Athletes that decide to make a career at second base naturally want to be at the center of the action. They’re there if it’s a hit to shallow center or on a grounder to third with a runner on first. InMLB The Show 22, they need to be ready to dive up the middle, charge toward the plate, or cover first base at a moment’s notice.
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Aside from defensive prowess, most teams expect the second basemen to hit for contact and be a terror on the basepaths. Many second basemen understandably struggle just to accomplish these minimum demands. But a few players inMLB The Show 22check all of these boxes and more.
Updated on July 16th, 2022 by Hodey Johns:This list first came out before the season started. All-Star week marks the halfway point of the season. So, how did the analysts do? Of course, nobody is perfect. Some players that were expected to do poorly ended up putting together a fantastic first half, so they needed to be added to the list. Others that were well-hyped didn’t quite hit the expectations of the experts, so they had to be dropped. A hot or a cold streak could see even the worst-ranked player make this list or the number one ranked player fall out of favor entirely. This is how things have shaken out so far.
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12Ketel Marte - 85 OVR
Anybody looking to unseat the current second baseman of the Diamondbacks is better offswitching positions; he just signed a big deal with Arizona and he’s earned it with consistent and intense play every game that he’s in the starting lineup.
He’s got a perfect 99 score clutch hitting and a 97 contact score against lefties. His zone is even more impressive than his numbers as he can get solid contact on a ball placed just about anywhere.
11Brandon Lowe - 85 OVR
There are always analysts who forget that the Rays have been a solid baseball team for a while now and are surprised when they are still around in late October. Most of the time, those analysts have forgotten that Brandon Lowe makes anything possible.
As an unconventional second baseman, Lowe is more about power than speed or average. On defense and on the basepaths, he’s actually more of a liability than an asset. But his power and durability more than offset these other attributes.
10Ozzie Albies - 85 OVR
Players will need toutilize the equipment in the gameto match the prowess of Ozzie Albies in the leadoff spot anytime soon. Aside from being part of the Cinderella squad that knocked off two giants on the way to a World Series win, he’s a two-time Silver Slugger and All-Star.
Anybody looking for some pizzazz from the very first batter couldn’t ask for more than this guy in the lineup. He’s even more of a power than a contact threat. Albies' entire zone is a bright red against left-handed pitching.
9Marcus Semien - 86 OVR
To start the year, Marcus Semien was 3 OVR higher than the next highest second basemen. He’s fallen a massive 11 OVR since this season began, with his home run total at about half of his 2021 pace and his average falling 30 points to boot. But he’s still one of the league’s best.
His perfect 99 durability means he won’t be missing any games. His speed and defense have remained elite, which are two big expectations for second basemen. He could still find his stride and be back on top before the 2022 season is over.
8Jake Cronenworth - 87 OVR
The Padres had a somewhat disappointing season in 2021. Without much reason for it to change, their fortunes have been very different in 2021. Where their superstars have been disappointing, Jake Cronenworth has picked up the slack.
Cronenworth carved his way to stardom by doing a little bit of everything. Most of his attributes are above average and his 93 durability means that the second base position doesn’t need to be constantly re-evaluated by managers.
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6Trevor Story - 87 OVR
Trevor Story hasn’t kept his Colorado production in 2022, but this could have more to do with his switch from shortstop to second baseman. His speed is still elite, especially considering that he hits for more power than contact.
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Don’t sleep on Story’s speed. In 2020, he led the NL in stolen bases. That’s reflected in his attributes, making him a lethal weapon. Players who are second basemen for the Red Sox will need toimprove in Road to the Show quicklyif they have any hope of wrestling the starting spot from him.
5Andres Gimenez - 91 OVR
Few players have shocked the league as Andres Gimenez has. Demoted to the minors last year, many thought that could be the last fans see him in the bigs. Now, in 2022, he’s going to his first All-Star game and has been a crucial component of the team’s success.
His defense is the highlight, but he’s no slouch at the plate and has some wheels on him. Gimenez is the prototypical second baseman, though his power ratings suggest that he is more than purely hitting for average.
4Jean Segura - 91 OVR
As a league staple for the last decade, it may be surprising to learn that Jean Segura “only” has two All-Star selections. He’s outplayed the majority of his counterparts most years. At least the folks assigning the ratings in the video game understand his value.
Anybody wanting toget called up in Road to the Showwould do well to mimic Segura’s style. His lowest fielding attribute is an 80, and he’s got four batting attributes in the 80s to boot. Without a flaw in his game, the Phillies are lucky to have him.
