The second baseman position has been in flux over the past couple of years due to injuries experienced by several star players. However, there is a new crop of elite second basemen emerging in the game, as well as a star player transitioning permanently to the second baseman role. Second base is becoming one of the stronger positions in Major League Baseball owing to great offensive bats. The following top 5 second basemen heading into 2024 are based on both past track records and current performance.
The Best Second Basemen Right Now
Luis Arraez
Major League Baseball’s contact king had a great 2023, leading MLB with a batting average of .354. This is the second year in a row Luis Arraez has led the league in batting average. In 2022, he robbed Aaron Judge of a historic Triple Crown. Arraez’s output this year was even better, with an OPS of .861 and finishing with a WAR of 4.9. He also played strong defense, with a 0.6 defensive WAR to go along with his great hitting performance. He has now been to two All-Star games in a row. In addition, he has also won the Silver Slugger in back-to-back years.
If Luis Arraez were to add more power to his game, he could go higher up the list. He is part of an emerging Miami Marlins team that is brimming with talent, exactly what Arraez will look to capitalize on.
Ketel Marte
After a healthy 2023, Ketel Marte had a great season and put up the numbers we are used to seeing from him. He batted .276 with 25 home runs and an OPS of .844. Marte also finished the year with a WAR of 4.9 and a defensive WAR of 0.6. Marte is an exceptional talent, having led the league in triples back in 2018 with 12. His issue has never been his talent, but rather the injuries that have hampered his development. Over eight full Major League seasons, he has only had two seasons playing in over 150 games.
Will Ketel Marte produce at the same heroic 2023 rate next season?
Tap below to see the projections for Marte’s 2024, and what those numbers mean for the veteran and the #Dbacks ⬇️https://t.co/6udLwvaDqa
— Alex D’Agostino (@AlexDagAZ) January 10, 2024
What Marte needs to focus on is staying healthy and finding a way to be consistent in returning from injury. His talent has always been a part of his game, and with Marte and the Diamondbacks making a surprise World Series appearance in 2023, he will have to stay healthy to spearhead this talented team.
Ozzie Albies
Ozzie Albies was once regarded as one of the more overrated players in Major League Baseball. However, in 2023, he was anything but overrated. Albies had the best year of his career, batting .280 with 33 home runs and an OPS of .849. That is to go along with a WAR of 4.7 and a defensive WAR of 0.5. He is also regarded as one of the best defenders at second base, never having had a season with a negative defensive WAR. The glove has always been there, but his bat had yet to catch up, and this year it finally did.
Albies benefited from hitting in the best lineup in baseball as did many of his teammates. Expectations will increase going into next year as he could have an encore season or potentially an even greater season.
Mookie Betts
Mookie Betts had another monster season in 2023, finishing as runner-up to Ronald Acuna Jr. in NL MVP voting. Betts could have arguably won MVP as he finished the year with a .307 batting average, a career-high 39 home runs, a .987 OPS, and a WAR of 8.3. At the beginning of 2023, Betts was projected to be the Dodgers’ right fielder. However, due to injuries, he played second base and shortstop. Betts played at a very high level defensively and finished the year with a 0.8 defensive WAR.
Going into 2024, Betts is projected to be the starting second baseman for the Dodgers, and Shohei Ohtani will be playing right field. If Betts has another year similar to 2023, he will all but cement his place in Cooperstown and should win an MVP.
Marcus Semien
What hasn’t been said about Marcus Semien? He is the best second baseman in the game and a part of the best middle infield in baseball with Corey Seager. Semien has led the league in games played for each of the four full major league seasons. That goes along with a .276 batting average, 29 home runs, an OPS of .826, and a WAR of 7.4. If that wasn’t enough, he is arguably the best defender at the position, finishing 2023 with a 2.3 defensive WAR.
If Semien can avoid his every other-year slump, he can win the AL MVP. There are very few players in Major League Baseball who are great with the bat and great with the glove, all while staying healthy and providing timely hits like Semien.
Photo Credit: Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images
