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MLB 2017: Top ten second basemen

By Joshua Sadlock

Jul 5, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) on deck agains the Seattle Mariners in the eighth inning at Minute Maid Park. Astros won 5 to 2. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 5, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) on deck agains the Seattle Mariners in the eighth inning at Minute Maid Park. Astros won 5 to 2. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Second basemen make up one of the hottest positions in Major League Baseball. Who makes up the top ten at one of the new power spots in baseball?

Formerly home to offensively-challenged, glove-first players, second base is going through a transition in Major League Baseball. Similar to the boom in the late 1990s that saw power introduced at shortstop, that same movement is making its way over to the second sack. Last year, 14 second basemen hit more than 20 home runs, four hit more than 30, and Brian Dozier set the AL record with 42, becoming just the third player ever to hit more than 40 while actually playing second base. Five players also slugged better than .500, and both league batting titles were won by second basemen (Jose Altuve at .338 in the AL and DJ LeMahieu at .348 in the NL).

Making a top-10 list for this newly-explosive position won’t be easy. Young studs on the rise and several other solid players will have a hard time breaking into the upper echelon for now, but that does not take away from the fact that there may be more exciting second basemen in baseball than ever before in the history of the game.

Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Ben Zobrist celebrates after hitting a RBI double against the Cleveland Indians in the 10th inning in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Ben Zobrist celebrates after hitting a RBI double against the Cleveland Indians in the 10th inning in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Ben Zobrist/Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs

The Cubs were spared some of the difficulties of balancing playing time for Ben Zobrist, Kyle Schwarber, and Javier Baez last year due to Schwarber’s knee injury in the first week of the season. Manager Joe Maddon is going to have to do plenty of juggling with his available at-bats in left field and at second base this year. Zobrist started 113 games at second base last year, and was signed under the general assumption that he would see most of his playing time in the infield. Baez started 38 games, and played almost 400 total innings at the position.

Between the two of them — Benier Baebrist, if you will — the Cubs finished with a .841 OPS at second base, good for seventh in baseball. Zobrist cranked out 18 home runs, while Baez contributed 14 while also playing shortstop, third base, and outfield. Maddon has a very good problem on his hands as he goes about figuring out when Zobrist and Baez will play. Zobrist remains one of the steadiest hitters in the league, while Baez brings one of the flashiest gloves. Just an embarrassment of riches for the defending World Series champions.

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