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Welcome back, RotoBallers. I've already looked at the top 10 prospects for each MLB team, and now I'll be breaking down impact prospects by position. Today I'm bringing you my top 10 second basemen - dynasty prospect rankings for 2017 dynasty baseball leagues.
It has taken some time, but the position of second base is actually starting to look like one of the premier positions to find fantasy talents. You’ve got veterans like Robinson Cano, Dustin Pedroia and Ian Kinsler who have just continued to rake into their mid-30s, as well as up-and-coming young stars like D.J. LeMahieu, Jose Altuve and Devon Travis.
Though the majors have a lot of talented second basemen, the minors are still getting there. Though there are several prospects who have a ton of talent and look like fantasy studs, the position lacks the depth that other positions like third base and shortstop have. With that said, there are a few shortstop prospects who may find themselves over here eventually. I’ve already put Isan Diaz in this category (he’s not pushing aside Orlando Arcia any time soon) and Franklin Barreto looks poised to join him in making the position change soon as well (though for now, Barreto still has a decent chance of staying at shortstop and thus will not appear on this list). But, there are still some solid second base prospects to own here including a few studs that dynasty owners should be sure to take note of.
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Top 10 Second Base Prospects for 2017 Dynasty Baseball Leagues
1. Yoan Moncada (CWS, MLB)
Stats: (from AA) 207 PA, .277/.379/.531, 11 HR, 9 SB, 13.0% BB rate, 30.9% K rate
ETA: May 2017
We all knew who this was going to be. If you want to own any second base prospect at all, you want to own Moncada. The comparison that has come up over and over again for the new White Sox franchise second baseman is Robinson Cano with more speed. Moncada has all the tools necessary to be a future 30/30 threat in the majors with the chance to throw in a .300+ batting average. He may be the top fantasy prospect in all of baseball, let alone the position of second base. If you have a chance to add him, do it right now.
2. Ozzie Albies (ATL, AAA)
Stats: 247 PA, .248/.307/.351, 2 HR, 9 SB, 7.7% BB rate, 15.8% K rate
ETA: Late 2017
Albies is not nearly as exciting of a prospect as Moncada, but there’s plenty of reasons to own him in your dynasty league. The switch-hitter has demonstrated all the necessary tools to be a future leadoff hitter, demonstrating not only an ability to make consistent, hard contact, but also flashing plus-plus speed that should allow him to steal 35+ bases in a full season of work. He does not have much power, but Albies should contribute more than enough in the batting average, stolen base and runs scored categories to warrant ownership in all leagues, especially with his debut likely coming this season.
3. Ian Happ (CHC, AA)
Stats: 274 PA, .262/.318/.415, 8 HR, 6 SB, 7.3% BB rate, 21.9% K rate
ETA: Late 2017/Early 2018
Poor Happ. This guy should be in the majors by now and probably would be if the Cubs weren’t so dang stacked at every position. Happ can play all over the field, which ordinarily would give him an edge, but he is basically the same type of player as Ben Zobrist who too is now just a super-utility player at the big-league level. But Happ will get his chance eventually and when he does, fantasy owners will be in for a treat. Happ does not quite have the power/speed combination of Moncada, but he has probably the next best thing. He still has plenty of pop and speed and could be a future 20/20 threat. Happ is also disciplined and makes consistent contact, two traits that should aid him in hitting for a high batting average. He is a special prospect and should be a great fantasy producer at whatever position he makes it to the majors.
4. Willie Calhoun (LAD, AA)
Stats: 560 PA, .254/.318/.469, 27 HR, 0 SB, 8.0% BB rate, 11.6% K rate
ETA: Late 2017/Early 2018
The Dodgers have one of the most interesting second base prospects in baseball. Typically when you see a power-hitting prospect, that player is going to have issues with strikeouts. Calhoun, however, mashed 27 home runs while striking out under 12 percent of the time. That is certainly rare for any power-hitting prospect. Scouts have praised not only his insane power potential, but also his ability to make consistent contact and promising discipline. Calhoun appears to be a very promising second base prospect with some serious thunder and once he gets a chance to start (he will have to wait a bit with both Logan Forsythe and Chase Utley in the majors), he should be a must-own fantasy prospect.
