Top 15 Second Basemen

by ravensfan3 on Feb 14, 2026 2:05 AM EST Comment 25 comments

ProspectJunkies.com did a writeup on their top 15 second basemen. I believe 2B is the weakest position in the minors.

Second base is perhaps the weakest position in the minor leagues but I still see several MLB regulars in this list. The issue with ranking second base prospects parallels that of ranking first baseman in that it's quite possible that the top 2 or 3 minor league prospects at this position may currently be playing another position in the minor leagues. Several of the top shortstops in minor league baseball will have long and productive careers at second base in the Majors, but you won't find them on this list as I attempted to stay pretty loyal to where each prospect is currently playing.

Bats - Throws - Height - Weight - Team - D.O.B

1. Brett Lawrie - R-R - 5'11 200 - MIL - 1.18.90. Drafted as a prep catcher with the 16th overall pick in 2008, Lawrie was already a Canadian legend, making the Olympic team that same year at just 18. Lawrie's pro career behind the plate didn't last long and he moved to second base and it's questionable that he'll stay there. He hit 13 HR last season and he projects to hit for more power down the road. He stole 19 bags last year but considering that he was caught stealing 13 times, I'm guessing he'll have a tighter leash on the base paths this season. He's not quite as athletic as your typical 2B defensively, and he posted a below average .964 fielding percentage there in the Low A Midwest League last season. The true thunder in his bat aided by his large forearms makes him the top prospect at this position.

2. Todd Frazier - R-R - 6'3 215 - CIN - 2.12.86. If Todd Frazier were in 29 other organizations, I'm not sure any one of them would see him as a second basemen but Cincinnati does so I'll respect their decision and rank him at this position. I recently read that the Redlegs will give him the opportunity to win a job in LF for the big league club this season and has played 87 games out there in the past 2 seasons. A doubles machine, Frazier smacked 45 two baggers between AA and AAA last season to go with his 16 HR and his .480 SLG. He doesn't strike out at an alarming rate (15%) but I'd like to see him improve his 8.5% walk rate. I think he'll start the season at AAA Louisville but his bat will force him into the Queen City sometime after the All Star Break.

Click here to read the rest.

Do you think 2B is the weakest position in the minors?

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Read More: Brett Lawrie (C - MIL), Todd Frazier (LF - CIN), Cincinnati Reds

Comments

Anyone think Ackley will stick at 2B?

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by ravensfan3 on Feb 14, 2026 2:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hard to say.

We dont have enough data yet, really.

Though he has a better or equal chance of being a MLB 2B than some of the guys on this list. For instance, #1 and #2, Lawrie and Frazier… and #3 (who’s really just a utility guy with wheels).

by alskor on Feb 14, 2026 2:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

2B is the worst

and is likely worse than you portray as doubt and of the top 4 stick at 2B.

by novaoakland on Feb 14, 2026 2:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Weeks?

He has all the tools to be a plus defender there. His only problems have been polish/concentration issues. They also moved Cardenas purportedly in part because they see Weeks as the 2B of the future.

The problem with 2B always is that a great deal of MLB 2B played another position in the minors, typically SS. Let’s take a look at the AL quickly: Brian Roberts, Dustin Pedroia, Robinson Cano, Aaron Hill, Orlando Hudson, Alberto Callaspo, Scott Sizemore, Ben Zobrist, Gordon Beckham, Mark Ellis, Jose Lopez and Ian Kinsler all either started out at SS or spent signficant time there in the minors. Howie Kendrick and Luis Valbuena are the only two who played 2B only as prospects (Valbuena played 6 games there in AAA, but Im not counting that).

by alskor on Feb 14, 2026 2:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

weeks

i watched weeks play extensively at miami and he looked pretty good at SS. Very athletic, surprisingly strong arm. In fact, he would have been miami’s starting SS if not for Ryan Jackson

by ScottAZ on Feb 15, 2026 11:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

meant he looked good at 2b, morris said he would have been SS w/o Jackson

by ScottAZ on Feb 15, 2026 11:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I actually typed out an entire thing about how Ryan Jackson pushed Weeks to 2B, but the page froze and I lost it and I didnt feel like retyping the entire thing

Jackson is an incredibly good defender at SS.

That said, Im not sure Weeks projects as a plus defensive SS in MLB… still, he’s a much better athlete with much better tools than your typical top 2B prospects. For me, he’s easily the best 2B prospect in the game. Uhh.. assuming Ackley isnt a 2B (no clue if he can or not). Also assuming Lawrie isn’t one (Pretty sure he’s not and Im still taking Weeks anyway).

by alskor on Feb 16, 2026 12:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and when I say

Im not sure Weeks projects as a plus defensive SS in MLB

I dont mean because of his tools - he has the tools to play there, but his concentration and hands arent top notch. He’s also had a number of injuries.

