Second Base Dynasty Rankings For Fantasy Baseball

Justin Raffone takes a look at the 2023 fantasy baseball dynasty rankings at second base. Where should you take the star players? How big is the gap?

Second base was once a position for speed and a little batting average, but that has changed over the years, and it’s now a full-fledged fantasy production machine. It may not boast the power that third base or first base does, and the names may not be as sexy as the shortstop position, but it has good players throughout. 

The top 100 of RotoBaller’s overall dynasty rankings features eight-second basemen, proving it’s a position to be targeted early. There are some deeper options as well, and a second baseman would be a nice choice for your utility or bench spots, especially with some of the names that have versatility. 

This list has 47 names and contains seasoned vets that are still going strong and some youngsters who will be around for years to come. Most of the names on this list will serve you well in some capacity in a dynasty setting, whether for this season or future seasons. Whether you own one of these players or are looking to draft or trade for one of these players. 

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Dynasty Rankings for Second Base Fantasy Baseball 

Preseason Thoughts 

Albies and Chisholm are exciting young players that will be around for a long time. They are costly pieces to a perspective dynasty owner and well worth it. But there are options up and down this list that are all worth their place. The top 10 have really cemented themselves into that spot, but there are others on their tail that would love to jump ahead. Abrams is a big name to watch for me this season, and Lux was also looking like one before his injury.

Gimenez (5) had a breakout season during his first full year in the bigs. He hit 17 homers and stole 20 bases, showing a nice combination of pop and speed during his age-23 season. His wRC+ of 140 was third among second-base-eligible players with at least 400 plate appearances. Though under league average, his 20.1% strikeout rate was a little high. Combine that with his .353 BABIP, and he may be hard-pressed to keep his average near .300. He should be close to a .270 hitter who steals at least 20 bases and chips in close to 20 homers for the foreseeable future, however. 

Torres (8) looked like he was going to be in contention for tops at his position back in 2019, but he has stumbled in subsequent seasons. The power returned for the most part in 2022, so he has that going for him, and he’s still just 26, but the days of being a dynasty cornerstone are probably over. Being 8th at the position and 96th overall is nothing to scoff at, and he’s a useful player in a good lineup. He has the potential to drive in or score 80+ runs and hit 25+ home runs. Torres has some of the best exit velocities in the game and should be able to continue along with his 2022 season, even if he doesn't improve on it and become the superstar he was expected to be. 

India (12) went from a potential star at the position to an afterthought in one season. His hit tool was supposed to be his best tool, but that hasn’t played thus far. In 2021 he had a .326 BABIP and a .269 average. Last season his .305 BABIP dropped his average to .249. His .130 ISO was in between light hitting St. Louis Cardinal Tommy Edman and New York Met Jeff McNeil. That was a far cry from the .190 ISO he posted in 2021. A .190 ISO would have been good for fourth among second basemen with at least 400 plate appearances. Most projections have him somewhere in between his 2021 and 2022 seasons. For a bounce-back year, he needs to cut back on his strikeouts, find his power stroke and commit himself to run more.  

Gorman (16) has a big strikeout problem that needs to be fixed if he wants to live out his potential. He struck out 36.7% of the time in AAA last season and 32.9% in MLB. He walks at a league-average rate and has tremendous power, especially for a second baseman, but he will continue to be a drag on your average at this rate. Even a .352 BABIP in AAA only led to a .275 average last year, and when he hit closer to a league average of .301 BABIP, his average dropped to .226 in the majors. He’s someone who can push for 30 home runs, however, and that’s what you’re chasing here. An average approaching .240 would be a welcome site.  

Other Options

Johnson (22) is one of my favorite prospects right now. He was just taken No. 4 overall in last year’s draft and will be one of the first picks in established dynasty leagues, maybe the first second baseman taken in those leagues. He’s currently listed at 5-foot-7 inches and 175 pounds with little game power, but he’s projected to grow into power in the future and is a toolsy hitter. He played in 23 games after being drafted and stole six bases, but speed isn't his calling card in the future. He has an ETA of 2028, according to FanGraphs, so this is a long play, but one who could ultimately be tops at the position. He’s projected to have a plus hit tool, plus power tool, plus eye, and average speed. 

Busch (35) is a 25-year-old prospect still waiting. That’s mostly because of his fielding deficiencies and not much to do with his hitting. He has a 20-grade fielding tool on FanGraphs but may get the chance to play second base for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season after Gavin Lux was lost for the year. Busch hit 32 homers last year between AA and AAA and has plus power that should play in the majors. He played some left field and DH last season, but the Dodgers are giving him a chance to stick at second base for now. His 0.77 GB/FB ratio in AA shows he’s trying to do damage and will help those power numbers play in the show.  

That’s the roundup for second base. A position I like more and more each year. Power is growing here, and speed is still a part of the game. Albies, Chisholm, Semien, and Altuve are leading the way, but they aren’t the only ones that will produce for you. There may not be as many high-impact prospects now, but names are coming that could rise boards with a productive season or two. All in all, it’s a position of depth and versatility and you should be able to have a few good players at the position on your team.  

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