5. Isan Diaz (MIL, A)
Stats: 587 PA, .264/.358/.469, 20 HR, 11 SB, 12.3% BB rate, 25.2% K rate
ETA: Late 2018
Over the past two seasons, Diaz has burst onto the prospect scene. He has flashed what appears to be a very solid power/speed combination with a definite emphasis on the power. Diaz still struggles to make consistent contact, but he is patient and has the plate discipline to still get on base at a decent rate. Though Diaz has gone through his career as a shortstop, he will soon be shifting to second base permanently as the Brewers prepare him to become the double-play partner to Orlando Arcia. With his power and decent speed, he could be a potent fantasy producer at second base.
6. Travis Demeritte (ATL, A+)
Stats: 530 PA, .266/.361/.554, 28 HR, 17 SB, 12.6% BB rate, 33.0% K rate
ETA: Late 2018
The Braves have two second base prospects who are practically opposites. Albies is a contact-first, speedy second baseman who has a future as a leadoff hitter, while Demeritte is a slugging, middle-of-the-lineup slugger who sacrifices consistent contact for power. Demeritte could be a premier power-hitter at second base with the strength to hit 25+ home runs annually at the position, but he will a) need to prove that he can make more consistent contact and b) stay at the position and not get moved over to third. If he stays in Atlanta, third base will be his future home. His power bat would profile well there, but obviously fantasy owners would rather him stay at second base.
7. Andy Ibanez (TEX, AA)
Stats: 340 PA, .261/.318/.391, 6 HR, 5 SB, 7.4% BB rate, 13.8% K rate
ETA: Late 2017/Early 2018
Ibanez is a solid, low-risk/low-reward second base prospect. He possesses a solid power/speed combination that is capable of putting up 15/15 seasons with a decent .270-.290 batting average. His plate discipline has always been outstanding and has been the subject of a great deal of praise from scouts, leading many to believe he should find his way to the majors at some point. He is not necessarily a must-own prospect since he lacks any explosive too, but he should be a solid big-league regular and decent depth piece for fantasy owners.
8. Forrest Wall (COL, A+)
Stats: 521 PA, .264/.329/.355, 6 HR, 22 SB, 7.9% BB rate, 18.6% K rate
ETA: Late 2018
Listen, Wall has had his issues in the past. He has not always hit very well and he is not a great defender. But anytime you are talking about a guy with even fringe power and above-average speed playing in Coors Field, he is going to get a huge fantasy boost. In a vacuum, Wall is a .270 hitter with five to 10 home runs and 15 to 20 stolen bases. In Coors Field, he might hit .280 with 10 to 15 home runs with 20 stolen bases. He really needs to have a good 2017 season after a down year in 2016 if he even wants to have hopes of reaching Coors Field. Should he make it to Colorado, he could be a special second base prospect.
9. Eliezer Alvarez (STL, A)
Stats: 499 PA, .323/.404/.476, 6 HR, 36 SB, 10.6% BB rate, 19.2% K rate
ETA: Mid-2018
Did you like Ozzie Albies, but found out he’s already owned in your league? Then let me introduce you to Diet Albies, Eliezer Alvarez. Alvarez is a speedy second baseman with a contact-first approach. He profiles as a future leadoff hitter similar to Albies where he might be able to hit for a decent .280 average and steal 25-35 bases. He still needs to prove he can hit the higher levels of the minors, but he has the skillset to move up this list and help fantasy owners down the road.
10. Shedric Long (CIN, A+)
Stats: 159 PA, .322/.371/.503, 4 HR, 5 SB, 6.3% BB rate, 22.0% K rate
ETA: Late 2018
Who on Earth is Shedric Long? Well, he is a guy who hit .293 with 15 homers and 21 stolen bases in 132 MiLB games this past season and has started to make a name for himself among second base prospects. Scouts are very high on Long, seeing a potential starting second baseman with the ability to post 15/20 seasons with a decent batting average. Long needs to make improvements with his plate discipline, but he could challenge Dillson Herrera down the road for the starting second base spot in a couple seasons.
