Fantasy Baseball 2019 Second Baseman Rankings
By Bill Pivetz
You should be able to find a good second baseman for your fantasy baseball team regardless of where you draft one.
The second base position has seen its player pool become a bit deeper over the last couple of years. Whether it’s because of the young players making an impact earlier than expected or more players becoming second base eligible, you should be able to find a reliable second baseman for your fantasy baseball team.
Unlike first base, your second baseman will provide you with batting average and speed. If you’re lucky, you may draft a second baseman that can give you 20 home runs. However, only eight second basemen reached that number last season while 16 had at least 10 steals. Six batters reached a .290 average and another nine hit .260 or better.
If you play in a points league and strikeouts count negatively against your team, there are a few second basemen who struck out over 100 times, 16 to be exact. One even reached the 200-strikeout mark.
All of the top second base free agents have signed and their values are based on their new home park, lineup support and opposing pitching. Some will see an improvement while others may fall in the rankings.
Like my first basemen rankings, when ranking the players for the rest of the hitter positions, any player with multi-position eligibility will be listed only once at what I think their primary or most played position will be to start the season. There are a couple of players that may move throughout the season but I can’t predict the future.
Here are my top-30 second basemen for the upcoming fantasy baseball season.
30. Jason Kipnis – Kipnis is in the back-half of his career. He posted back-to-back seasons with a batting average under .235. He saw an uptick in games played and power numbers. With the lineup around him, Kipnis can still perform. Just don’t expect a full season. He’ll hit 18 home runs with a .245 average. That’s good to be drafted as a utility or middle infielder.
29. Jeff McNeil – His value has declined throughout the offseason. First, the Mets trade for Robinson Cano. Next, they sign Jed Lowrie. McNeil is currently listed as a bench player. Lowrie at third base, Cano at second and Todd Frazier at first base. I think McNeil will carve out a role for himself but without a guarantee, you can’t draft him too high.
28. Eduardo Nunez – Nunez is another bench player that could find himself with another 500 plate appearances. With Dustin Pedroia getting up there in age and Rafael Devers not looking great in his first full season, Nunez is a valuable asset. Though, as with McNeil, it’s hard to draft him as anything more than bench fodder.
27. Starlin Castro – If Castro was still in New York, he’d be a lot higher. Unfortunately, he’s stuck in Miami (for now). That didn’t affect my ranking for JT Realmuto, but it does hurt Castro’s a bit. Castro will be hitting atop the Marlins lineup and he’ll get on base a good amount of time. Though, he’ll have to rely on his teammates to drive him in.
26. Joey Wendle – Wendle is one of my 2019 sleepers. He had a good first season with a .300 average, seven home runs, 61 RBIs and 16 steals. The Rays added a couple of solid pieces this offseason, so he’ll have someone to drive him home. All of the projections say Wendle will see a drop in batting average. A 9 HR/60 RBI/.270/13 SB line is an average of all of the projections. Not bad for your second or third second baseman.
Fantasy Baseball 2019 Second Baseman Rankings
This group features players with multi-position eligibility. I like having a few of these guys in my lineup in case of injuries later in the season.
25. Ketel Marte – Marte will be hitting atop the Diamondbacks lineup in 2019. The loss of Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock will hurt the lineup a bit but they still have some productive hitters. The addition of Wilmer Flores makes things interesting. Marte will have second base eligibility, but will likely gain outfield as well. He’ll hit 13 home runs, 60 RBIs and .270 with seven steals. I would probably take Wendle over him but it’s close.
24. Ian Kinsler – Kinsler will start the season in San Diego. The front office is trying to compete but the Eric Hosmer signing doesn’t look good after one year. Kinsler is 36 years old and is on the decline of his career. The move to Petco Park won’t help his power and his injury history will hurt his value. If he can reach 130 games, he’ll hit 15 home runs, 60 RBIs and .250. Not someone you look forward to having on your fantasy baseball team.
