2018 AL MLB All-Star Team Second Base
Conventional Pick: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
Altuve is coming off an MVP season and a World Series title with the Astros. He’s hitting over .300, but not for the power he’s hit for over the past few seasons (.312/.364/.418). He also isn’t hitting home runs or stealing bases as he has in the past.
He only has two of each so far. Despite this, with Robinson Cano suspended for 80 games, Altuve is easily the most recognizable name at second base and isn’t having a bad year, just not nearly as good as last year. That should be enough to make him the conventional AL MLB All-Star Team pick.
Combined WAR Pick: Jed Lowrie (2.2 WAR)
Playing on the west coast for the Oakland A’s, Lowrie is quietly having the best season of any AL second baseman. He’s hitting .328/.395/.559 and already has nine home runs and 37 RBI. His career high in home runs is 16 and in RBI is 75.
He’s also never had a season in which he hit over .290. Another guy some fans may not have heard much about is Daniel Robertson, of the Tampa Bay Rays. Robertson has the second-highest combined WAR of any AL second baseman.
Last Calendar Year pick: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
If you consider Jose Ramirez a second baseman over the last calendar year, he’s at the top of the list with 8.9 WAR (per Fangraphs). Ramirez played 70 games at second base last season but has primarily played third base this year.
If you’d prefer a full-time second baseman this year and last, it’s Altuve, with 7.3 WAR over the last 365 days. He’s more than two wins better than Jed Lowrie (5.0 WAR over the last 365 days), and 2.5 wins better than Brian Dozier (4.8 WAR over the last 365 days).