MLB Top Prospects: Top 10 Second Base Prospects for 2018

After exploring both the team top 10 lists, overall top 150, and system rankings in our MLB Top Prospects series, we finish with a look at positional rankings. Today, we look at the top 10 second base prospects for 2018.

Our MLB Top Prospect series at Call to the Pen is spearheaded by Benjamin Chase. Today, he gives us the top ten second base prospects for 2018.

We will explore each position with a top 10 list, and then after we get to #1, don’t leave as we will also highlight one player who is “on the rise” and could factor into the positional rankings after the 2018 season if they hold their current trajectory.

Each of these MLB Top Prospect rankings have come through the hundreds of games each summer Ben watches as well as speaking with multiple people throughout the game and gauging their opinions as well on players he has not had a good look at. This is a personal opinion, and a ranking position higher or lower than industry standard does not indicate “liking” or “hating” a certain player more or less – by just showing up on this list, there is a degree of appreciation of the talent a player brings!

We will start each position list with an overall look at the position itself within the game and the strength of the position.

Position overview

Last year’s list

Second base has long been a position where teams send failed shortstops or shortstops who have too positive of a bat to keep out of the lineup, but don’t have the range to hang at short.

For example, currently at the very top of the list are a few players who have already made the transition to the keystone, but even then, they’re getting reps at other positions as well. That means that next season’s list could contain half of the list being guys who didn’t even qualify for the list this year.

At the big league level, the position does have a significant amount of established veterans, meaning most teams aren’t in a rush to develop their second baseman of the future right now. Of course, seeing guys like Whit Merrifield and Scooter Gennett come from little to no prospect status to being reliable and even impressive big leaguers will keep teams away from investing heavily at the position in their farm system.

Let’s take a look at the second basemen….

Next: #9 and #10

10. Tyler Wade, New York Yankees

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/23/1994 (23)
2018 level: MLB New York Yankees

Info: Initially drafted out of high school in the 4th round in 2014, many liked Wade’s bat to ball skills and his plus to double-plus speed (plus raw speed with incredible instincts that allow it to play up even further). He moved quickly through the Yankees system and seemed on the cusp of becoming one of the overall MLB top prospects before the Yankees made a number of acquisitions that blocked his path to a future starting role with the team.

Wade has played around the infield, but his best defensive position is at second base

Wade has played around the infield, but his best defensive position is at second base. As he’s developed, he’s added strength, which allows his bat to ball skills to play up even further as he’s able to spray line drives to the gaps with authority and yank a few balls over the fence, though he’s likely going to max out at a 10-15 home run bat.

Wade has worked around the field to build his utility for the Yankees bench, but his excellent hands have been a standout at second base, and he has handled the exchange on double plays very well.

With the trade of Starlin Castro this offseason, even with bringing in Neil Walker, Wade will get some looks at second for the Yankees, and his speed and contact skills could allow him to push through as a starter, at least until Torres is ready at the big league level.

9. Max Schrock, St. Louis Cardinals

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/12/1994 (23)
2018 level: AAA Memphis Redbirds

Info: One of those guys with a prototypical college second baseman build at 5’8″ and 175-190 pounds, Schrock was a 13th round selection of the Washington Nationals in the 2015 draft. He’s now been traded twice in his short career.

He’s certainly not been moved due to any lack of production. Schrock is a career .326 hitter with a good batting eye and an .813 OPS. He’s not a guy with tremendous over-the-fence power, but he hits consistent line drives throughout the field and has excellent coverage throughout the strike zone.

While Schrock is no slouch at the position, he’s not ever going to be a Gold Glove defender at second base, so if he’s making it to the major leagues, it’s on the strength of his bat. He has exceptional instincts that allow him to position himself well and snag a few stolen bases in spite of being an average runner.

Interestingly, Schrock is seemingly in the perfect organization for his skillset as he is the type that the Cardinals seem to be able to maximize.

Next: #7 and #8

8. Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/6/1994 (23)
2018 level: AA Montgomery Biscuits

Info: An excellent producer in college, Lowe really developed slowly as a pro due to an injury in his draft season that held him out of playing until 2016, when he struggled plenty in low-A to generate power, though he did show excellent zone control.

