After checking in on the best of the best at first base, the B/R MLB 300 now moves up another 90 feet for a look at a decidedly more athletic position: second base.
It's admittedly been something of a lean year for the second-base brotherhood, but we still managed to come up with a list of 25 names after subjecting nominees to a scoring system that adds up to 100.
First, there's 30 points for hitting. Our focus here is on how well each player is equipped to hit for average and get on base. This means looking not only at how they hit the ball but also at how consistently they make contact and whether they have the discipline to draw walks.
Then there's 25 points for power. We concentrated on how well each player collects extra-base hits, which means looking at how often they put the ball in the air—ground balls don't tend to go for extra-base hits, after all—how hard they hit it and how much of the field they can use for power.
Next, there's 20 points for baserunning. This is a bigger deal for second basemen than it is for first basemen and catchers, but the idea is the same: We looked at whether they can steal bases as well as whether they're capable of running the bases aggressively.
Lastly, there's 25 points for defense. Second base is a pretty important defensive position, and we'll see how guys graded out based on things like sure-handedness, range and whether they have any issues with the double play.
As for how the scoring works, it's important to note that a score in the middle is meant to denote average, not failing. For example, a 15 out of 30 for hitting means the player is nothing special, whereas 10 out of 30 means clearly below average and 20 out of 30 means clearly above average.
Before we begin, here's an important reminder: While we're using what's happened in 2015 as a foundation for the scores, this list projects performance for the 2016 season. Players are evaluated based on the staying power of each category with progression, decline and past luck in mind—which creates a different ranking system than simply judging where each player stands today.
You may now start the show.
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