Ranking the projected 15 starting American League second basemen

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.

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).

Lowe was named an All-Star in 2019 and finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Unfortunately a shin injury limited him to just 82 games. He’s made just four errors in 84 career starts at second base, and he had an excellent .850 OPS in 327 plate appearances last year.

Making his MLB debut on May 24, Biggio showed he still has work to do on the defensive end, but that he’s also a real threat on offense for the foreseeable future. He drew a walk in 16.5 percent of his plate appearances, homered 16 times in 354 at bats, and swiped 14 bags without being caught.

Arraez finished last year sixth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. A high-contact, mostly-singles hitter, he batted .334 and walked more times (34) than he struck out (29). He started mostly at second base last year, but also at left field, third base, and shortstop.

After seven years with the Phillies, Hernandez now joins the American League. He has scored 168 runs over the last two years while also hitting 29 home runs. He has largely rated around average as a second baseman in the field.

While Schoop has an ugly nearly 6-to-1 (231-to-39) strikeout to walk ratio over the last two seasons, he provides pop with the bat that few at his position can. He hit 23 home runs last season and has connected on 101 over the last four years.

Mostly a pinch-hitter throughout his career, La Stella was named an All-Star in 2019. His season effectively ended on July 2 due to a leg injury (did play in two games in late September). Entering last year with just 10 career homers in 818 at bats, he hit 16 in 292 at bats last season.

With just 182 career at bats and a .192 batting average entering 2019, nobody expected Alberto to not just finish eighth in the AL hitting .305, but also strikeout just once every 10.5 at bats (best in the AL). He is a solid infielder who split his time last year between second and third base.

One of the ultimate feast or famine players, Odor led the AL with 178 strikeouts. He also hit 30 home runs, the third time in the last four seasons that he has reached that number. He has alternated fairly good batting averages (.271 in 2016, .253 in 2018) with bad ones (.204 in 2017, .205 in 2019).

Playing every position except first base and catcher last year, Garcia should start off at second base in 2020. On offense; he hit a career-best .279 last year, but he possesses low on-base percentages with just 57 career walks in 1,550 plate appearances (has struck out 379 times).

The 25-year-old Peraza followed up a career-best 2018 with a career-worst 2019. A .284 hitter with 67 steals from 2016-18, he dipped down to .239 with seven stolen bases in 2019. He rarely walks as well, although he does add value with his defensive versatility.

Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reported that Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto has stayed that Long will be the team’s primary second baseman. The 24-year-old hit .263 with a .787 OPS last year in his first action in the major leagues (168 plate appearances).

It really isn’t clear who will be the Athletics’ primary second baseman as other sites list Franklin Barreto and Sheldon Neuse. The 28-year-old Kemp doesn’t strike out that often, plays solid defense, but isn’t much of a threat otherwise as a hitter (career .680 OPS).

Turning 25 on March 13, Lopez made his MLB debut on May 14 of last year. He showed to be pretty sure-handed in the field (both second base and shortstop) but not much of a threat at the plate. A .601 OPS and two homers in 379 at bats are marks that Kansas City hopes he can improve on.