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Though there were several rookies at the second base position, none of them really put together outstanding campaigns for fantasy teams. Guys like Addison Russell and Devon Travis put together decent seasons, but there were no standout guys at second base. There was no Kris Bryant or Carlos Correa playing second last year.
Unfortunately for fantasy owners looking for a sleeper prospect at second base, there are not really any standout prospects coming up this year outside of Jose Peraza and Brandon Drury. Sure, some guys could grab a starting second base job in the event of an injury, but that is a major hypothetical and fantasy teams would be unwise to build a team based on hypotheticals.
Editor's note: Be sure to also check out our 2016 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. Our rankings assistant tool combines all our staff's ranks in one place. You can easily filter and export all sorts of rankings and tiers - mixed leagues, points leagues, AL/NL only, top prospects, dynasty ranks, keeper values, and more.
Top 10 Dynasty Prospects: Second Base
Here are the top ten second basemen for fantasy baseball in 2016:
1. Jose Peraza (CIN, MLB)
Stats: (from ATL AAA) 427 PA, .294/.318/.379, 3 HR, 26 SB, 3.5% BB rate, 8.2% K rate
ETA: Opening Day
While there is no guarantee of immediate playing time, Jose Peraza will get a chance at some point this season with Cincinnati to play regularly. Peraza has blazing speed and has shown at every level that he knows how to hit for a solid average (just don’t expect many walks). Many expect to see Brandon Phillips dealt by the trade deadline and I would not be surprised to see Peraza compete to start in left field for the Reds. With his speed combined with the likelihood that he will get at least 300 plate appearances next season make him a very intriguing fantasy option. If it looks like he will break camp with the team, Peraza is well worth a late round draft pick. Very few players offer his type of stolen base potential.
2. Brandon Drury (ARI, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 276 PA, .331/.384/.458, 2 HR, 0 SB, 7.6% BB rate, 12.7% K rate
ETA: Opening Day
Brandon Drury has a strong chance of winning the second base job out of Spring Training and if so he would immediately become fantasy relevant. Though Drury has not shown his home run power in a couple years, he could still theoretically hit 10 home runs per season and hit for a .260+ average. Don’t expect any stolen bases, but overall Drury will produce above-average offensive production as a second baseman. Drury could be worth a late round draft pick or a waiver wire add if your second base position needs some improvements.
3. Alen Hanson (PIT, AAA)
Stats: 529 PA, .263/.313/.387, 6 HR, 35 SB, 7.0% BB rate, 17.2% K rate
ETA: Early June
Unfortunately for Alen Hanson, there does not seem to be much of a chance for him to see regular playing time barring an injury. Josh Harrison is an All-Star caliber infield utility player who will likely fill the void at second base left by Neil Walker with Jung-Ho Kang sliding over to third and Jordy Mercer remaining at short, but if any injury occurs, fantasy owners should expect the talented Hanson to be promoted and assist the big league club. There is no doubt that if Hanson sees playing time, he can provide fantasy owners with sufficient enough value to warrant owning him. The only question is whether or not he will see that playing time this season. He is worth keeping an eye on, but there needs to be an injury or a trade for him to have any value.
4. Darnell Sweeney (PHI, MLB)
Stats: 98 PA, .176/.286/.353, 3 HR, 0 SB, 13.3% BB rate, 27.6% K rate
ETA: Opening Day
With Aaron Altherr now hurt and the Phillies already lacking in outfield depth, there is a legitimate chance for Darnell Sweeney to get some playing time in 2016. Though he qualifies as both a second baseman and an outfielder, owners should expect the bulk of his time to be spent in the outfield. Sweeney has an intriguing power/speed combo that could be enough to provide 10 home runs and 20+ stolen bases if given a full season of work, right now the only real obstacle to being an MLB regular is his plate discipline which could use some improvement. Though he will likely open the year in Philadelphia, Sweeney is probably only worth owning in 14+ team leagues, but he does have the upside to warrant teams in shallower leagues taking a flier on him.
5. Rob Refsnyder (NYY, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 522 PA, .271/.359/.402, 9 HR, 12 SB, 10.7% BB rate, 14.0% K rate
ETA: September
Things were looking good for Rob Refsnyder to start at second base for the Yankees until the Bronx Bombers acquired Starlin Castro from the Cubs. Now it appears that Refsnyder will again be relegated to Triple-A and wait until September before seeing Major League time again. If Castro is hurt, Refsnyder would likely step in and become the starting second baseman for the Yankees and he would immediately become fantasy relevant. He has enough pop and speed to possibly put together a 10/10 season with a .270+ average. Unless there is an injury or trade, Refsnyder will not have an opportunity to provide fantasy owners with any production and therefore should not be owned in anything but keeper leagues.
6. Micah Johnson (LAD, MLB)
Stats: 114 PA, .230/.306/.270, 0 HR, 3 SB, 7.9% BB rate, 26.3% K rate
ETA: September
After the Dodgers resigned both Howie Kendrick and Chase Utley, Micah Johnson appears to be out of a starting role, but he still could have some value in September if the Dodgers decide to promote him. Johnson possesses blazing speed that, if nothing else, could be used as a pinch running option and steal some bases for fantasy teams in deeper leagues. Unless something happens to both Utley and Kendrick however, don’t expect Johnson to have much value in shallow leagues.
7. Tony Kemp (HOU, AAA)
Stats: 311 PA, .273/.334/.362, 3 HR, 20 SB, 6.8% BB rate, 11.9% K rate
ETA: September
With players like Jose Altuve at second and an outfield that appears quite full, playing time could be tough for Tony Kemp to come by. Even still, the 24-year-old speedster could have value similar to Billy Hamilton back in 2013 in that he could be used as a pinch runner in September. Kemp does not have much value in shallow standard leagues, but deeper league owners could use Kemp as a solid source of stolen bases during the playoffs if it appears that that will be his role.
8. Yoan Moncada (BOS, A)
Stats: 363 PA, .278/.380/.438, 8 HR, 49 SB, 11.6% BB rate, 22.9% K rate
ETA: September
Theoretically, if Dustin Pedroia were injured and the Red Sox needed a spark, it is not completely inconceivable to say that Yoan Moncada could see time in the majors this season. If he makes it to the majors, Moncada would immediately become a must own player in fantasy leagues as he has one of the most explosive power/speed combos of any prospect in baseball. But fantasy owners need to understand that it could be a stretch for him to actually reach the majors.
9. Ryan Brett (TB, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 354 PA, .247/.288/.354, 5 HR, 4 SB, 4.2% BB rate, 18.1% K rate
ETA: September
With Logan Forsythe, Tim Beckham, and Nick Franklin, there does not appear to be a clear path to playing time for Ryan Brett. Though he could be used as an infield utility player, expect Brett to start the season at Triple-A to continue to develop. Even in September, I would expect him to split playing time with several other infielders, limiting his fantasy value. He can be ignored in fantasy leagues.
10. Nolan Fontana (HOU, AAA)
Stats: 456 PA, .241/.369/.357, 3 HR, 6 SB, 16.2% BB rate, 21.7% K rate
ETA: September
Nolan Fontana could theoretically be an infield utility player for the Astros this season, but he would not have much value for fantasy owners. Even if he had a starting role, Fontana possesses an underwhelming skill set and likely would not contribute enough of anything to make him worth owning in fantasy leagues.
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