23. Wilmer Flores – Speaking of Flores, he’ll be hitting in the power-stifling park of Chase Field. Despite not getting consistent playing time with the Mets, he was able to put up some good numbers. Flores can hit for double-digit home runs with good contact and a low strikeout rate. With his multi-position eligibility, Flores can be a good value pick later in the draft.
22. Chris Taylor – Taylor is one of two utility players for the Dodgers. Taylor bounced around the outfield, shortstop and second base last season. He is listed as the starting second baseman. Taylor is one of the few high-power, low batting average options at the position. He’s got a good lineup around him so 17 home runs, 65 RBIs and a .252 average is a good starting point for expectations. Plus, you can slot him at shortstop or outfield if needed.
21. Ian Happ – In his second season in the majors, Happ saw a big decline in his power numbers. Though, he did raise his walk rate. Happ is listed as the starting center fielder but holds second and third base eligibility as well. As the Cubs No. 8 hitter, he’ll drive in the power hitters. Happ is another late-round pick worth having for the flexibility.
Fantasy Baseball 2019 Second Baseman Rankings
A few of the players in this group find themselves in a new environment. How will that play into their fantasy baseball value?
20. DJ LeMahieu – LeMahieu will be playing outside the confines of Coors Field this season. Though, moving to Yankee Stadium is a good consolation prize. The Yankees have made a few moves to offset the loss of Didi Gregorius. Roster Resource lists LeMahieu has the starting second baseman and No. 9 hitter. But with Miguel Andujar, Gleyber Torres and Luke Voit ahead of him, LeMahieu will get his chance at RBIs. Things will get interesting when Gregorius returns.
19. Cesar Hernandez – Hernandez quietly hit 15 home runs and scored 91 runs. The Phillies made some lineup improvements with Jean Segura and Andrew McCutchen. At the Phillies leadoff hitter, another 90 runs are possible. He’ll pair that with 11 home runs and a .260 average. Runs tend to be forgotten but are important if you play in Roto leagues. Can’t punt more than one stat if you want to compete.
18. Jonathan Schoop – The Twins made a few improvements to their offense. They added Nelson Cruz, CJ Cron and Schoop. He had a down year after his All-Star 2017 season. Schoop still hit 21 home runs and 61 RBIs. Hitting down in the order for the Twins, Schoop should reach another 20 home runs with 70 RBIs and a .260 average.
17. Jurickson Profar – Profar stays in the AL West but this season is with the A’s. He is the replacement for Jed Lowrie. Profar had his best season last year, playing in 146 games and hitting .254 with 20 home runs, 77 RBIs, 82 runs and 10 steals. Familiarity with the parks and a better lineup around him will help Profar’s fantasy value. A 16 HR/70 RBI/.260/ 8 SB line is good for the soon-to-be 26-year old.
16. Yoan Moncada – Moncada is the only second baseman to reach 200 strikeouts last season. He did hit 17 homers and 61 RBIs. Though, with the strikeouts comes a low batting average. Moncada has back-to-back seasons with at least a 32 percent strikeout rate. His power numbers will continue to increase but the batting average will stay around .240. Moncada is a good source of cheap power.
Fantasy Baseball 2019 Second Baseman Rankings
The players in this group have had roller-coaster seasons. Can you trust the numbers they put up in 2018 or will this season be something new for these players?
15. Jonathan Villar – Villar is the second baseman to target if you need steals. He finished with 35 between his time with the Brewers and Orioles. He may not reach the 62 he had in 2016, but something in the high 30s is a good target. Villar will have some power, low teens, but the RBI and run totals will be low due to his teammates.
14. Brian Dozier – The Nationals have a deep bench, which may hurt Dozier’s value in 2019. Howie Kendrick and Wilmer Difo could see some playing time at second base. Dozier, like some of the other options in this tier, will hit for power and a low-ish batting average. If he can get to 130 games, 25 home runs, 70 RBIs and a .242 average is likely.
