This represents the continuation of a series ranking the Top 10 players at each position for the 2024 season. Next up, we take a look at MLB second basemen.
Given that this is a forward-thinking projection, please remember: if a younger player is on the rise, I will project them to be better. If an older player is on the decline, I will project them to be worse. If a player had a freak awful 2023 season after being on the rise, I will project them to be better as long as there are no off-the-field issues.
Let’s dive in and explore Chris’ top 10 second basemen for the 2024 MLB season. Click here for an archive of other positions.
Honorable Mentions
10. Gleyber Torres
This might be hard to believe, but Torres turns 28 in April. It feels like he’s been in the league for a whole lot longer. Despite “not yet living up to the hype,” he quietly put up his best season since 2019 last year. He hit 25 homers, slashed .273/.347/.453, and had a 123 wRC+. With this said, he took a pretty big step back defensively, contributing -3 DRS. He finished the year ranking 13th in WAR among second basemen.
A lovely piece of defense from Gleyber Torres #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/b6daAUsXfR
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) February 26, 2024
9. Jeff McNeil
The 2022 National League batting champion comes in at No. 9. After a killer 2022 season, McNeil decided to sign an extension for four years and $50 million, keeping him under contract beyond 2023. The Mets were thrilled that he signed the team-friendly deal at the time and were surely even more relieved after his big drop in 2023. McNeil went from slashing .326/.382/.454 with a 141 wRC+ in 2022 to .270/.333/.378 with a 100 wRC+ in 2023. The Mets are surely hoping to find some middle ground between 2022 and 2023 this coming year.
8. Luis Arraez
If I were making this list last May or June, Arraez would probably be No. 3. From the beginning of the season until the end of June, Arraez slashed .390/.442/.481 and had a 150 wRC+. As a matter of fact, for a good amount of the beginning of the season, he was batting well above .400. However, he took a big step back after the All-Star Break when he slashed .314/.335/.465 with a 113 wRC+. Arraez rarely hits for power, only slugging 10 home runs in 2023. On a more positive note, he was solid in the field where his DRS ranked 10th among second basemen. While he demonstrated elite bat-to-ball skills last spring, it’s hard to imagine he’ll replicate that level of performance in 2024.
7. Ozzie Albies
Albies is one of the more underrated second basemen in the league, falling outside of MLB Network’s top 10 players at the position. However, he was filthy last year. Albies hit 33 home runs, slashed .280/.336/.513, and had a 124 wRC+. Even though he was merely mediocre in the field with 0 DRS, the fact that he put up filthy numbers at the plate and was solid on the basepaths on the best team in baseball means he should be a lock for the top 10.
6. Nico Hoerner
The Chicago Cubs second baseman comes in at No. 6. While he is nothing special at the plate, he is fantastic in everything else. Last year, Hoerner hit nine home runs, slashed .283/.346/.383, and had a 102 wRC+. He was also third in DRS amongst second basemen. In addition, he led all second basemen in baserunning runs above average; the gap between first and second was bigger than the gap between second and 10th. Even though you would appreciate his numbers increasing at the plate, it’s the risk you take when your guy is at the top of the league in everything else.
5. Xander Bogaerts
Bogaerts will be playing second base for the first time in his career this year. He has been inconsistent with his quality of play at shortstop for the past couple of years, so shifting to the keystone is an interesting development. As long as he is not horrendous, his production at the plate should make up for whatever “net negative” he will be in the field. Last year, he hit 19 home runs, slashed .285/.350/.440, and delivered a 120 wRC+. Bogaerts will be in a new role both in the field and at the plate (with the loss of Juan Soto), and it will be fascinating to see how he adjusts.
Xander Bogaerts looking smooth on drills at second base. pic.twitter.com/ARdpPw0fMg
— Sammy Levitt (@SammyLev) February 17, 2024
4. Ketel Marte
One of the best stories of 2023 comes in at No. 4. After a massively disappointing season in 2022, Marte bounced back in 2023. He hit 25 home runs and slashed .276/.358/.485. Marte was even better in the playoffs where he had a 146 wRC+. He was just about average in the field with 2.0 DRS. Marte will be 31 in May, so it will be interesting to see if he continues to improve, especially after the Diamondbacks’ unforgettable playoff run.
3. Marcus Semien
Speaking of great stories, Semien comes in at No. 3. The star infielder joined the Rangers in 2022 and had a tough time adjusting, only amassing a 104 wRC+. However, he seemed to be much more comfortable in 2023 as he slugged 29 Home Runs, slashed .276/.348/.478, and had a 124 wRC+. Semien was also second at the position in DRS. Semien would be No. 1 if the two players in front of him weren’t MVP candidates.
2. Jose Altuve
After moving a good amount at the beginning of the season, Altuve surprised no one and lit up the league for the second half. In 90 games, he hit 17 home runs, slashed .311/.393/.522, and had a 154 wRC+. To no one’s surprise, he continued to rake in the playoffs with a 144 wRC+. Altuve is not often put in the MVP conversations with Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, or Aaron Judge, but in a big spot, perhaps nobody is more reliable at the plate than Jose Altuve.
Jose Altuve records his first hit this spring training!
RBI double scores Victor Caratini.
Astros 1-0 in the bottom of the 3rd.#Relentless pic.twitter.com/LKIKcENETA
— Full Seam Ahead (@FullSeamAhead) March 2, 2024
1. Mookie Betts
Betts began to play more second base towards the end of last season, and for the first time in his career, he will not start the upcoming season in the outfield. This will be quite the adjustment, but Betts remains one of the primary faces of baseball and is up for the task. In his limited time last year, he was seventh in DRS amongst second basemen. With more practice in the infield, he will improve. Of course, he is also one of the best hitters in the league. Last year, he hit 39 home runs, slashed .307/.408/.579, and had a 167 wRC+. Despite struggling in the playoffs the past couple of years, when you consider hitting, fielding, baserunning, and all the intangibles you could ask for, you not only have the best second baseman in the league but also one of the best players, period.
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