2. Daniel Murphy – Washington Nationals
Ever since Daniel Murphy had a torrid 2015 postseason, the second baseman’s emerged as one of the best second basemen in all of baseball. Thanks to an increased launch angle, Murphy has gained the ability to hit the long ball, along with carrying a good batting average too.
Murphy followed up that 2015 season ending with a stellar 2016 campaign where he finished second overall in the NL MVP voting. Although his 2017 season didn’t go as well as the previous year, it still was good enough to rank him No. 2 on this list.
His 2017 stats included a slash line of .322/.384/.543 with 23 home runs, 93 RBI, 94 runs and a 2.8 bWAR. He led all NL second baseman in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, and doubles.
The 32-year-old will find himself as a free agent again after the 2018 season. The Nationals also have Bryce Harper hitting free agency after the season ends. Once again, the Nationals look like one of the favorites to win the World Series, but can they finally make it past the NLDS?
1. Jose Altuve – Houston Astros
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Coming in at No. 1 on this list, with very little debate, is Houston Astros’ second baseman Jose Altuve. As one of the top second baseman for the past few seasons, Altuve added an MVP and World Series ring in 2017.
The youth and talent of the Houston Astros finally came together last season and showed that they could win a World Series. And with such a young group, this could end up as dynasty run in Houston.
At just 27 years old, Altuve boasts one of the best resumes for his age. He already has five All-Star appearances, four Silver Sluggers, three batting titles, a Gold Glove an MVP and a World Series ring.
In 2017, Altuve’s MVP season included a slash line of .346/.410/.547 with 24 home runs, 81 RBI, 112 runs and an 8.3 bWAR. Despite standing at just 5 feet 6 inches tall, Altuve’s established himself as one of the best players in today’s game.
Next: Top 10 MLB first basemen heading into 2018
Agree or disagree with these rankings? Let us know what your top 10 MLB second basemen are in the comment section below.