13. Rougned Odor – Odor has been all over the place with his numbers during his five-year career. He hit .271 with 33 home runs in 2016 to then hit .204 and 30 the following season. Odor posted a .253/18 HR line last season. This year, without the protection of Adrian Beltre in the lineup, he may see an increase in walks. Though, the rest of the Rangers lineup isn’t that bad. Odor should hit 22 home runs, 70 RBIs and .250.
12. Jose Peraza – Peraza saw a nice jump in his power numbers. He hit fewer ground balls and more fly balls last season. It helps that he plays half of his games at Great American Ballpark. With the moves the Reds front office made to improve the offense, Peraza should maintain his level of RBI and run production with 14 home runs and a .280 average.
11. Max Muncy – Unless the Dodgers make another move, Muncy is listed as the starting first baseman. He exploded onto the scene last season with 35 home runs 79 RBIs and a .263 average. He will find a way into the Dodgers lineup regardless of where he plays. I do see a drop in home runs to something closer to 26 or 27 with another 75 RBIs and .255 average.
Fantasy Baseball 2019 Second Baseman Rankings
The players in this group are a mixed bag. There are some older veterans that can still perform with a couple of young players ready to take the torch.
10. Robinson Cano – Cano moving to New York is an interesting move. He leaves a more hitter-friendly park in Safeco T-Mobile Park compared to Citi Field. Though, he will benefit some by playing in Citizens Bank Park and Nationals Park. Though, at 36 years old, Cano has seen a drop in his fly ball rate. I don’t think he hits near .300 again but a .278 average with 23 home runs and 80 RBIs is good, especially when compared to players in this tier.
9. Dee Gordon – Gordon will take back second base duties with the departure of Cano. He will be hitting at the bottom of the Mariners order as the “second” leadoff hitter with Mallex Smith at leadoff. Gordon won’t steal 60 bases again but he’ll get to 35 while hitting .275 and rack up 160 hits. He’s one of the few second basemen with low power numbers so stock up on power early if you want Gordon.
8. Adalberto Mondesi – In just 75 games last season, Mondesi hit 14 home runs, 37 RBIs and .276 with 32 steals. If you pro-rate that over a full season, that equates to 30 homers, 68 steals and 100 RBIs. If he reaches those numbers, he’ll be a top-10 overall player. But, until we see it, temper your expectations. He does play for Kansas City and their roster is one of the worst. He also qualifies at shortstop.
7. Gleyber Torres – Until Gregorius comes back, Torres will slot over to shortstop. He had a great first season with 24 home runs, 77 RBIs and a .271 average. With the lineup the Yankees have and the small ballpark, Torres will hit another 22-plus home runs with 80 RBIs and a .265 average. He won’t give you speed. Then again, the Yankees as a whole don’t run much.
6. Daniel Murphy – Murphy signed with Colorado this offseason. While Roster Resource has him as their first baseman, I think he’ll play some second base with Garrett Hampson also getting some playing time. We know the effect Coors Field can have on a hitter and Murphy will benefit greatly. Expect .303 average with 22 home runs and 80 RBIs. Getting first base eligibility will help him even more.
Fantasy Baseball 2019 Second Baseman Rankings
Ozzie Albies had a great full season with the Braves. He hit 24 home runs, 40 doubles, 72 RBIs and .261 in 158 games. The Braves front office added Brian McCann and Josh Donaldson to help Albies and the rest of the Braves lineup.
Albies was never a power hitter in the minors, totaling 16 home runs in four years. He maintained good walk and strikeout rates during the minors and hasn’t strayed too far away in the majors so far.
Albies is slated to hit sixth behind the Ronald Acuna and Nick Markakis. That will give him a great chance to drive in 80 runs. He will also hit another 20 home runs but most of them will be on the road due to SunTrust Park not being hitter friendly.
Whether it’s because fantasy baseball owners think there is a drop off in skill among second basemen or they believe in Albies’ skills, he has a 56.4 ADP, sixth round in 10-team leagues. He is the fifth second baseman coming off the board as of now.
