![Jose Altuve is a three-time AL batting champ. [Image Source: Flickr | Bryan Green]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2020/1/30/660x290/b_502x220x82/jose-altuve-is-a-three-time-al-batting-champ-image-source-flickr-bryan-green_2392575.jpg "Jose Altuve is a three-time AL batting champ. [Image Source: Flickr | Bryan Green]")
With less than two months remaining until the 2020 regular season begins, we have been taking a look at the projected starters at each position.
After going through the catchers and first basemen, let’s now rank the projected starting second basemen in the American League. As a subjective list, many of the players can almost be considered interchangeable as to where they are ranked.
Projected lineups were taken from Fangraphs.
Jose Altuve, Astros
Yes, he and his teammates have been embroiled in a cheating scandal, but until we see otherwise, he’s the cream of the crop at his position. While his batting average fell under .300 for the first time since 2013 last year (was .298), the three-time batting champ hit a career-best 31 home runs. He’s at least adequate in the field, but he doesn’t nearly steal as many bags as he did in previous years.
A big complicating factor with any kind of analysis here is that Jose Altuve did not receive the banging signal barely at all and he was one of the Astros' best hitters. Was he really abstaining from the cheating? Or was he receiving the signal a different way? Don't know yet.
— Rob Arthur (@No_Little_Plans) January 30, 2020
DJ LeMahieu, Yankees
While he won a batting crown with the Rockies in 2016, many chalked that up to LeMahieu being able to play his home games at Coors Field. In his first year away from Colorado with the Yankees in 2019, all he did is finish fourth in AL MVP voting, win his first Silver Slugger, reach career-highs in homers (26), RBIs (102), and runs (109), and continue playing excellent defense at second base (won Gold Gloves in 2017 and 2018).
"I just enjoy being a part of Brother Rice again."
— Colin Gay (@ColinGay17) January 29, 2020
I caught up with @DJLeMahieu during the @BroRiceWarriors game against Orchard Lake St. Mary's.
My latest for @HTLsportshttps://t.co/E2euNd0efi
