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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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Sep 24, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Sep 24, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

5. Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox

With the retirement of David Ortiz (allegedly), Dustin Pedroia is one of the few remaining holdovers to the Red Sox team that won the 2013 World Series. Eleven years into his career, Pedroia remains one of the peskiest hitters in the league. He battled back from injury-plagued years in 2014 and 2015 to post his first season with an OPS over .800 since 2011 last year.

Some of the speed and power Pedroia displayed earlier in his career have declined, but he is still a lock for a line somewhere in the range of .300/.350/.450 every year. That type of line is becoming more common for second basemen in baseball, but Pedroia also backs it up with a strong glove and undeniable leadership and intangibles.

The new blood in the Boston lineup should continue helping to make sure Pedroia sees plenty of pitches to hit. He does everything a manager could possibly ask for from a top-of-the-order hitter, and batted .362 when leading off last season. Pedroia suffered through a few lean year with the Red Sox, but is being rewarded for his patience while the young talent developed around him. By the time he hangs them up in a few years, Pedroia will likely have at least one more World Series ring and a real shot at Cooperstown if he is able to stay healthy.

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