Ranking the projected starting National League second basemen in 2019

Proving 2017 wasn't a fluke, Gennett was named an All-Star for the first time last year. He batted .310 with 23 home runs and 30 doubles. The 28-year-old also drove in over 90 runs for the second straight season. He grades out as an average defensive second baseman. NBC Sports recently spoke of how they expect him to once again put up excellent stats for fantasy baseball.

While his numbers were for better prior to the All-Star break (.281 average, .834 OPS, 21 homers) compared to after (.226 average, .624 OPS, four homers), that is to be somewhat expected for a player who just turned 22 years old. He ended the year with 69 extra-base hits and set a franchise-record for the month of April with 19 of those. Defensive metrics lived his 2018 season at second base.

The 36-year-old Cano joins the Mets via trade after spending the last five years with the Mariners. He was suspended 80 games last year for violating the league's wellness policy but did hit .303 with 10 home runs and 22 doubles in 80 games. Both his average and on-base percentage (.374) were his highest since 2014.

The 28-year-old Taylor came back to earth a bit after a breakout 2017 season, but that doesn't mean he wasn't a vital part of a Dodgers team that advanced to the World Series last year. Starting games at four different positions in 2018, he batted .254 with 17 homers, 35 doubles, and eight triples. With Corey Seager coming back, he is penciled in as the starting second baseman for now where he made only five starts last year.

The 31-year-old Dozier slumped mightily at the plate last year after two excellent years in 2016-17. Those two seasons, he combined to hit .269 with an .871 OPS and 76 homers. Last year with the Twins and Dodgers, he batted just .215 with a .696 OPS and 21 homers. A Gold Glove winner in 2017, he made 12 errors in 2018 after just five the previous year.

Now 37 years old, Zobrist still showed the ability to rake at the plate after a sluggish 2017. Last year, he hit .305 with nine home runs and 28 doubles in 139 games. It was actually the highest average of his career although it was the first time in 11 years that he didn't reach a double-digit homer total. He has always shown defensive versatility throughout his career so don't expect him to be glued just to second base.

Hernandez is entering his seventh season in the league, all with the Phillies. While his .253 average last year was behind his career mark of .256, he easily reached a career-high with 95 walks. He also slugged 15 home runs and stole 19 bases. The 28-year-old didn't grade out great defensively last year according to metrics.

The 27-year-old Frazier has been a regular for the Pirates for the most part each of the last two seasons. In 113 games last year, he went on to hit .277 with 10 home runs and 23 doubles. A solid defensive player, he has also capable of manning all three outfield positions.

Wong isn't elite with the bat, but many believed he was robbed of a Gold Glove last year as he consistently makes the tough plays look routine. In 2018, the 28-year-old batted .249 with nine home runs and 18 doubles. His average and OPS (.720) last year are close to his career numbers of .255 and .705 respectively.

A trade candidate as some point during this season, Castro had a solid first season with Miami in 2018. Turning 29 on March 24, he batted .278 last year with 12 home runs and 32 doubles. Never known for his plate discipline, he also walked a career-high 48 times. The former four-time All-Star has never graded as a plus-defender but doesn't necessarily hurt the team out in the field.

Now 36 years old, Kinsler has put together two subpar seasons in a row at the plate according to his standards. With the Angels and Red Sox last year, he batted .240 with 14 homers and 26 doubles. The .681 OPS he posted was the lowest of his 13-year career. Despite his advanced age, he won the second Gold Glove of his career in 2018.

Flores moves to Arizona after spending his first six MLB seasons playing for the Mets. Last season's .267 average and .736 OPS were right around the 27-year-old's career marks. He hit 11 home runs in 2018, the fourth straight year he has reached double figures. He has started 77 games in his career at second base and has made four errors there.

The 24-year-old Hampson made his MLB debut last year in late July and appeared in 24 games with the big club. In the small sample, he hit .275 with a .796 OPS. He's a career .315 hitter in the minors to go along with 123 stolen bases. Knowing that allows Colorado to believe he can be a perennial .300 hitter especially since his home games will take place at Coors Field.

Panik arguably had his worst season at the plate of his five years in the big leagues last season. While he rarely strikes out (30 times in 392 plate appearances in 2018), he batted .254 with very few extra base hits (four homers, 14 doubles, one triple). Steady in the field, the 2016 Gold Glover made just six errors in 90 starts at second base last year.

Spangenberg (turns 28 on March 16) joins the Brewers after five seasons with the Padres. Never much of an offensive threat, he batted .235 with seven homers in 116 games last year. An average defensive player, he can also fill in at third base when needed.