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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 5, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu (9) runs out a single in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu (9) runs out a single in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

4. DJ LeMahieu, Colorado Rockies

LeMahieu is a bit of a throwback to the second basemen of years past. He is strictly a contact hitter, and one of the best in the game. The Rockies second baseman won the NL batting title last year (albeit by questionable means as he sat out games down the stretch) while also turning in a career-high slugging percentage of .495. Even with the Coors Field advantage, LeMahieu had never slugged above .400 for a full season.

With the Rockies, LeMahieu should continue cranking out .300 seasons with increasing power. His 6’4″ frame suggests untapped power potential remains, and his 32 doubles last year were a career best by 11. The effects of playing in the Mile High City cannot be overlooked when discussing this second baseman, but he did bat .303 on the road last season. He also made strides last year by upping his walk rate by several percentage points.

Hitting with Nolan Arenado and Carlos Gonzalez behind him in one of baseball’s most exciting lineups will ensure that LeMahieu will continue seeing an abundance of fastballs to hit. There is very little reason to expect that he will not contend for more batting titles and All-Star spots in the future. If the Rockies are able to capitalize on their blossoming young pitching, even more eyes will be drawn to the pure swing of DJ LeMahieu who is still slightly under the radar.

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