An adjustment in the box and with his hand position allowed Lowe to access his line drive power much better in 2017, winning the Florida State League MVP and Rays team minor league player of the year. He tallied 39 doubles between high-A and AA and 11 home runs while still keeping solid plate discipline, with a 49/91 BB/K ratio over 410 at bats.

Lowe is going to need to maximize his skills to be a major leaguer, but he is highly regarded for his work ethic and coachability, so he has a good chance at doing just that. He’s worked hard at his footwork around the bag, and with some recent trades bringing in middle infield depth to the organization, he might have to move to left field in the end, putting even more pressure on maximizing his offensive tools.

Exactly the type of guy you want to have in your organization even if he doesn’t make it, Lowe will be in the upper minors in 2018, hoping to show well enough to earn a late season call up for the Rays.

7. Nick Solak, Tampa Bay Rays

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 1/11/1995 (23)
2018 level: AA Montgomery Biscuits

Info: After a productive career at Louisville, the Yankees grabbed Solak in the 2nd round, and he’s done everything possible to show that he deserves to move to the top of their deep pile of middle infield prospects. He got traded from that organization, which usually would mean a more clear path to the majors, but instead, he ends up with the Rays, who made a few acquisitions this winter to give them one of the deepest middle infield systems in the league.

his bat will be what gets Solak to the majors if he is to be a starter in the big leagues

Solak draws a lot of comparisons to Dustin Pedroia due to his stature being under 6′ tall and under 200 pounds along with an excellent natural feel at the plate that has him rated as a plus contact hitter if not even plus-plus by some scouts.

Defensively, Solak has struggles with his footwork around the bag, but his throws from second have become much better as have his movements off the bat since being drafted. He has worked hard on his reads off the bat and has the natural quickness to show average to above-average range. If he could improve his footwork around the bag, he has the chance to be an average or slightly above-average defender at the keystone.

However, his bat will be what gets Solak to the majors if he is to be a starter in the big leagues. Solak has an excellent line drive swing that is able to generate pull power, but he often focuses on opposite field contact. He uses his above-average speed and plus instincts to take extra bases frequently, and he has quick first steps that allow him to snag stolen bases that his barely above-average speed would likely not say he should be able to get.

With the depth of middle infielders in the Rays system, he’ll need to hit well and continue improvement defensively in order to work his way to the majors, but he could be a productive, scrappy player if he can make it there.

Next: #5 and #6

6. Shed Long, Cincinnati Reds

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/22/1995 (22)
2018 level: AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Info: The Reds originally drafted Long out of high school in Florida as a catcher. He shuffled for a pair of seasons behind the plate before the Reds moved him to second base in 2015, and he’s taken time to get the defensive side of the position down, but the move was almost an immediate positive impact to his bat.

In 2017, Long flashed his impressive ability to impact the ball from his small-ish frame. He may not get a ton of loft, but he pounds hard line drives that find their way over the wall more often then one might think just looking at Long as he stands in the box.

Upper minors pitching and a wrist injury combined to expose one of the major issues with Long’s offensive approach – he comes to the plate to collect a hit and really is not interested in returning to the dugout without putting the ball in play.

His extreme contact approach led to some issues with AA pitching in 2017, and that will be a test for Long. If he can pass that test, he could be a valuable bench piece at the least due to his ability to play catcher in a pinch as well as the outfield.

5. Garrett Hampson, Colorado Rockies

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/10/1994 (23)
2018 level: AA Hartford Yard Goats

Info: Long Beach State has a long history of excellent middle infielders coming from their program, and Hampson could be the next great one to reach the major leagues.

Hampson does hit the ball hard, but his swing plane is such that he smacks the ball hard into the ground or on a low line

Unlike former Long Beach State shortstops Troy Tulowitzki and Bobby Crosby (among others), Hampson is not a big guy, though his smaller size also brings with it different tools, including blazing plus-plus speed and a high-octane motor that seems to always be running at full throttle.

Hampson does hit the ball hard, but his swing plane is such that he smacks the ball hard into the ground or on a low line right now. He could certainly build more power into his game by adjusting his swing plane as he already has the impact in his swing, but his speed is an asset that he can use with the ball in gaps and on the ground, so there is a trade off for him.

