Fantasy Baseball draft prep: How to target second base position in 2022, plus sleepers and strategies

The shortstop excess has spilled over into second base.

Even during the peak of the juiced ball era, when positions normally reserved for slap hitters became just as saturated with sluggers, second base was considered the weak link. You could find offense there, sure, but not of a first- or even second-round caliber. It's like shortstop absorbed all the talent for both middle infield spots.

But now, all of a sudden, second base is looking as strong as ever. It has less to do with the end of the juiced ball era and more with shortstop spreading the wealth. Turns out when that much talent is concentrated at one position, a team could easily find itself with a double helping, forcing one of the two to relocate. That's what happened with Marcus Semien, Javier Baez and Jorge Polanco, who all picked up second base eligibility while remaining eligible at shortstop.

Position Strategy: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP | RP  

The most notable example of all is Trea Turner, who was dealt at the deadline to a team that already had Corey Seager, necessitating a move to second base. Even if just a one-year oddity, it's a fortuitous one for us because it gives the position its first legit first-rounder since Jose Altuve was at the height of his powers. That alone lengthens the position.

Factor in the unexpected contributions of rookies Jonathan India and Jazz Chisholm, and second base now has its own surplus, offering plenty to go around in a 12-team league. My one word of caution, though, is that because so many of its high-end performers are also eligible at shortstop, some may actually be drafted to fill that position. Shortstop still has the greater surplus, so you'd think it would be rarer than it is. But drafts get wild, man.

So then, when's the most opportune time to strike?

The Studs

	2022 ADP	2021 PPG	2021 BA	2021 HR
Trea Turner LAD SS	2	3.74	.328	28
Ozzie Albies ATL 2B	20	3.45	.259	30
Marcus Semien TEX 2B	32	3.66	.265	45
Whit Merrifield KC 2B	34	3.10	.277	10
Jose Altuve HOU 2B	59	3.60	.278	31
Brandon Lowe TB 2B	71	3.24	.247	39
Javier Baez DET 2B	72	2.86	.265	31
Ketel Marte ARI CF	76	3.22	.318	14
Jorge Polanco MIN 2B	85	3.28	.269	33

The most risk-averse among us may be inclined to take Turner first overall in 5x5 leagues. It happens where concerns about Fernando Tatis' shoulder and concerns about a stolen base shortage intersect on the Venn diagram. For me, Turner is more of a mid-first rounder, even in his most optimal format. Give me Tatis, Vladimir Guerrero and Juan Soto ahead of him.

He kicks off what's clearly a big position for stolen bases, with Ozzie Albies, Marcus Semien, Whit Merrifield and Javier Baez also primed to make a significant contribution to the category. You're sacrificing something power-wise by drafting Merrifield at his going rate, which is why I'm not so inclined to do it. Theoretically, you're not sacrificing anything with Semien, who just set a single-season record for home runs by a second baseman. But Statcast pegged him as one of last season's biggest overachievers, and he just signed onto a much worse situation with the Rangers.

No, unless I happen to be in the right spot to nab Turner, I'll generally look toward the bottom of this group, with Jose Altuve being a regular target of mine. There's no shame in taking Jorge Polanco either, even if he's likely to fall a little short of last year's numbers.

Other Deserving Starters

	2022 ADP	2021 PPG	2021 BA	2021 HR
Jazz Chisholm MIA 2B	90	2.61	.248	18
Jonathan India CIN 2B	95	3.04	.269	21
Tommy Edman STL 2B	100	2.81	.262	11
Max Muncy LAD 1B	111	3.39	.249	36
DJ LeMahieu NYY 2B	115	2.62	.268	10
Jake Cronenworth SD 2B	120	2.97	.266	21
Chris Taylor LAD CF	136	2.70	.254	20
Ty France SEA 1B	151	2.84	.291	18
Brendan Rodgers COL 2B	177	2.61	.284	15

Some might be inclined to group Jazz Chisholm and Jonathan India with the studs. It's an easier case for India in a points league, where his on-base skills are better appreciated, and an easier case for Chisholm in a 5x5 league, where his stolen bases are in higher demand. For the going rate, I personally see too much downside risk in Chisholm, who was more or less a disaster after April last season, but he's a trendy pick among the category counters.

