If there was a list put together of the people who get the least amount of respect on the baseball field, it would more than likely go umpires, bat boys, first base coach and then second baseman. Second baseman aren’t really all that flashy, very few of them hit for power and in most cases their only use on defense is as a right-side shortstop for when left-handed batter are at the plate. I’m kidding of course. No, second baseman are the second half of most tradition double play duos, they’re the guys who can take the spikes to the leg and walk away from it as the base runner tries to break it up and; most important, they’re they guys you least suspect in the batting order who can do the most damage. Without further ado, here are the 10 best second baseman of the 2013 season.
1. Matt Carpenter St. Louis Cardinals
Carpenter can literally play every position on the field. If you had him on your fantasy team this season you’re a lucky owner. Despite finishing in sixth place for the National league Rookie of the Year Award in 2012 very few gave Carpenter much notice. Too bad, because the name was an absolute one-man wrecking crew as a leadoff hitter for the Cardinals. With only a few games to go in the regular season Carpenter is two hits away from 200 on the season. His 198 hits thus far along with his 125 runs and 55 doubles all lead the NL. He’s also rocking a sweet .324 average, .397 on-base percentage and has 11 dingers. Did I mention he’s a leadoff hitter? Oh, and his glove, it’s solid. He is a potential NL MVP contender, in my honest opinion.
2. Robinson Cano New York Yankees
Despite the fact that he and the Yankees are going to miss the playoffs for only the second time in his career, Cano was the only consistent bright spot in an otherwise lackluster lineup. To nobody’s surprise he led all second baseman with 27 home runs and 105 RBI; it was his 80 runs, .314 average and .384 on-base percentage that impressed most. Cano will be in the top-three for a long time to come, that’s for sure.
3. Brandon Phillips Cincinnati Reds
Most people would like to give Joey Votto all the credit as the leader of the Red, but they would be wrong. Phillips has been moved up and down the batting order but found comfort wherever he hit. His .262 average may not seem that impressive, but his 18 home runs and 102 RBI certainly are. Only Jay Bruce has more RBI with 107. Phillips is also a wizard with the glove, raking up a solid .987 fielding percentage which may surely put him in line for his fourth-career Gold Glove Award. Certainly his between the legs tag on Houston Astros’ shortstop Jonathan Villar will put him at the top of the list.
4. Dustin Pedroia Boston Red Sox
The little engine that could, Pedroia, is one of the hardest-working second baseman to ever play the game. Even though he hasn’t quite matched the success of his 2008 MVP campaign (.326/17/83), he’s certainly come close. In 2013 he’s right on the cusp with a .298 average, nine home runs and 83 RBI. He has also been borderline flawless at the keystone with a .993 fielding percentage and he and his Red Sox just locked up the AL East after rebounding from one of the worst seasons in franchise history in 2012. For everything he and the boys have had to overcome this season, I should have put him higher on the list.
5. Daniel Murphy New York Mets
Believe it or not, there are other players on the Mets not named Matt Harvey and David Wright. Murphy was an unexpected dynamo for the Mets in 2013, not to mention an incredibly productive second baseman. Murphy leads the Mets in hits (182), doubles (36), RBI (76) and runs (92). In fact, when it comes to runs he’s the only player on the Mets with more than 65. Oh! He has also swiped 20 bags which is the sixth-most for second baseman in the Majors. Now, if only he were on a better team…
6. Howie Kendrick Los Angeles Angels
This pick is probably a lot lower on other analysts list; however, with as bad as the Angels ended up being this year, they needed Kendrick a lot more than he needed them. While everything this season was about Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols, many failed to notice Kendrick hitting .302 with 12 home runs and 52 RBI. If that isn’t sexy enough he also swiped six bags, hit four triples and scored 54 runs. And of course the only other person on the Angels to hit for a better average than Kendrick was Trout. Great glove too. Kendrick, not Trout.
7. Jose Altuve Houston Astros
Fantasy owners will love this pick as Altuve is a stolen base wizard with 35 on the year, the most for all second baseman in the Majors. Altuve is also one of two bright spots in the Astros’ lineup next to Jason Castro; however, Altuve hits for a better average (.284) and scores more runs (62). Actually, his 52 RBI aren’t really that bad either, for the Astros that is.
8. Martin Prado Arizona Diamondbacks
Yet another glossed-over player, Prado had a down year based on his standards, but a pretty solid year based on MLB standards. 2011 was the only other time Prado has hit below .301 in a season in which he’s played in at least 78 games. His .281 average in 2013 is complimented well with his 166 hits (second-most on the Dbacks), 79 RBI (second-most on the Dbacks) and 51 strikeouts (lowest on the Dbacks).
9. Jason Kipnis Cleveland Indians
Kipnis has finally come around to be the player that everyone touted him as. Even though he had posted an average over .300 throughout the 2013 season, his current .277 average is decent enough along with his 17 home runs, team-leading 81 RBI, 34 doubles and team-leading 28 stolen bases. The Indians currently have one of the Wild Card spots in the AL secured; no doubt Kipnis was a huge factor in an otherwise stagnant offense for most of the season. His glove, it’s good, but needs improvement.
10. Jed Lowrie Oakland Athletics
Normally, Lowrie would be in the top-three for this list; however, Lowrie has only played in 24 games at second base this season and wouldn’t otherwise qualify. But, the one thing he has going for him is his bat. Lowrie was a bit of a conundrum as most experts thought he was going to suffer a season-ending injury at some point throughout the season. Not only did he prove them wrong, he is currently three doubles away from tying Jason Giambi’s Oakland-based season record for doubles. Lowrie has been one of the catalysts for helping the Athletics repeat as AL West Champions with his .290 average, 15 home runs, 74 RBI and 171 total hits. If he could only fix his glove he might make it higher on a list.