Who are MLB’s greatest second basemen in 2023?

The All-MLB Team, created in 2019, has supplied the solutions to an oft-asked query following each season: Who have been one of the best gamers at every place this 12 months?

The All-MLB Team is break up right into a First and Second Team, with every staff that includes one choice at catcher, first base, second base, shortstop, third base and DH, in addition to three outfielders (no matter particular outfield place), 5 beginning pitchers and two relievers.

The groups are chosen by a voting course of by which 50% of the vote comes from followers and 50% comes from a panel of specialists. The nominees will probably be introduced in November, and the winners will probably be unveiled in December.

Throughout the remainder of the common season, we will probably be breaking down the highest gamers at every place and separating them into three teams: favorites, contenders and darkish horses. Today, we proceed our position-by-position collection by masking the candidates at second base.

Here are eight second basemen who may make the 2023 All-MLB Team offered by MGM Rewards.

All stats up to date by Sunday.

Marcus Semien, Rangers
It’d be silly to credit score anybody participant for the Rangers’ offensive success in 2023, but when we needed to hand out shares, Semien would take a majority. Hitting a strong .273 with 20 residence runs, amongst gamers who’ve made not less than 50% of their appearances at second base, Semien ranks second in hits and RBIs and first in complete bases and leads the pack with 4.7 fWAR. His command over the strike zone can also be as sturdy as ever, as he enters play Monday considerably beneath his profession averages in whiff price (18.0%), chase price (21.0%) and strikeout price (14.0%). Meanwhile, in simply his third 12 months as a full-time second baseman, he ranks within the 97th percentile of qualifying fielders with 11 Outs Above Average, already a career-high. While the playoff race is heating up in Texas, Semien’s versatility is lending a serious benefit to his Rangers and has him effectively on his approach to incomes his third All-MLB choice.

Luis Arraez, Marlins
Though his pursuit for baseball’s first .400 season since 1941 ended a while in the past amidst a chronic second-half scuffle, Arraez continues to be at present in line to grow to be the second participant within the Modern Era to win a batting title in each leagues, and he is modified just about nothing of what earned him the honors in 2022. As of the tip of play Sunday, Arraez has the second-lowest qualifying whiff price since 2015 (8.2%) — he himself set the file over that interval together with his 7.1% whiff price in 2022 — and he may, for the second consecutive season, finish the 12 months with extra walks than strikeouts. What he lacks in energy he makes up for in launch angle, as his 44.0% sweet-spot price ranks within the 99th percentile of qualifying hitters and makes his excessive contact strategy all of the extra viable over an 162-game season.

Ozzie Albies, Braves
Albies has by no means subscribed to the concept second base is not an influence place, and he is carried that mindset into 2023, at present main all second basemen with 28 residence runs regardless of a two-week IL stint in late August. And whereas some issues by no means change, Albies, nonetheless simply 26 years previous, has made outstanding strides in rounding out his strategy in current seasons. His 20.8% whiff price is a profession low, and he is additionally seen marked enhancements in his chase price (42.6% in 2022, 34.7% in ’23) and minimize down on his share of first-pitch swings (45.7%, 34.3%), all of which has clearly had a knock-on impact, as his hard-hit price is as much as 36.2% in 2023 after lagging behind at 26.5% in his injury-shortened 2022 season.

Ha-Seong Kim, Padres
Kim, although misplaced within the shuffle in San Diego, has been the Padres’ most beneficial participant, main the staff in fWAR (4.4) with profession highs in batting common (.275), on-base share (.365), slugging (.429), OPS (.795) and residential runs (17). In a typical theme among the many All-MLB candidates at second, Kim does not hit the ball particularly onerous however makes up for it by choosing his spots, rating within the 93rd percentile in chase price and the 91st in whiff price. As one thing of a bonus, he is already tallied 31 stolen bases and continues to play strong protection, together with his +10 Defensive Runs Saved rating fourth at second base.

Ketel Marte, D-backs
Marte has recovered effectively from a down 12 months in 2022, and whereas not fairly again as much as the tempo he set in his abbreviated 2021 season, his numbers arise effectively towards the sphere. Among qualifying second basemen, he ranks third in OBP (.355), second in SLG (.475) and leads the pack with seven triples. His 21 homers are additionally his most since 2019, when he hit 32.

Gleyber Torres, Yankees
Torres, like Albies, has needed to refine his strategy nearly solely on the Major League degree and seems to lastly be discovering some stability. Although his hard-hit price has dipped, he’s nonetheless flashing sufficient energy — his 24 residence runs are tied for second-most amongst second basemen — and he is made considerably extra contact in 2023, decreasing his strikeout price 8.3 factors from 2022 (14.3%). As if to show his changes have paid off, he put himself again within the All-MLB dialog at second with a wonderful exhibiting in August by which he hit .327 with eight doubles, seven residence runs, 13 RBIs and 5 stolen bases.

Bryson Stott, Phillies
This previous offseason, the Phillies turned to free-agent shortstop Trea Turner so as to add a way of stability and dynamism to a staff that is gained a fame in recent times for being inconsistent on either side of the ball. A fantastic addition, little doubt, and but Philadelphia has discovered the same asset in Turner’s double play accomplice, the homegrown Stott. In the pool of qualifying second basemen, the 25-year-old trails solely Arraez in batting common and shows the same reward in the way in which of bat-to-ball abilities. He additionally has loads of velocity, at present tied with Turner for a team-high 25 stolen bases, and leaves nothing to be desired defensively, rating second at second base with 13 Outs Above Average.

Nico Hoerner, Cubs
Another pure contact hitter, Hoerner too has a remarkably mature strategy on the plate — his 13.1% whiff price getting into Monday’s motion could be the second-lowest recorded by a Cub since 2015 (min. 500 swings) — and makes up for a scarcity of energy with elite baserunning and protection. The 26-year-old leads all second basemen with 36 stolen bases — 11 of which have come since Aug. 1, a interval over which the Cubs have gone 19-10, reigniting their playoff hopes — and ranks third with 12 Outs Above Average at second base.