Albies will hit 20 home runs, 72 RBIs and .273 in a full season. That’s a solid stat line from a 22-year-old.
Fantasy Baseball 2019 Second Baseman Rankings
I already talked about the new Reds lineup and the benefit of Great American Ballpark. I have Scooter Gennett ranked as my No. 4 second baseman, a lot higher than a lot of other people.
He proved me wrong again last season. While his power dropped to just 23 home runs, he drove in 92 runs while hitting .310, the second highest among second basemen.
Gennett is slowly dropping his strikeout rate while keeping the same walk rate. His batted ball profile has stayed within percentage points over the last three seasons. If he can get his ground ball rate below 40 percent, then his average could reach .320, but that’s just nitpicking.
Gennett will finish with a .280 average with 23 home runs and 85 RBIs. He’s being drafted in the 10th round with a 99.2 ADP. That’s great value in the middle of the draft.
Fantasy Baseball 2019 Second Baseman Rankings
Whit Merrifield and the Royals agreed to a four-year extension, taking care of three of his arbitration years. The Royals may not have the best lineup, but keeping Merrifield in the lineup helps everyone around him.
Merrifield finished with 12 home runs, 60 RBIs, .304 average and 45 steals. He also racked up 192 hits. He led the league in steals and hits, beating out Freddie Freeman by one.
Merrifield is slotted to hit third in the Royals lineup, between Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez. It’s not a bad spot but if you have him, you better hope Mondesi and Gordon get on base. If not, Merrifield won’t get many RBIs.
Kauffman Stadium, and the rest of the AL Central parks, does not favor hitters. Then again, outside of the Cleveland Indians, the pitching staffs aren’t that great either. Which one cancels out the other? I think the lack of pitching wins out and will benefit Merrifield.
Merrifield has a 45.6 ADP as a fifth-round pick in standard leagues. He will rack up the hits and steals, something lacking in the league.
Fantasy Baseball 2019 Second Baseman Rankings
Javier Baez was in the MVP conversation at the end of the season. In 160 games, he crushed 34 home runs, 111 RBIs, 101 runs and a .290 average. He also stole 21 bases. Baez finished third in total RBIs and 17th in runs scored.
Baez is listed as the Cubs clean-up hitter, a perfect spot for him to continue his success. He’ll hit between Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber. With this team, there’s no way Baez doesn’t drive in another 100 runs and score 100 himself.
Over the last three seasons, Baez posted a ground ball rate of at least 44 percent. His fly ball rate has dropped and his line drive rate went up. Though, his HR/FB went up. So, the fly balls he’s hitting are turning more into home runs.
Fantasy baseball owners are buying into Baez as he’s a second-round pick in ESPN leagues and the second second baseman off the board.
The projections say he won’t reach 100 RBIs again but get close with 95. A 30 HR/95 RBI/.270 line is not out of the question.
Fantasy Baseball 2019 Second Baseman Rankings
After the year Baez had, it’s hard not to put him at the top. However, Jose Altuve continues to produce power, contact and speed. He led all second basemen with a .316 average, finished sixth in steals and 13th in home runs. If you use OBP, Altuve also led that category.
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The lack of power and speed last season could be attributed to his injury. He missed 20 games and didn’t reach 20 steals for the first time since 2011. He’ll be back to his normal stat line after 150 games played.
Altuve is slated to hit third in the Astros lineup, between Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa. That’s a dangerous trio. Add in George Springer and Michael Brantley on either side and I would hate to be an opposing starting pitcher.
Altuve should get close to 20 home runs with 80 RBIs, a .320 average and 21 steals. The batting average and hits push him to the top of my rankings. You can make up power later but it’ll be hard to find batting average in Round 20.
Second base has a lot of talent. You can get some good value for both your starting and bench options from this player pool. The multi-position eligibility from a lot of these players helps with lineup flexibility when players start to get hurt.
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The next position up is third base. Stay tuned!