Below are our rankings of second base entering the 2019 season. The list was last updated on January 27, 2019.

1. Javier Baez (CHC) The NL MVP runner-up, and for good cause, is poised to show off that terrific bat speed and wheels once again.

2. Jose Altuve (HOU) I know he was hurt and a bounceback is likely, but when you hit 13 homers with 17 stolen bases in 534 at-bats, it’s a big step to return to those stellar 2017 numbers.

3. Whit Merrifield (KC) Congratulations to the AL stolen base leader, with 45. There are no red lights in Kansas City.

4. Ozzie Albies (ATL) In 2018 we saw a bit of an aberration, with Albies smoking 24 long balls and stealing 14 bases. Flip those numbers and you’ll be looking at a fair projection for 2019.

5. Jonathan Villar (BAL) He was traded to the O’s at the deadline and given a new lease on life. Over the last two months of the season Villar swiped 21 bases, getting caught only three times. A return close to his 2016 form, in which he stole 62 bases, can’t be ruled out.

6. Daniel Murphy (COL) How can you not look forward to Murphy playing at Coors Field?

7. Gleyber Torres (NYY) There will be no sophomore slump in this budding stars future.

8. Travis Shaw (MIL) Thirty home run power potential in the middle-infield is rare.

9. Scooter Gennett (CIN) That 2017 27 HR, 97 RBI campaign was followed up by another solid 23 HR, 92 RBI season. I think we can safely expect more of the same level of production moving forward.

10. Robinson Cano (NYM) A bold move by Brodie Van Wagenen. Will it pay off?

11. Brian Dozier (WAS) 2018 was a huge fall from grace for Dozier, so he hooked up with the Gnats on a one-year deal in the hopes of rebuilding his value. A win/win scenario.

12. Rougned Odor (TEX) After back-to-back thirty home run seasons with double-digit speed, Odor plummeted to 18 homers and 12 thefts in 2018. What is seriously alarming is the fact that he was caught stealing 12 times. At 24-years-of-age have we seen the best from Odor?

13. Dee Gordon (SEA) Can Gordon return to the form that saw him steal an average of 53 bases over the four-year period from 2014-thru-2017? No, but expecting improvement over the 30 thefts he amassed in 2018 is a reasonable expectation.

14. Yoan Moncada (CWS) He’s young with tremendous upside potential, but those 217 strikeouts in 578 at-bats stick out like a sore thumb. Joey Gallo is envious.

15. Jonathan Schoop (MIN) He has gone from being an All-Star in Baltimore to a bench role in Milwaukee, and a new lease on life as a Twin in rather short order. There’s simply too much talent to see a repeat of 2018.

16. Cesar Hernandez (PHI) He’s coming of a year in which he set career highs in homers, RBI’s, runs scored, and walks. He also set a career high in strikeouts, with a whopping 155. That’s the number to remember on Draft Day.

17. DJ LeMahieu (NYY) In 2018 he hit for a career-high 15 homers. He also saw his OBP fall from .374 to .321. The Yankees obviously aren’t concerned, inking him to a two-year $24 million contract, but we sure are.

18. Jed Lowrie (NYM) Only time will tell, but signing a soon-to-be 35-year-old coming off a career season to a two-year deal is fraught with risk.

19. Ketel Marte (ARZ) He has been slow to develop, but still is. Adding the outfield to the 2B/SS eligibility in 2019 is a plus.

20. Jason Kipnis (CLE) The HR and RBI totals showed a dramatic improvement over 2017. The BA remained the same. In the words of Meatloaf, “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.”

21. Niko Goodrum (DET) First base eligibility is a nice bonus, not to mention the power/speed potential.

22. Joey Wendle (TB) A strong rookie campaign for the late bloomer, but that .353 BABIP is a good indicator that there is a correction coming. The Rays have plenty of options in the middle infield. Buyer beware!

23. Luis Urias (SD) Great hit tool, but middling power and speed. The odds are very good that he’ll be a better player in the real game, than ours.

24. Asdrubal Cabrera (TEX) A one-year deal seems to be the wise move for everyone but Wisdom.

25. Adam Frazier (PIT) Frazier is finally getting an opportunity to play full-time, and that solid hit tool could be cause for late-round value.

26. Marwin Gonzalez (FA) February is closing fast and Gonzalez is still looking for a place to call home. I’m betting that great 2017 season is an outlier.

27. Ian Kinsler (SD) Mentoring the kids, while producing low-teen homers and thefts. Not a bad way to wrap up a great career.

28. Enrique Hernandez (LAD) Give him a game at catcher, Dave Roberts, so he can lay claim to playing every position in the game.

29. Hernan Perez (MIL) Jonathan Schoop has moved on, leaving Perez to get the bulk of the at-bats until Keston Hiura is deemed ready to handle the gig. Set the bar low and you won’t be disappointed.

30. Lourdes Gurriel (TOR) Bo Bichette time is drawing near. Until then, Gurriel and his nine walks in 249 at-bats will hold down the fort.

31. Kolten Wong (STL)

32. Starlin Castro (MIA)

33. Yangervis Solarte (TOR)

34. Joe Panik (SF)

35. David Fletcher (LAA)

36. Keston Hiura (MIL)

37. Eduardo Nunez (BOS)

38. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (TEX)

39. Jeff McNeil (NYM)

40. Josh Harrison (FA)

41. Daniel Robertson (TAM)

42. Ben Zobrist (CHC)

43. Devon Travis (TOR)

44. Brendan Rodgers (COL)

45. Howie Kendrick (WAS)

46. Brandon Lowe (TB)

47. Jahmai Jones (LAA)

48. Alen Hanson (SF)

49. Yairo Munoz (STL)

50. Daniel Descalso (CHC)

51. Franklin Barreto (OAK)

52. Chad Pinder (OAK)

53. Dustin Pedroia (BOS)

54. Jose Pirela (SD)

55. Wilmer Difo (WAS)

56. Cory Spangenberg (MIL)

57. Neil Walker (FA)

58. Erik Gonzalez (PIT)

59. Tim Lopes (SEA)

60. Brock Holt (BOS)

61. Ronald Torreyes (MIN)

62. Tyler Wade (NYY)

63. Brad Miller (FA)

64. Shed Long (SEA)

65. Logan Forsythe (FA)

66. Sean Rodriguez (FA)