Defensively, Hampson would be a shortstop for certain if not for his arm, which is average at second base, but below average at shortstop. He’s got elite hands, plus instincts off the bat, and quick feet that allow for excellent range at second base and would have him being a plus defender at the keystone.

If he can show enough impact with his bat to keep pitchers honest in the upper minors, he will have a future as a starting second baseman, with a floor of an excellent middle infield bench player.

Next: #3 and #4

4. Isan Diaz, Miami Marlins

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/27/1996 (21)
2018 level: AA Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Info: Diaz was selected as a supplemental 2nd round pick in 2014 by the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he’s worked himself to one of the MLB top prospects as he’s moved across three organizations.

(Diaz’s) raw tools have been so loud that it’s been impossible not to notice him along the way

Originally from a cold-weather state for high school, Diaz was expected to take extra time in his development, but his raw tools have been so loud that it’s been impossible not to notice him along the way. Initially a shortstop, Diaz has found a home at second base as an excellent defender at the position, though he could handle short in a pinch.

Diaz has a rare blend of power and speed that could allow him to hit for 20-25 home runs while also stealing 15-20 bases. He has built up his zone judgement such that he takes plenty of walks, but he does still swing and miss with his long swing fairly often.

The Marlins will give Diaz his first taste of upper minors in AA in 2018, and if he can handle that well, he could fast-track himself to the big league club.

3. Luis Urias, San Diego Padres

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 6/3/1997 (20)
2018 level: AAA El Paso Chihuahuas

Info: The first of three elite second base prospects currently among MLB Top Prospects, Urias very well could be the best defender of the bunch, and truly the best defender on this entire list in the end. Urias could end up an average shortstop defensively, but he’s an elite second baseman defensively, and that’s where he stands.

Signed basically for the cost of his paperwork from his Mexican League team when he was 16, Urias has turned into one of the biggest international signing steals in recent memory.

Urias has an incredible ability to put bat to ball, arguably the best pure contact tool in the entire minor leagues right now, a career .312 hitter over his minor league career with a sub-9% strikeout rate over his minor league career.

One of the key pieces in the Padres’ first wave of prospects, Urias should make his major league debut at some point in the 2018 season, and his hitting will likely determine when.

Next: #1 and #2

2. Keston Hiura, Milwaukee Brewers

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/2/1996 (21)
2018 level: high-A Carolina Mudcats

Info: If not for spending the entirety of his draft season playing DH due to an elbow issue, Hiura very possibly would have been a top 5 selection. He still only lasted to the 9th overall selection to the Brewers and has already established himself as an MLB top prospect.

Hiura has an incredibly smooth swing that creates impact power to all fields, leading to 25 extra base hits in just 42 games. He is focused on contact right now, which is why he did not walk a ton in his pro debut, but he also did not strike out at a crazy rate, especially for the level of power his bat generates.

Many have compared the power he can generate while also handling the second base position to former All-Star second baseman Jeff Kent. Like Kent, his tremendous bat will overshadow the fact that he’s a quality defender at second, albeit not a Gold Glove guy by any means.

1. Scott Kingery, Philadelphia Phillies

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 4/29/1994 (23)
2018 level: MLB Philadelphia Phillies

Info: Considered an excellent “effort” player before 2017, Kingery had a breakout season in 2017, hitting a combined 26 home runs and stealing 29 bases between AA and AAA for the Phillies. Many would consider that a reflection of the environment in Reading, which is a notorious hitter-friendly environment, but Kingery kept up his hitting once he got to AAA.

Kingery is a plus defender with great instincts and tremendous footwork around the bag

Kingery is a plus defender with great instincts and tremendous footwork around the bag. He does only have an average arm at best, so he’s not likely to make deep throws up the middle, but he has the range to get to those plays and knock the ball down at least.

Offensively, Kingery offers excellent plate discipline, above-average raw power, and above-average speed with plus instincts on the bases.

The Phillies saw his impressive skills and wanted to find a way to get him to the majors this season, agreeing to a deal to buy out his pre-arbitration seasons already. Currently, he is being used in a utility role due to the presence of multiple quality players in positions where Kingery would likely play.

Next: On the rise