I DO think he could be around average at SS but could be an excellent defensive 2B. If he had been playing SS in college (which as we’ve mentioned he easily could have and would have at most schools) the A’s almost certainly would still have him playing SS. Since he was playing 2B and that’s what they project as his best position they just kept him there rather than make his development to the majors more difficult.

by alskor on Feb 16, 2026 12:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

concentration?

by matthewmafa on Feb 16, 2026 12:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

His effort has been an issue...

Multiple scouts questioned his effort at times, noting highly inconsistent times down the line and indifferent defensive play.

http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=9891

His hands aren’t always smooth at second base and he sometimes rushes himself turning double plays.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2010/269398.html

I dont want to gloss over this… but I typically don’t put much stock in this kind of thing. Lots of young kids are like this. Im more concerned with his talent. I used to worry about this kind of thing - and obviously Id rather have a max effort, gritty guy… but Ive just seen too many prospects end up spectacular who Ive heard this criticism of. Hanley Ramirez had this label hung as much as any prospect I remember.

by alskor on Feb 16, 2026 12:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Dodgers have a couple that could be regular MLB 2B

Blake DeWitt and Ivan DeJesus Jr. The later is a shortstop but because of Dee Gordon will be the 2B long term if he remains with the team.

DeJesus will probably be a slightly above average 2B, with gap power and good defense. Wont have the HR power or speed, but not many 2B have speed.

If DeWitt stays at 2B, he could be a star IMO. He has elite defense at 3B already and is quickly learning 2B. His bat plays more at 2B than 3B and as a 2B, could be an all star a few times….

by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Feb 14, 2026 3:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't understand the Blake Dewitt love

He really hasn’t been a very good player above A-ball, and was really mediocre last year when you consider he was playing in the PCL.

by Fanon on Feb 15, 2026 5:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

2B is almost always the weakest

Very few guys that are playing 2B in the bigs right now were playing 2B in the minors. Chase Utley is a very rare exception to that rule.

I have been tracking prospects for over 10 years, and I can never remember a time when 2B was “loaded”, or even decently stocked.

by guru4u on Feb 14, 2026 9:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

2B major leaguers were usually SS that moved off the position.

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by cwhitman412 on Feb 14, 2026 2:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why is Eric Young Jr so high on that list?

by jar75 on Feb 14, 2026 11:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I assume they are talking fantasy purposes...

Otherwise, no way he’s 3rd.

by nivarsity on Feb 14, 2026 7:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm

No David Nick? I think he is worth inclusion in the top 15 or at least a sleeper tag. That could just be me. I don’t see him as an All Star but a guy who will hit for decent avg., draw some walks, some power/speed. In short a solid ML player.

by cubsfan1 on Feb 14, 2026 12:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

David Adams

Merits consideration in the 10-15 range at minimum. OPS’d .860 in 231 at-bats in High-A. I think he’s a sleeper in the Yankees system, and if the power showing continues at the AA level, Adams would be nice trade bait.

by Mizur29 on Feb 14, 2026 1:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

by sjkqw on Feb 14, 2026 3:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

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by ravensfan3 on Feb 15, 2026 3:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Utley

remember , in 2005, when Utley was coming up…he was 1b-2b and many thought he wouldn’t stick at 2b.

I know this because it was my first year in a keeper league and I drafted Chase in the 9th round (a reach then) …

by Rupert Pupkin on Feb 14, 2026 2:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

I remember as well. Funny thing is he was said not to have the quickness or athleticism to handle 2b, and now (statistically) he is the best 2b in the game defensively

by ScottAZ on Feb 16, 2026 8:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

2B is to SS

what RP is to SP

There are some rare exceptions. But for some sick reason GM’s always want to wait a long time for the switch. And when it’s time to switch and learn a new position it’s also when the kid is in AAA or the majors.

I never got that attitude. It’s not like guys like Wainwright or Lowe or others don’t make their way back to SP if they truly have that talent. And the same thing is true with 2B/SS.

by pedrophile on Feb 14, 2026 8:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well, for pitching prospects

an early switch to relief means shorter outings - which means less development in pitchability (because they dont have to go through the lineup multiple times) and less chance to work on developing and commanding their secondary stuff.

by alskor on Feb 14, 2026 8:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

true enough

but it also means refining fastball command which is more important than anything else. And it also means refining your second pitch because it will be your only out pitch.

So if it’s done right after a year or so the pitcher will refined command of his fastball, probably tightened up his delivery (because of simplifying approach and more appearances), and tightened up the second pitch.

I will take that trade off any day.

by pedrophile on Feb 15, 2026 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs