Top 10 MLB second basemen heading into the 2018 season

The 2018 MLB season is just around the corner, with Spring Training games already underway. Here at Call to the Pen, we’ll take a look at the top players at each position. This time we’ll take a look at the top second basemen.

After looking at the current top 10 MLB catchers and the top 10 MLB first basemen, we’ll now rank the top 10 MLB second baseman heading into the 2018 season. Second basemen don’t always carry a lot of power in their bats, but they make up for it with their scrappy play and gap-to-gap hitting skills. Although as baseball progresses, it seems that more second basemen are gaining the ability to hit for power.

Much like how MLB Network ranks the top 10 players at each position before the season, we’ll do the same. MLB Network has a couple of analysts talk about their top 10, along with fan voting that cranks out a top ten list. The show also uses a tool called the shredder to display the best of the best. The shredder takes a combination of baseball statistics and analytics when coming up with the top 10. And taken into account is both old school and new school numbers.

According to MLB Network’s shredder, it ranked the top 10 second basemen right now as follows:

1. Jose Altuve
2. Robinson Cano
3. Brian Dozier
4. Daniel Murphy
5. DJ LeMahieu
6. Dustin Pedroia
7. Jonathan Schoop
8. Ian Kinsler
9. Neil Walker
10. Cesar Hernandez

How will the shredder’s list compare to CTTP’s top 10? Let’s take a look at which second basemen crack our top 10 heading into the 2018 season.

10. Jed Lowrie – Oakland Athletics

Out in Oakland, very few players garner attention due to the small market and recent poor play from the Athletics, however, Athletics’ second baseman Jed Lowrie merits a spot on this list at No. 10.

Lowrie’s played 10 seasons in the major leagues but hasn’t stayed consistent throughout his career. The 33-year-old has produced two of his best seasons with the Athletics. Back in 2013, Lowrie had a career year, posting career highs in almost every category.

Last season was another excellent year for Lowrie. In 153 MLB games played, the second baseman hit .277/.360/.448 with 14 home runs, 69 RBI, 86 runs scored and a 4.0 bWAR. Lowrie also hit 49 doubles in 2017, giving him the most among second basemen and the second-most in all of MLB.

Lowrie might not stand out as one of the best players in baseball but a 4.0 bWAR, fourth among all second baseman, is enough to get him on to this list.

9. Whit Merrifield – Kansas City Royals

The 2017 season was rough for the Kansas City Royals. With a bunch of key MLB players becoming free agents at the end of the season and a team that could still compete, the front office had to decide to sell or not at the deadline. They chose to compete but failed to make the playoffs.

During the offseason, they’ve seen their former center fielder Lorenzo Cain sign with the Milwaukee Brewers and their former first baseman Eric Hosmer sign with the San Diego Padres. After losing two talented players (and more than likely three when Moustakas signs with another team), the Royals now have to lean on different to carry the team.

One of those players they’ll lean on is second baseman, Whit Merrifield. The 29-year-old broke out in 2017 and shored up a position that the team’s lacked since Ben Zobrist left.

In 145 games, Merrifield hit .288/.324/.460 with 19 home runs, 78 RBI, 80 runs scored and a 3.9 bWAR. He also stole 34 bases, which led all AL second basemen.

Among Royals’ returning players in 2018, Merrifield led the team in hits (169), steals, runs, triples (6), RBI, average and on-base percentage.

With just two seasons under his belt, the second baseman could find himself higher on this list if he performs well again in 2018.

8. Cesar Hernandez – Philadelphia Phillies

With five consecutive losing seasons, the Philadelphia Phillies continue rebuilding and are slowly gaining a stronger young core group of guys. One of those players is second baseman, Cesar Hernandez.

From the start of the offseason, Hernandez’s name swirled around in numerous trade rumors but heading into Spring Training games; he remains in Philly. And as long as the Phillies don’t trade him, he’ll man that spot until he hits free agency in 2021.

In 2017, Hernandez hit .294/.373/.421 with nine home runs, 34 RBI, 85 runs and a 3.1 bWAR. Hernandez isn’t much of a power hitter, but he plays well as a gap-to-gap guy. His batting average and on-base percentage led all eligible Phillies players last season.

However, the number of games Hernandez missed in 2017 was a downside to an otherwise terrific season. After playing in 155 games in 2016, he played in just 128 games last season. An oblique injury caused Hernandez to miss over a month. However, if Hernandez can stay healthy in 2018 and continue his growth with the Phillies, perhaps he can find himself higher on this list next year.

7. Dee Gordon – Seattle Mariners

Before Dee Gordon was running outfield routes with the Seattle Mariners, he was playing in the middle infield for the Miami Marlins. And even though the Mariners plan to deploy Gordon in center field in 2018, he played as a second baseman last season, so he makes it on this list at No. 7.

The 29-year-old was one of the first Marlins to find himself on a new MLB team heading into 2018. He was part of the newer ownership fire sale in Miami this offseason.

Gordon hit .308/.341/.375 with two home runs, 33 RBI, 114 runs scored and a 3.1 bWAR in 2017. Gordon also recorded 201 hits, which led the NL. And his 60 stolen bases were the most in all of baseball.

Can Gordon handle the transition to center field? The stress of learning a new position could take a toll on the offensive side for Gordon. However, if he can hit as he did in 2017 and play well in center, Mariners’ GM Jerry Dipoto will look like a genius.

6. DJ LeMahieu – Colorado Rockies

Despite being one of the best players on the Colorado Rockies, DJ LeMahieu doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. Both Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon garner most of the national attention for the Rockies. And for a good reason too, Arenado finished fourth in the NL MVP voting in 2017, while Blackmon finished fifth.

However, LeMahieu is another talented player that the Rockies possess. And with that, he ranks sixth on this top 10-second basemen list.

LeMahieu’s played seven seasons in the big leagues. The 29-year-old has established himself as a gap-to-gap hitter out in Colorado. Even with the altitude at Coors Field, LeMahieu doesn’t hit many home runs.

Last season, in 155 games, LeMahieu hit .310/.374/.409 with eight home runs, 64 RBI, 95 runs and a 2.9 bWAR. He recorded 189 hits, which gave him the second most hits among NL second baseman. His .310 batting average was also second highest in the NL among second baseman.

Not only is LeMahieu good with the bat, but his glovework stands out too. In 2017, LeMahieu won the NL Gold Glove. As an overall player, LeMahieu is one of the best when it comes to second basemen.

5. Robinson Cano – Seattle Mariners

Even though Robinson Cano‘s past his prime, he continues to produce for the Seattle Mariners at second base. Although his 2017 campaign wasn’t as good as the previous one, he still provided another All-Star season. In his 13-year career, Cano’s made the All-Star team eight times.

Not only is Cano one of the best players on the Mariners’ team, but he also provides a lot of leadership and experience for the club. Something this team desperately needs, as they look to avoid missing the playoffs for a 16th straight season.

Cano’s 2017 stats include a slash line of .280/.338/.453 with 23 home runs, 97 RBI, 79 runs and a 3.4 bWAR. His 97 RBI ranked second among AL second baseman.

Being one of the top second basemen over the past decade, Cano could begin to decline as he climbs closer to his 40s. But with the talent that Cano possess, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Cano remains on this top 10 list over the next few seasons.

4.  Jonathan Schoop – Baltimore Orioles

After a solid breakout campaign in 2016, Jonathan Schoop had an even better 2017 season for the Baltimore Orioles. His stellar season moved him into the discussion as one of the best second basemen in today’s game. And with that, he comes in at No. 4 on this list.

A lot of things went wrong for the Orioles in 2017. After making the playoffs in 2016 and losing in the AL Wild Card game, the Orioles took a significant step back last season. They finished last in the AL East with a 75-87 record. One of the few upsides for the Orioles in 2017 was the success from Schoop.

In 2017, Schoop hit .293/.338/.503 with 32 home runs, 105 RBI, 92 runs and a 5.1 bWAR. His 105 RBI were most among all second basemen. And with his great play in 2017, Schoop became an All-Star for the first time in his career.

Another impressive feat for Schoop is that he missed just two games over the past two seasons. At only 26 years old, Schoop could find himself on this list for quite some time.

3. Brian Dozier

Most second basemen don’t have a knack for hitting the long ball, but that isn’t the case for Brian Dozier, who ranks third on this list.

After hitting 20-plus home runs in back-to-back seasons. Dozier unleashed his true power potential in 2016 when he hit 42 home runs (40 as a second baseman), the most ever for an AL second baseman.

He followed his 42 home run season up by hitting 34 in 2017. Along with hitting 34 homers, Dozier also hit .271/.359/.498 with 93 RBI, 106 runs and a 4.4 bWAR.

Before the 2017 season, a lot of rumors swirled about the Twins trying to trade Dozier. Many felt that the team needed to make some moves to try and rebuild. However, the Twins surprised everyone in 2017 by becoming the first team ever to make the playoffs after finishing as the worst team in baseball the season before.

Dozier played a prominent role in the Twins’ turnaround in 2017, and he’ll play a key factor in the Twins’ pursuit of the playoffs again in 2018.