Top 10 Second Basemen Under 25

This is the third installment of our seven-part series on the top 10 players under 25 by position. So far, we’ve ranked catchers and first basemen.

Notes: For this series, we've ranked players based both on potential and proximity to the majors -- opposed to mainly ceiling as we did in our Top 100. Think of this list as one you'd take into a dynasty league draft. April 1st, 2007 was used as the cutoff date for eligibility on this list.

 

1. Robinson Cano, MLB, NYY (8/22/82): Although a good minor league prospect, Cano surprised many by hitting a blistering .342 in 2006 for the Yankees. He drew only 18 walks in 122 games, but still posted a very solid .890 OPS and struck out just 54 times. The 24-year-old has the potential to be a perennial 20-home run, .900 OPS second baseman, and is also very solid with the glove – unlike some of the other names on this list.

 

 
2. Howie Kendrick, MLB, LAA (7/12/83): Second Basemen rarely sail through the minor leagues with a .975 OPS, but Kendrick put up some staggering totals. A former 10^th round draft pick, Kendrick, 23, now has to prove that his amazing .361 minor-league batting average will translate to major league success. Kendrick doesn’t walk much, as evidenced by drawing just nine free passes in his 72-game rookie season, but his raw ability to put bat on ball could lead to an outstanding future.

 

 
3. Rickie Weeks, MLB, MIL (9/13/82): When the Brewers made Rickie Weeks the No. 2 overall pick in the 2003 draft, they thought they were getting a future icon. Despite his injury woes, the Daytona Beach, Fla. native still fits that mold. Weeks, 23, put up a solid .279/.363/.404 line and stole 19 bags in 95 games last season. Expect a healthy Rickie Weeks to far exceed these numbers and become one of the brightest second basemen in baseball for the 2007 edition.

 

 
4. Ian Kinsler, MLB, TEX (6/22/82): A gifted defender with solid pop, Kinsler won the 2005 Triple-A Home Run Derby in the middle of his 53 extra-base hit breakout season. The 24-year-old steals bases with a decent success rate and hits for enough power to be a fantasy stud. If Kendrick and Weeks hit speed bumps, Kinsler will join Cano as the best second basemen in baseball not named Chase Utley.

 

 
5. Josh Barfield, MLB, CLE (12/17/82): We’ve heard that Padres fans were so disappointed by the loss of their young second baseman that they booed Kevin Kouzmanoff at San Diego’s fan fest – Kouzmanoff was the player acquired in the Barfield trade. Barfield has the potential to steal 25+ bases – at a good rate – hit 18+ home runs, and put up a .775+ OPS. He’ll be an above-average big leaguer, but not much more. Still, those are fantasy numbers that Roto owners can’t ignore.

 

 
6. Dustin Pedroia, MLB, BOS (8/17/83): Pedroia has been the model of consistency throughout his minor league career. Throw out his 51-game stint at Triple-A in 2005 (.255/.356/.382) and he has put up an average and on-base percentage over .300 and .380 respectively at every level. He started 2006 off strong at in 2006 Triple-A, posting a .305/.384/.426 line, before being called up to the bigs. Don’t let his 89 at-bat performance for Boston scare you away – Pedroia is still the best second base prospect in baseball today.

 

 
7. Alberto Callaspo, MLB, ARI (4/19/83): While he doesn’t have a ton of upside, Callaspo looks like a solid bet to become a big leaguer – and that’s good enough to make this list. The 23-year-old’s isolated power was just .141 in Triple-A last season. For reference, Mark Ellis’ isolated power was .144 in AAA, though he was a year older. Callaspo makes contact as often as Dustin Pedroia, but he’s probably just another soft-hitting utility man who could find a way to start for a few seasons.

 

 
8. Blake DeWitt, AA, LAD (8/20/85): Inconsistency has been the name of the game for Blake DeWitt. DeWitt, 21, excelled in Rookie (.284/.350/.488) and Single-A (.283/.333/.428) ball, but slowed down a bit at High-A (.268/.339/.442) before struggling through 26 games at Double-A to the tune of a .183 batting average. The 2004 first round pick would make this list on potential alone, but there’s no question that the move to second base improves his stock greatly as well.

 

 
9. Eric Young Jr., A, ARI (5/25/85): Introducing the 2006 minor league stolen base leader. Young Jr. swiped 87 bases in 118 attempts (73.7% success), while batting .295/.391/.409 in 482 Single-A at-bats. A 2004 free agent signee, Young, 21, still has a lot to prove, and he probably will not make the big leagues soon enough to play with his soon to be 40-year-old father. Still, he has as much potential as any minor leaguer on this list.

 

 
10. Mark Reynolds, AA, ARI (8/3/83): The owner of the most gloves in the minor leagues, Reynolds is a hard worker with a great makeup, good power, and no position. Though he hit 31 home runs last season, keep in mind that the 23-year-old didn’t even enter 2006 with a starting minor league job. Look for Reynolds to spend 2007 in Triple-A trying to match his 2006 season (.318/.401/.633 between High-A and Double-A).

 

 Check back on Monday for our top 10 shortstops under 25.