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The second base position has some elite options at the start of fantasy drafts this year. Mookie Betts, Ozzie Albies, Marcus Semien, and Jose Altuve are all going within the first three rounds.
Betts is the most valuable of the bunch since he is going top five in almost every draft. After that, Albies is going later in the second round, while Semien and Altuve are going somewhere in the third round. All four second basemen are priced appropriately in fantasy leagues in 2024.
However, if you don't draft one of those four in the first couple of rounds, don't worry because there are players going later that you should target. The three second basemen on this list are set to outperform their ADP in 2024. So, let's dive in and find out who they are.
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Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
When I look at the season that Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte is coming off of in 2023 and compare it to his current ADP, it doesn't make much sense. Marte's average ADP across all platforms is 102.4, yet he totaled solid numbers in almost every category last season.
Marte finished the year with a .276 average, 25 home runs, 82 RBI, 26 doubles, nine triples, 94 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across 150 games. Those 25 HRs, 82 RBI, nine triples, and 94 runs scored were his most in a season since 2019. Maybe it was a fluke and that's why his ADP is sitting so low, but there's reason to believe he can continue those numbers into 2024.
Ketel Marte remains one of the games most underrated hitters. 17-for-37 with 4 RBI, leading Spring Training AVG at .459…a vital piece to the Dbacks successful core.
— Discuss Baseball (@discussbaseball) March 17, 2024
For starters, he'll hit atop a Diamondbacks lineup that features plenty of stars. Marte will likely hit behind Corbin Carroll, meaning RBI chances should be there again for the switch-hitting second baseman. He'll also have power hitters like Christian Walker and Joc Pederson hitting behind him, which should keep his runs scored up. Marte ranked top four in both categories last season and appears to have a safe floor because of it.
It was surely a surprising season for Marte, especially in the home run department. He doubled his homer total from the 2022 season (12), and that helped him finish toward the top in fantasy last year. The second baseman will also give fantasy managers solid walk and triple numbers while stealing close to 10 bags. If he can hit between 18 to 25 HRs again this season, he's a steal at his current ninth-round ADP.
Zack Gelof, Oakland Athletics
Oakland A's second baseman Zack Gelof made his MLB debut in July and immediately made a name for himself. He hit 10 home runs in his first 35 games and became the fastest player in team history to hit 10 career HRs. Gelof passed Mark McGwire's 41-game mark, a record he held since 1987.
Gelof finished with 14 HRs in his rookie campaign, but that wasn't the only area he contributed in last year. He also totaled 20 doubles, one triple, 32 RBI, and 14 stolen bases across 69 games. The 69-game sample size might be small, but there's no reason the young second baseman should have an ADP of 139.6.
Zack Gelof with another three-hit day, including a 417-foot homer. He's up to .387 this spring with seven extra-base hits.
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) March 11, 2024
Gelof did everything that he was supposed to do last year and impressed in every department. That has even continued into spring training, where the 24-year-old has a .357 batting average, four HRs, eight RBI, and three doubles. Of course, playing for the A's will limit his upside because RBI chances won't be there, and he likely won't score many runs.
However, Gelof can still contribute elite numbers in categories he can control (home runs, hits, stolen bases, and doubles). He has a nice combination of power and speed, which can help him obtain a 20-20 season. His 11th- to 12th-round ADP is too low for a player who should continue to grow at the plate.
Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays
It hasn't been a great couple of seasons for Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe. Last year, he had just a .231 average with 21 HRs, 68 RBI, 15 doubles, and seven stolen bases across 109 games. The 21 HRs were solid, but Lowe really lacked in most other categories. Still, he's a player who has plenty of upside in the later rounds because of his potential to hit 30-plus home runs and drive in over 80 runs.
Lowe has battled through injuries in his career, including the past two years, where he has played 174 games. If he can stay healthy, though, he can really pay off at his current 275.4 ADP.
Brandon Lowe is very strong.
Stream the action ➡️ https://t.co/3Giw02re7x & Bally Sports app#MLB | #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/27SdGBIXtl
— Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun (@BallySportsFL) March 13, 2024
The last time the 29-year-old stayed healthy for a full year was in 2021. During that season, Lowe played 149 games and totaled 39 HRs, 99 RBI, 31 doubles, and seven stolen bases. Those numbers might not be attainable for the Rays second baseman in 2024, but the metrics suggest a solid year could be in store.
Last season, his average exit velocity (91.4%), barrel rate (10.7%), and hard-hit rate (47.5%) all ranked in the top half of the league. Lowe has also finished with over a 10% walk rate in four straight seasons. If he can stay healthy and play over 125 games, he will certainly outperform his ADP.
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