You can go early and grab an elite-level talent, work the middle tier and find a host of steady power/speed threats, or cherry-pick the bottom tier and play the spec game. Second base is deep in proven talent with plenty of options to fill every potential roster build. Pick the one that works and roll with it. Vaughn Grissom doesn’t qualify at Second Base on draft day, but will very early in the 2024 season, giving you another intriguing upside option.
1. Mookie Betts, LAD – Betts slugged 39 home runs, drove in 107 runs and posted a .307 BA last year. Toss in the 126 runs scored and 14 stolen bases plus the added bonus of 2B eligibility and you have one of the best players in the game. OF-107
2. Marcus Semien, TEX – 2023 was another stellar year, his best since the monster 2021 season with the Jays. You say Albies, I say Semien. There is really no wrong answer.
3. Ozzie Albies, ATL – 2023 was Albies best season as a pro. He set career highs in both home runs with 33 and RBI with 109. It doesn’t get much better than that.
4. Jose Altuve, HOU – The only thing missing from Altuve having a banner campaign was 200 or so at-bats. If he slides don’t let it be too far as there’s still plenty of mileage left in the tank.
5. Matt McLain, CIN – McLain was moving up the NL ROY ranks quickly until he was sidelined by a strained oblique that cost him the month of September. The MLB resume might be short, but the skills are anything but. SS-33
6. Ha-Seong Kim, SDP – I don’t know if Kim will attain the lofty levels he accomplished in 2023 (38 SB), but 30 thefts should be within reach. Toss in 15-20 home runs with that multi-position eligibility, and you have a player that should be on everyone’s radar. 3B-32, SS-20
7. Nico Hoerner, CHC – Little Nico Hoerner sat at the corner, swiping those bases at will. Along came a catcher, who said “I’m gonna getcha”, but only seven times in 50 tried did it come true. If you want a Top-10 SB threat, he’ll get the job done. SS-20
8. Gleyber Torres, NYY – A safe floor of 25 home runs and 70 RBI is at-hand. Torres will even kick in low double-digit stolen bases for good measure.
9. Andres Gimenez, CLE – Gimenez is penciled into the two-hole and it’s the perfect spot for that mid-teen power and 25-to-30 thefts.
10. Ketel Marte, ARZ – Marte recorded his second-best season as a pro on an improving DBacks squad. The career high 71 walks will keep him at the top-of-the-order.
11. Bryson Stott, PHI – Mid-teen power and 25-to-30 thefts seem to be a very common denominator at Second Base. Stott took a big step upwards last year and now joins this group.
12. Zack Gelof, OAK – Gelof enjoyed a great rookie campaign, slugging 14 homers with an equal number of stolen bases in only 270 at-bats. A 20-20 season could be in the cards for the A’s youngster.
13. Thairo Estrada, SFG – Another very solid option in the mid-teen power/20+ stolen base club. Power/speed options are plentiful at the keystone corner. SS-24
14. Nolan Gorman, STL – Yeah, he strikes out a bunch, 148 times in 406 at-bats, but when not showing off the miss part of his swing and miss game, he hit the ball out of the park 27 times. There could be a host of 30 HR type seasons in this youngster’s future.
15. Tommy Edman, STL – Edman enjoyed another typical Tommy Edman type season other than the big dip in the run scored category. It would certainly help if he could find his way back to the top-of-the-order but a .307 OBP won’t help his cause. SS-48, OF-49
16. Brandon Drury, LAA – In 2022 he hit 28 homers and drove in 87 runs with a .263 BA. In 2023 he hit 26 homers and drove in 83 runs with a .262 BA. Let’s call this a trend and show Drury a little more respect than he’ll probably get on draft day. 1B-47
17. Jorge Polanco, MIN – Polanco has all the tools to be a Top-10 producer at Second excepting one. In 2022 he managed to get in 375 at-bats and followed that up with another injury riddled campaign in 2023. Is a bounce back season in order in 2024?
18. Luis Arraez, MIA – If you’re looking to boost your BA/OBP numbers, Arraez is the player to get it done. Last year he posted a .354 BA and .393 OBP and found his way to double-digit power with ten home runs. That will work rather well as a middle-infield option.
19. Jonathan India, CIN – When you have Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz occupying your two MI slots, where does that leave the 2021 NL ROY? At DH, at least for now. For all the talk about 2023 being a down year India still managed to hit 17 home runs, steal 14 bases and score 78 runs in only 454 at-bats.
20. Ryan McMahon, COL – 2023 proved to be an okay year for McMahon, but is okay good enough? Expect more of the same okay type numbers in 2024. Okay? 3B-130
21. Edouard Julien, MIN
22. Jordan Westburg, BAL 3B-29
23. Brandon Lowe, TBR
24. Luis Rengifo, LAA SS-23, 3B-37, OF-21
25. Zach McKinstry, DET 3B-52, SS-23, OF-57
26. Whit Merrifield, FA OF-84
27. Gavin Lux, LAD
28. Geraldo Perdomo, ARZ 2B-28
29. Taylor Walls, TBR SS-32, 3B-39
30. Jeff McNeil, NYM OF-68
31. Brice Turang, MIL SS-22
32. Jake Cronenworth, SDP 1B-106
33. Liover Peguero, PIT SS-39
34. Brendan Donovan, STL OF-26
35. Luis Urias, SEA
36. Ji Hwan Bae, PIT OF-62
37. Davis Schneider, TOR
38. Josh Rojas, SEA 3B-48
39. Amed Rosario, FA SS-104
40. Cavan Biggio, TOR 1B-20, OF-27
41. Andruw Monasterio, MIL 3B-56
42. Dylan Moore, SEA OF-29
43. Miguel Vargas, LAD
44. Michael Massey, KCR
45. Luis Garcia, WAS
46. Mauricio Dubon, HOU OF-38
47. Brendan Rodgers, COL
48. Enrique Hernandez, FA SS-74, OF-36
49. Xavier Edwards, MIA
50. Enmanuel Valdez, BOS
51. Kyle Farmer, MIN 3B-43, SS-40
52. Jordan Diaz, OAK 3B-38
53. Owen Miller, MIL 1B-35, 3B-23
54. Andy Ibanez, DET OF-21
55. Connor Norby, BAL
56. Ronny Mauricio, NYM
57. Nicky Lopez, CWS 3B-29
58. Alan Trejo, COL 3B-23
59. Adam Frazier, FA
60. Elvis Andrus, FA SS-52
61. Justin Foscue, TEX
63. Masyn Winn, STL
64. Jose Iglesias, FA
65. Joey Ortiz, BAL
66. Livan Soto, LAA
67. Andrelton Simmons, FA
68. Alan Trejo, COL
