Fake Teams Consensus Fantasy Prospect Rankings: Top 10 Second Basemen

With each week being dedicated to our consensus rankings at a particular position, the prospect staff at Fake Teams will also be providing position-specific coverage during these weeks. This will include a pair of prospect profiles, as well as a comparison post between two similar prospects at the position. And of course, we will be releasing our top 20 prospects at the position. This differs slightly from what we did last year, as these rankings are for the long term, rather than providing a separate list for the upcoming season only.

Bret Sayre, Craig Goldstein, and I have discussed the ranking of each player on these lists, and have come to a determination on each them of where they belong on the list. There are a number of groupings where, if you believe a prospect should move up or down a slot, we would probably not disagree. Prospect rankings remain a picture of what we see based on the information available at that moment in time, and are likely to change as the offseason progresses. Also note that these rankings are for fantasy purposes, so while we take a players' position into account, we only account for their defense in terms really of their ability to stay at the position long term.

Second base is an unusual position for prospecting, as it almost exclusively ends up being prospects who don't quite have the defensive chops to stay at a different position in the long term. For the most part, prospects don't come into the professional ranks at the position, as noted by the fact that our top 20 prospects do not have a single 2012 draftee.

The top 10 prospects will be released on Tuesday of each week, and prospects 11-20 will be released on Thursday. With that, our top 10 second base prospects:

1. Delino DeShields (HOU) (Profile in MLKT Series)

Estimated ETA: 2015

2. Jedd Gyorko (SD)

The Padres have been trying Gyorko out at 2B in the hope that they will be able to get his bat into the lineup with Chase Headley firmly planted at 3B. He is probably ready for the Majors at this point, but it's not really clear where he will play in 2013. He would very likely return to 3B should Headley be traded, and if not would be given a shot to win the starting 2B job.

Estimated ETA: 2013

3. Eddie Rosario (MIN)

Rosario missed time last year after being hit by a line drive in batting practice, but there is above average power potential in Rosario. His bat would likely be considered excellent for 2B, but there remain concerns as to whether or not Rosario can stay at the position long-term, or if he will need to return to the outfield.

Estimated ETA: Late 2015/2016

4. Kolten Wong (STL)

I am a big fan of Kolten Wong, as I think his floor is much higher than your average 2B prospect. He should provide decent power (5-10 HR), decent to above-average speed (15-20 SB), along with a good batting average (.280+). Not an amazing player by any means, but at a position as inconsistent as 2B, he could end up being right around the top 10 every year.

Estimated ETA: Late 2013

5. Nick Franklin (SEA)

Franklin split time between AA and AAA last year, and seems fairly likely to be given a shot to make the Opening Day roster in Seattle. The question really at this point is where he will play. In the long-term, he's not really a shortstop defensively, but that is absolutely a position that the Mariners could upgrade offensively. Otherwise, I think we see Franklin take on a super-utility role similar to what Kyle Seager did at points last year.

Estimated ETA: 2013

6. Jonathan Schoop (BAL) (Profile in MLKT Series)

Estimated ETA: Late 2013

7. Rougned Odor (TEX)

Odor had a solid campaign in the Sally League this year, hitting 10 home runs and stealing 19 bases in just 109 games there. It sounds like the numbers may not really reflect what could be possible with Odor yet, as he will be just 19 years old next year while playing in High-A.

Estimated ETA: 2015

8. Cory Spangenberg (SD)

The top draft pick of the Padres in 2011, Spangenberg was slowed last year by a concussion and struggled after that occurred. He looks like he has the potential to hit near the top of the order for the Padres, providing a small amount of power and likely above-average stolen base totals.

Estimated ETA: 2014

9. Ronny Rodriguez (CLE)

Rodriguez split time between 2B and SS in High-A last year, and performed well offensively. He hit .264 with 19 home runs and 7 stolen bases, but the concern about Rodriguez is really whether or not he can translate the tools he has shown into game action. He is considered to have better speed than he has shown so far, but the plate discipline really needs work for him.

Estimated ETA: 2015

10. Angelo Gumbs (NYY)

Gumbs is another player where the tools haven't necessarily caught up to the expectation yet, as he could be an above-average offensive player at 2B. He missed significant time last year with an elbow injury, and it would not surprise me if the Yankees sent him back to Charleston to start the 2013 season.

Estimated ETA: 2015