Leandre: Top 30 second basemen entering 2024, 10-1
Rounding out the top 30 second basemen entering 2024 is a class featuring multiple Hall-of-Fame caliber players
As the top 30 second basemen entering 2024 draws near its conclusion, it’s important to reiterate a point made in Part 1 of this positional ranking.
This position is loaded.
Many players within the teens of this ranking had genuine arguments to rank near the top 10.
Similar to how I felt about catchers, it’s crazy to think about how far this league has come concerning the depth of the position.
Before diving into what is a loaded top 10, let’s recap the 10 from Part 2 of this top 30 ranking.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 second basemen entering the 2024 Major League Baseball season.
10. Edouard Julien — Minnesota Twins
The World Baseball Classic put Julien on the map entering the 2023 season. Among players with at least 10 at-bats, he was second in batting average and on-base percentage while leading in slugging percentage.
That level of production translated to his first MLB season, where he hit 16 home runs and posted a 136 wRC+ in 109 games.
While he wasn’t exemplary on the defensive side of the ball, -3 defensive runs saved with zero outs above average is nothing to scoff at. Regardless, he posted 2.8 fWAR — which ranked in a 14th-place tie — despite ranking tied for 27th in games played.
9. Matt McLain — Cincinnati Reds
It’s confusing to decipher what the Reds infield will look like. However, it’s pretty clear McClain ends up at second base with Elly De La Cruz and Jeimer Candelario on the left side.
He only played 37 games at second base a season ago. In 296 innings, he posted zero defensive runs saved and outs above average apiece.
Offensively, he slashed .290/.357/.507 with a .370 wOBA and 16 homers in 89 games. He also posted 3.2 fWAR, which ranked fifth among all rookie position players depite ranking 35th in games played.
8. Zack Gelof — Oakland Athletics
Strikeout issues have followed Gelof throughout the minor leagues, but that didn’t hamper his production at the MLB level last year.
Over 69 games, he posted a 133 wRC+, 2.9 fWAR and three outs above average.
On a roster devoid of talent, the opportunity for Gelof to shine is extensive. For the A’s, it’s starting to look like a core is developing in the majors between Gelof, Ryan Noda and Brent Rooker.
7. Xander Bogaerts — San Diego Padres
Until a few weeks ago, Bogaerts was expected to remain at shortstop for the Padres in 2024.
However, he’s been playing second base this spring with Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop and will continue to do so into the season.
Last year was full of struggles for Bogaerts in Year 1 in San Diego. That said, he tore the cover off of the ball in September and October. Across 115 plate appearances, he slashed .417/.452/.670 with 16 extra-base hits and a 204 wRC+.
He also battled a wrist injury that he received shots for to alleviate pain. If his wrist is healthy, there’s a decent chance he returns to the form he was in for nearly a decade with the Boston Red Sox.
Lastly, I think this position switch was a long time coming for Bogaerts, who is historically not a very good shortstop. Even if he was a good shortstop, Kim is a much better one.
6. Ozzie Albies — Atlanta Braves
I can’t help but wonder what Albies’ numbers would look like if he only hit right-handed.
Last season, he slashed .391/.406/.617 with a 174 wRC+ and 18 extra-base hits in 133 plate appearances. For his career, he’s a 145 wRC+ hitter right-handed compared to a 98 wRC+ as a left-hander.
Anyway, in his last two healthy seasons he posted 7.9 fWAR and 63 homers in 204 games.
Defensively, outs above average likes him historically — though not in 2023. He’s a decent defender with elite power, especially for a second baseman.
5. Jose Altuve — Houston Astros
Until Altuve has a bad season, he’s pretty much a lock to stay in the top five for second basemen.
Last year, injuries limited him to 90 games but he slashed .311/.393/.522 with 17 homers, 154 wRC+ and 4.0 fWAR. This comes off of a season he posted a 164 wRC+ and 6.6 fWAR.
He’s churned out -28 defensive runs saved the past two seasons, but zero outs above average. So, your opinion on him as a defender will greatly vary depending on which defensive metric you prefer. For me, I think he’s still a capable defender with a bat that *way* more than makes up for any deficiencies with the glove.
4. Ketel Marte — Arizona Diamondbacks
It was a proud papa moment for me watching Marte rebound in 2023.
While he wasn’t the MVP-caliber player he was in 2019 and, when healthy, in 2021. In 150 games, he slashed .276/.358/.485 with a 127 wRC+, 25 homers, 82 driven in and 4.2 fWAR.
He also was a postseason hero, posting a 146 wRC+ in 79 plate appearances. En route to the NL pennant, he had several timely hits including a walkoff against the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS.
3. Nico Hoerner — Chicago Cubs
Despite not being an elite hitter, Hoerner does everything else at an elite level.
Last year was his second consecutive campaign with at least four wins above replacement. Not only that, but he put up 43 stolen bases, 9.7 base runs, 12 defensive runs saved and 14 outs above average.
He and Dansby Swanson comprise one of the best middle infields in the league, especially defensively, but Hoerner’s offense is more than serviceable to emphasize his strengths.
2. Marcus Semien — Texas Rangers
Semien has been more than worth the money Texas paid him before the 2022 season.
Not only was he an MVP finalist in 2023, but he’s posted 10.3 fWAR, 55 home runs, 39 stolen bases and 183 runs batted in.
Not only is he an exceptional hitter, but he’s also a top-flight defender at second base. Last year, he put up 16 defensive runs saved and 13 outs above average. The year before that, he posted 11 defensive runs saved and eight outs above average.
He impacts winning in all facets, which is something only a few players in this sport do.
1. Mookie Betts — Los Angeles Dodgers
All Betts had to do to lock up the No. 1 spot was prove he could handle the position defensively.
His offense is elite, but him being a bad defender would hurt his value even more than losing the positional adjustment by forgoing playing right field in 2024.
Betts posted six defensive runs saved in less than 500 innings there. That, mixed with his 167 wRC+ and 39 home runs and who else would rank No. 1?
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