RADIO
With the All-Star Break approaching, I am here to give you my updated rankings for the second base position.
There may be a few surprises here, but that's generally how we roll at RotoBaller. We'll be releasing updated mid-season rankings for all the positions in the coming week.
Editor’s Note: you can check out all of RotoBaller’s 2015 fantasy baseball mid-season rankings and analysis, which has been updated over the past few days.
More rankings: Starting Pitchers (Part 1), Starting Pitchers (Part 2), First Base (1B), Third Base (3B), Shortstop (SS), Outfield (Part 1), Outfield (Part 2), Catcher (C), Relief Pitchers (RP)
Second Base (2B) Rankings
Tier 1 - Elite
1) Jose Altuve
2) Jason Kipnis
3) Brian Dozier
4) Dee Gordon
There shouldn’t be much of a surprise here, although I do have Dee Gordon ranked at the bottom of this tier despite his being the number one second baseman on ESPN’s Player Rater. Gordon’s game is limited to speed and average, whereas the other three are much more well-rounded hitters. The lowly Marlins offense (made even weaker by an extended Giancarlo Stanton absence) simply doesn’t provide him with enough opportunities for counting stats, which matter most in fantasy.
Altuve is still my top guy despite a recent mini-slump that saw his average dip below .300. His combination of speed, average and runs scored makes him the best option for me, particularly because I think he’s the most likely to sustain his success throughout the length of the season.
You’ll notice Robinson Cano isn’t listed here. Get used to that.
Tier 2 - Excellent
5) Kolten Wong
6) Dustin Pedroia
7) Howie Kendrick
8) Joe Panik
9) D.J. LeMahieu
Kolten Wong is finally panning out for the Cardinals, and I expect him to continue to do so going forward. He’s got 20/20 potential, and is well on his way there with nine homers and eight steals already on the year. His batting average should stay above .275, and at the top/middle of the Cardinals lineup he’ll have plenty of chances to rack up RBIs and runs scored. He should be a lock for top ten production by the end of season.
Joe Panik is probably the most surprising name here, but I truly think he’s deserving of this ranking. He hits in a very capable Giants lineup, giving him plenty of opportunities for runs and RBIs, and he has capitalized on that—he has 30 RBIs and 43 runs scored at this point. His BABIP is a bit high at .331, but considering that Panik is a gifted contact hitter and sustained a .343 BABIP across all 73 games he played in last year, I don’t think his batting average will dip much lower.
Tier 3 - Above Average
10) Ian Kinsler
11) Anthony Rendon
12) Brandon Phillips
13) Matt Duffy
14) Logan Forsythe
15) Cesar Hernandez
Brandon Phillips is quietly having a solid season for the Reds. Leading off for the Reds, he’s got over 30+ RBIs and runs scored, and has already contributed 11 stolen bases. Phillips is a former 20/20 guy, and while I’m not sure he’s still got the power to do that I don’t think 10/20 is out of the question. He could threaten to be a top ten second baseman by the time September rolls around.
Phillies GM Ruben Amaro recently stated that Cesar Hernandez was the team’s best second baseman, and that he’ll start even when Chase Utley returns from the disabled list. I love that this is the case, as Hernandez should maintain a batting average above .280 (it currently sits at .301) and swipe a ton of bags. The Phillies aren’t any good, but Hernandez is a bright spot and should remain so.
Tier 4 - Mid-Range
16) Robinson Cano
17) Neil Walker
18) Devon Travis
19) Josh Harrison
20) Brett Lawrie
21) Marcus Semien
22) Jace Peterson
23) Rougned Odor
THERE’S Robinson Cano. I see him ranked much higher almost everywhere I’ve looked, but I stand by my ranking. Cano has been average at best in 2015, hitting just .253 with six homers and 29 RBIs. He recently revealed that he’s been dealing with acid reflux, which has given him problems eating and subsequently affected his energy levels. I just don’t see how Cano can turn things around at this point, although he’s certainly talented enough to bring his batting average up at least. Get the man some Pepto!
Rougned Odor was absolutely awful in the early stages of 2015, earning a demotion in just a couple months. After tearing up the minors, he was promoted back to the big leagues, and has been tearing it up ever since. In his last 15 games he’s hitting .346 with three homers, two steals, and nine RBIs. I expect him to continue to produce in the second half, and could very well be a top 10 second baseman in the last few months.
Tier 5 - Low-End
24) Alex Guerrero
25) Daniel Murphy
26) Martin Prado
27) Luis Valbuena
28) Johnny Giavotella
29) Danny Espinosa
30) Chris Owings
31) Omar Infante
32) Addison Russell
Luis Valbuena simply doesn’t have enough to his game to justify a ranking any higher than this. He’s already set a career-high in homers, and I don’t believe he can maintain the power levels he’s displayed so far. His batting average flirts with the Mendoza Line, which limits his value significantly (he can’t score or drive in runs if he’s not hitting the ball consistently). The homers are nice for roto leagues, but he’s just not a top-20 second baseman for me.
Addison Russell is in the midst of a pretty bad slump, but you have to temper your expectations from rookies. He’s very talented, and the leash should be long as the Cubs allow him to figure things out. His batting average should go up, and in the Cubs lineup he’ll get his fair share of RBIs and runs scored as it does. Don’t give up on him just yet.
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