Concerns about Max Muncy's elbow, which may well require Tommy John surgery at some point, take him out of the running as a starter for me. Jake Cronenworth and Chris Taylor aren't flashy, but they're versatile and contribute across multiple categories. If you're caught flat-footed at the position, they'll suffice.

Brendan Rodgers may have big things in store now that he's carved out a full-time role with the Rockies, and he's my favorite breakout candidate at the position. But I find my middle infield needs are generally met before I can entertain the idea of drafting him, which goes to show you how things have improved at this position. Still, I like knowing he's there as a fallback option, particularly in Rotisserie leagues.

The Sleepers

	2022 ADP	2021 PPG	2021 BA	2021 OPS
Luis Urias MIL SS	218	2.63	.249	.789
Gavin Lux LAD SS	253	2.22	.242	.692
Vidal Brujan TB 2B	290	0.50	.262*	.785*
Jeff McNeil NYM 2B	292	1.98	.249	.674
Nolan Gorman STL 3B	384	-----	.279*	.814*
Robinson Cano NYM 2B	405	2.94^	.316^	.896^

*Minor-league stats
^2019 stats

You see what I just said about Brendan Rodgers? Yeah, if I rarely need to turn to him, I'm certainly not turning to this group. I know some like Luis Urias to break out, but I don't see it. He doesn't impact the ball hard enough to be a true middle-of-the-order hitter and sells out too hard for power to be of much use in batting average. I guess he could be another Eduardo Escobar, for whatever that's worth.

Gavin Lux still gives off some prospect shine, and the Dodgers finally did give him a longer look down the stretch. He didn't show much power, though, and I don't think is destined for a full-time role anyway. If you're just looking for a Hail Mary late in the draft, Nolan Gorman doesn't seem like a bad call. He's moved too quickly through the minors to get the most out his 70-grade power bat, but he seemed to master Triple-A late in the year. Vidal Brujan is another youngster looking to break in if speed is more your thing, but his path with the Rays is less clear to me than Gorman's with the Cardinals.

I'm surprised Robinson Cano is going completely ignored as he makes his return from a full-season PED suspension. Sure, he's 39, but he was still awesome in 2020. Deep-leaguers, take note.

The Base-Stealers

	2022 ADP	2021 SB	2022 hope	Also eligible
Trea Turner LAD SS	2	32	30-35	SS
Ozzie Albies ATL 2B	20	20	15-20	-----
Marcus Semien TEX 2B	32	15	10-15	SS
Whit Merrifield KC 2B	34	40	35-40	OF
Javier Baez DET 2B	72	18	15-20	SS
Jazz Chisholm MIA 2B	90	23	20-25	SS
Jonathan India CIN 2B	95	12	10-15	-----
Tommy Edman STL 2B	100	30	25-30	OF
Chris Taylor LAD CF	136	13	10-15	SS, OF
Kolten Wong MIL 2B	222	12	10-15	-----
Andres Gimenez CLE SS	285	11	15-20	SS
Garrett Hampson COL CF	288	17	15-20	OF
Vidal Brujan TB 2B	290	44*	25-30	-----
Nico Hoerner CHC 2B	329	5	10-15	-----
Nick Madrigal CHC 2B	352	1	10-15	-----
David Fletcher LAA 2B	363	15	10-15	SS

Like I said, it's a big position for stolen bases. Trea Turner, Whit Merrifield and Tommy Edman are three of maybe a dozen players in the entire sport with a realistic shot at 30 steals, and Turner and Merrifield are among the safest bets as far as that goes. Jazz Chisholm might also sniff that total if he hits enough, and Vidal Brujan almost certainly will if he plays enough.

The rest here figure to play more of a supporting role in the stolen base category. I'm not sure Garrett Hampson, Andres Gimenez, David Fletcher, Nick Madrigal and Nico Hoerner bring enough else to the table to make it worth it, but in a deep enough league, possibly.