Written by Chad Thronburg at MLB.com
Second base is home to some of the best defensive players in all of baseball, providing countless highlight-reel plays each season. The position also features some of the game’s most steady and productive hitters.
MLB Network chronicled many of these dual threats Thursday night, unveiling its top 10 second basemen. The rankings are based on results from “The Shredder” — an algorithm based on player performance that accounts for both offense and defense that was put together by MLB Network’s research department “without emotion or bias.” Host Brian Kenny and guest host Harold Reynolds also provided their top 10s.
“The Shredder” uses an objective methodology to rank players at each position based on track record as well as future projection. It weighs the offensive and defensive statistics for a player in both one- and two-year increments and places more emphasis on defense at positions that are on the right of the defensive spectrum, i.e., catcher, shortstop, second base and center field. It also takes into account a player’s durability as well as the offensive environment of his home park. (In other words, it gives more credit to home runs hit in San Diego as opposed to Colorado.)
MLB Network’s Top 10 Second Basemen Right Now
1. Jose Altuve
2. Robinson Cano
3. Joe Panik
4. Ian Kinsler
5. Josh Harrison
6. Ben Zobrist
7. Neil Walker
8. Dustin Pedroia
9. Dee Gordon
10. Logan Forsythe
While The Shredder churned out several familiar veterans from last year’s list, there still was some turnover among the second-base ranks. Four fresh names cracked the top 10, while one repeat selection, Altuve, ascended five spots to unseat the incumbent Cano at No. 1.
Altuve followed up his 2015 American League batting title with another stellar year at the plate, hitting .313/.353/.459 with 40 doubles, 15 homers, 38 stolen bases and 66 RBIs. The 25-year-old three-time All-Star not only excelled offensively, but also earned his first Gold Glove Award for his contributions in the infield.
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