start drafting. There are also a ton of bargain versions of players where they are slightly worse and thus projections are a bit lower, but their talent profiles are close enough that you have a real shot to spike the star-level season from the cheaper version. This isn’t unique to 2B and I’ll likely point it out in a few comments in the upcoming SS and 3B rankings, but it was almost unavoidable here as I saw it popping it up a lot.

Justin’s list

I’ll have an update in early March to account for any moves, news, and/or injuries. Let me know what you think in the comments: how are you building your 2B plan? do you want an extra 2B for MI or do you prefer SS? who is your sleeper at the position?

Here’s my list.

2021 2B Rankings

RK	PLAYER	TM	ELIG.	COMMENT	ADP
1	DJ LeMahieu	NYY	1B, 2B, 3B	With the depth at 2B, is his best position actually 1B even w/only decent pop?	28
2	Ozzie Albies	ATL	2B	Haven’t seen best of this 24 y/o stud yet… will trade R for RBI w/lineup move	34
3	Whit Merrifield	KC	2B, OF	Compiler profile makes health his best asset at age 32; 71% SB% since ’19	39
4	Max Muncy	LAD	1B, 2B, 3B	Wish the ’20 performance would’ve dropped the price a bit more	95
5	Keston Hiura	MLW	2B	BABIP/K% concerns were valid, but he overpowered the AVG drop w/13 HR	69
6	Jose Altuve	HOU	2B	Countered rough ’20 w/1.229 OPS, 5 HR, 11 R/RBI in 60 Oct. PA	99
7	Brandon Lowe	TB	2B, OF	Similar BABIP/K% concerns of Hiura countered w/K% & BB% gains & more pop	72
8	Tommy Edman	STL	2B, 3B, SS, OF	Discount Albies w/Arenado move bringing R infusion	129
9	Cavan Biggio	TOR	2B, 3B, OF	OBP god will be a run machine regardless of lineup spot	61
10	Jeff McNeil	NYM	2B, 3B, OF	Discount LeMahieu who will be a total R machine if he stays in the top 3	87
11	Ketel Marte	ARZ	2B	Reverted to ’18 plus HR/FB% bad luck sapping more pop; still had AVG at least	80
12	Mike Moustakas	CIN	1B, 2B	CIN offense can’t be this bad again meaning Moose could cop 1st 100 RBI season	120
13	Nick Solak	TEX	2B, OF	Sneaky speedster w/more pop than we saw in ’20 (xSLG was +47 pts v. SLG)	171
14	Jake Cronenworth	SD	1B, 2B, SS	Talent plays, I’m staying invested on my boy, especially at his sinking price	185
15	Chris Taylor	LAD	2B, SS, OF	Why doesn’t he get more love as a super-utility stud? Great in mid & deep lgs	214
16	Dylan Moore	SEA	2B, OF	Pwr/spd isn’t new, but AVG is a big question mark so plan for it if you like him	114
17	Jurickson Profar	SD	2B, OF	PT logjam but he’s at 18 HR/10 SB per 500 PA since 2018	237
18	Andrés Giménez	CLE	2B, 3B, SS	Could start in MiLB if Rosario isn’t moved, stay tuned	168
19	Tommy La Stella	SF	1B, 2B	Held some pwr gains from ’19 and further improved elite K & BB rates	303
20	Nick Madrigal	CWS	2B	Have to draft around the tiny HR count, but AVG, SB, R can be very valuable	189
21	Jonathan Schoop	DET	2B	Discount Moose w/a bit less pop and much worse lineup around him	422
22	Jonathan Villar	NYM	2B, SS	Still had 16 SB in brutal yr; will play super-UT for NYM w/~10 HR & 20 SB	148
23	Jean Segura	PHI	2B, 3B	Still good for a double-double & decent AVG, but 9 pt K% surge is alarming	188
24	Cesar Hernandez	CLE	2B	Discount Segura… like extreeeeemly discounted	383
25	Jon Berti	MIA	2B, OF	Might have a full-time role but even if he doesn’t, he has 24 SB per 400 PA	264
26	Gavin Lux	LAD	2B	Still just 23 y/o meaning it’s not time to panic on him, even if ’21 is modest	253
27	Enrique Hernández	BOS	2B, OF	Could get his first 500+ PA season in new home	427
28	Joey Wendle	TB	2B, 3B, SS	With health, his ’18 is very much in play: 7 HR, 16 SB, .300 AVG… solidly boring	315
29	Nico Hoerner	CHC	2B, SS	Discount Madrigal w/a worse hit tool, but more pop (plus SS elig.)	468
30	David Fletcher	LAA	2B, 3B, SS	Must be planned for as the big AVG comes w/huge HR-RBI-SB deficits	225
31	Ryan McMahon	COL	1B, 2B, 3B	Is this the year? Probably not.	239
32	Ty France	SEA	2B	Should get a shot to show if his ’19 AAA run (196 wRC+) was a sign of big upside	336
33	Starlin Castro	WAS	2B	Lost ’20 to broken wrist (16 G); solid glue guy in refreshed WAS lineup	338
34	Garrett Hampson	COL	2B, OF	Coors Field can’t fix a 29% K rate so until he does, the ceiling is capped	263
35	Luis Arraez	MIN	2B	Discount Fletcher w/a better AVG, but fewer PA	397
36	Kevin Newman	PIT	2B, SS	Had a run similar to ’20 in his breakout ’19 (.595 OPS in 44 gms 6/30-8/23)	541
37	Scott Kingery	PHI	2B, OF	COVID & inj. ruined ’20; plate skills (28% K, 6% BB) limit his overall upside	313
38	Mauricio Dubón	SF	2B, SS, OF	Could be a capable compiler	275
39	Wilmer Flores	SF	1B, 2B	No longer needs a full platoon w/decent work vR since ’17	338
40	Kolten Wong	MLW	2B	Glove makes him a better IRL player, but could finally cop 2nd 600+ PA	388
41	Luis Urías	MLW	2B, 3B, SS	He’s just 24 y/o with a mere 422 PA on his ledger, don’t give up yet	409
42	Brendan Rodgers	COL	2B	If you like thrift shopping prospects, it’s time to snag Rodgers	513
43	Michael Chavis	BOS	1B, 2B, OF	AVG sinkhole who might not have enough pwr to be worth it, even w/the triple elig.	432
44	Niko Goodrum	DET	2B, SS	BABIP meltdown & K% surge killed ’20; basically a poor man’s Villar	430
45	Rougned Odor	TEX	2B	Career .289 OBP & 56% SB% could turn him into bland no-AVG, low-SB pwr bat	534
46	Adam Frazier	PIT	2B, OF	Would’ve likely reached his standard high-.270s AVG w/a full season of work	517
47	Donovan Solano	SF	2B	Is a .328 AVG over 431 PA since ’19 worth the 7 HR, 52 RBI, 49 R, and 0 SB w/it??	523
48	Chad Pinder	OAK	2B, 3B	Doesn’t need to be a short-side platoon, but even w/PA he’s an AL Only piece	543
49	Jazz Chisholm	MIA	2B, SS	Worth having on your radar for ’21, but almost certainly a midseason call-up	512
50	Luis Garcia	WAS	2B	Worth having on your radar for ’21, but almost certainly a midseason call-up	623
51	Isan Díaz	MIA	2B	Still like him but he’s a super deep lg play at best, better to just watchlist him	697
52	David Bote	CHC	2B, 3B	Perfect NL Only piece w/multi-elig. & able to do a bit of everything	519
53	Josh Rojas	ARZ	2B	Still like him but he’s a super deep lg play at best, better to just watchlist him	681
54	Dee Strange-Gordon	CIN	2B, OF	Could be some cheap deeeeep league speed if he finds PT in Cincy	717
55	Shed Long Jr.	SEA	2B	Ks too much & not enough SB to target, plus he lacks a role heading into ST	664

SOURCE: NFBC ADP Since 1/1

19 Comments

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

weekendatbidens

5 years ago

Danny Santana is recovering from surgery and will miss time. Assuming that’s he finds a team with a role, he would provide solid value. A team like the Royals would benefit immensely as would fantasy owners.

jdelaneyMember since 2019

56. Eno Sarris

Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff

Reply to jdelaney

With a green arrow pointing upward, though!

wanderlust francoMember since 2025

In your opinion, which player of the Colorado trio of McMahon/Hampton/Rodgers has the highest ceiling just for 2021? Gun to your head, who do you believe actually returns the most value?

I understand playing time is the big question when it comes to these guys, but I find that the uncertainty over PT has somewhat clouded my thinking regarding what their true skill sets are.

Reply to wanderlust franco

Also, you have the same blurb for 49 & 50.

That was intentional

I still think Rodgers has the highest ceiling. McMahon & Hampson just K too much

Just noticed this about Nick Solak: really good against LHP, not so much against RHP. Aside from his sprinting and his fantastic EVs, there is more imaginary than real. I’m going to have to pay attention to Spring training because we can’t solely rely on him receiving a good hit tool. A serious platoon split in his profile wouldn’t be good.

Am I missing something, please let me know?

Reply to weekendatbidens

He hit well vR in the minors so I think as he settles into a full-time role, he will be able to bring some of that success to the majors. He will still be better vL, but if he finds a bit of his power stroke vR, then he can maintain a high-.700s OPS against them while dominating vL

Miles Temel

How much would you say the Jays’ signing of Semien cuts into Biggio’s value?

Reply to Miles Temel

Expectation is that it bumps Biggio down the lineup a bit, but even that isn’t GUARANTEED so I’m not too worried about it. I’d gladly roster both, tbh.

carterMember since 2020

Reply to Paul Sporer

Seems like it would hurt more in dynasty/next year as 2nd base eligibility is a big thing to keep. Could be much ado about nothing, as MLB players get hurt all the time.

Ken Giles Right Hook

Ha Seong Kim?

Reply to Ken Giles Right Hook

Ranked at SS. I know he’ll gain 2B quickly, but only SS-elig. at NFBC rn and that’s my basis for these

DDD

Paul, you’re the second person I’ve read that says Luis Urias is 24 years old. I read that he is only 23 years old. Is his player page wrong, or is it because he will turn 24 in June? Thanks

Reply to DDD

Yes bc of his b-day it’s his age-24 season

Cutoff is July IIRC

Got it, thanks Paul. I didn’t know that’s how it works.

ihatepants

Hey Paul, are you hearing anything about if Vidal Brujan might come up? I know the rays have a crowded situation.