![Jose Altuve is a career .316 hitter. [Image Source: Flickr | Bryan Green]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2019/2/9/660x290/b_502x220x82/jose-altuve-is-a-career-316-hitter-image-source-flickr-bryan-green_2202035.jpg "Jose Altuve is a career .316 hitter. [Image Source: Flickr | Bryan Green]")
After ranking the projected starting catchers and first basemen in both leagues, it is now time to look at the American League second basemen.
As a subjective list, many of the players can almost be considered interchangeable as to where they are ranked. Projected starters were taken from Roster Resource.
Jose Altuve, Astros
A three-time American League batting champ, Altuve equaled his career .316 average with that same mark in 2018. While he still had a superb season, his 13 homers were much less than the 24 he had in both 2016 and 2017. His 17 steals are well behind the slightly-over 37 that he averaged in the six years prior. That seems like nitpicking thought for the 28-year-old who is still a star player. MLB.com lists him as the top second baseman in fantasy.
Whit Merrifield, Royals
A late bloomer, Merrifield now must be included on the short list of the best second basemen in the game. Now 30 years old, he led the American League in both hits (192) and steals (45) in 2018. He also batted .304 with 12 home runs and 43 doubles. His impressive year gave him a 17th-place finish in American League MVP voting.
