Second Base Dynasty Rankings for Fantasy Baseball

January 28, 2022

Second base (2B) preseason rankings for dynasty fantasy baseball leagues ahead of the 2022 season. Pierre Camus breaks down his ranks based on preseason value and projections.

Although redraft season for fantasy baseball is not upon us yet, dynasty leagues are always active. Those crucial preseason cut/hold decisions are being weighed in order to assess the keeper value of each player on your roster.

To help our readers make the most informed decisions, RotoBaller has updated dynasty baseball rankings, submitted by Brad Camara and myself. While the full rankings are available to Premium subscribers, I'm pulling back the curtain behind my positional rankings with some thoughts behind certain players.

In this article, I'll cover second base. When you're done here, you can find similar breakdowns for first base, third base, and outfield. Keep in mind that many players listed also have eligibility at other positions but I'll primarily cover the ones who are likely to be used at second base. Let's dive into the 2B rankings for dynasty leagues.

Dynasty Second Base Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Preseason Thoughts

Mookie Betts moving back to second base for five glorious starts was one of the more pleasing developments in an otherwise disappointing season for those who roster him. His potential eligibility at a lesser offensive position could offer a lot of roster flexibility. Although his numbers were down across the board, if his hip is right by Opening Day, he should be able to post elite numbers once more hitting ahead of the top second baseman on our list, Trea Turner.

Marcus Semien had a career year at age 30, finishing third in AL MVP voting. It led him to a lucrative contract with the Rangers to pair with Corey Seager at shortstop. That assures Semien will stay at second base and won't see too big of a dropoff in lineup support after leaving Toronto. That doesn't mean there aren't other red flags, though. Semien's 45 HR are likely to decline with the move out of the AL East and into Globe Life Park. The Rangers' offense, while vastly improved this offseason, still isn't the same as the Blue Jays who scored the third-most runs in the majors last year. A drop in counting stats would make a major impact since he batted .265 last year with a .244 xBA. He has a career .243 xBA, so expecting a drop in average is perfectly reasonable. His age isn't a huge concern and he's been mostly an iron man, playing at least 155 games in five of the last six full seasons (he played 53 of 60 games in 2020). Semien can be a fixture at the keystone for another couple of years but keep in mind that his value is at its peak, so dynasty teams not ready to contend right away should consider moving him.

I will continue to be the most bullish on Jazz Chisholm Jr. all the while insisting that my upbringing as a Marlins fan has nothing to do with it. He slid to second base last year after nobody on the Marlins' roster was able to hold down the position, allowing vet Miguel Rojas to provide a reliable glove at shortstop. Chisholm was a top-10 offensive player at second base according to the Razzball Player Rater, averaging $17.7 per game and the fourth-highest $SB. Miami will continue to be among the leaders in stolen base attempts as long as Don Mattingly is in the dugout. ATC projections have him collecting 21 HR and 23 SB this season. His ceiling is higher than that, putting him close to Ozzie Albies territory except for a drop in runs scored. At age 24, he should be a strong asset for years to come.

Vidal Brujan looked very much like a rookie who lost some developmental momentum with the canceled minor-league season in 2020. His average dropped to .262 in 441 plate appearances with the Durham Bulls and that was sparkling compared to his utterly forgettable MLB debut. In 26 at-bats with the Rays in July, Brujan mustered two hits and didn't walk once. The good news is that he got his feet back under him upon being sent back down and he did experience a power spike at the Triple-A level with 12 homers. The calling card is still speed, though. His 28.8 sprint speed (89th percentile) and eagerness to run make him a tempting asset. The lazy comp is Dee Gordon but Brujan has much more pop in his bat that could develop soon if he adjusts to Major League pitching this year.

Nolan Gorman was shifted from third base to second to accommodate Nolan Arenado's forever-long contract. That makes him even more valuable based on his power upside. Gorman cracked 14 HR in 328 PA at Triple-A last year while only striking out 19.2% of the time. He's a good bet to make his big-league debut early in 2022, especially if the Universal DH is approved.

Deeper Options to Watch

Nicky Lopez surely belongs higher! A player who bats .300 and steals 22 bases surely has fantasy value. The problem is that the average is a mirage and the steals will disappear too. Lopez enjoyed a .347 BABIP in 2021 to get to that high average which is a stark contrast to his .269 BABIP the previous two seasons. His .239 xBA, accompanied by an anemic .304 xSLG that is among the worst in the majors, proves that the floor is precipitously low. It's unclear what will happen with Adalberto Mondesi but we know Bobby Witt Jr. is going to hold down either SS or 3B and Whit Merrifield still resides at 2B for now. Lopez is fool's gold.

Michael Chavis isn't getting any more attractive with the move from Boston to Pittsburgh but it could open up a lot more playing time, especially if the DH becomes an option. Chavis has shown some pop but poor plate discipline is a huge issue; he walked one time across 124 plate appearances last year. With consistent playing time and lowered expectations, there could be some usefulness out of his bat, so long as you don't play in a points or OBP league.

The keystone in Washington is up for grabs. Cesar Hernandez was signed to a one-year deal and then former Rays prospect Lucius Fox was claimed off waivers from Baltimore. Then there's Luis Garcia, who was a high-end prospect for the Nats two years ago and is still just 21. Hernandez will eat up at-bats in 2022 but should cede time to Garcia eventually while Fox plays a utility role.

I'd like to think the Orioles acquired Jahmai Jones last year in order to groom him for the starting job but it appears his development stalled out at Double-A. Rougned Odor was signed in the offseason to hold down second base and it appears Ramon Urias will stick in the infield as well. It seems as if Odor has been around forever but he's only 28 years old. You know what you're getting - 20+ homers with an average barely over the .200 mark. The pushed-back left field fence won't affect him much and he's got far more power than Urias, who is already 27 himself.

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