Staff Post: Second Basemen to Target in 2018

Second base week is drawing to an end, and that means it is time for some staff targets at the keystone. Be sure to peruse our catcher targets and first base targets if you missed out on those. Fantasy baseball season will be here before you know it, so if there is anyone you want to hear about, just ask! You can comment below or hit us up on Twitter at @faketeams. Now let’s see who to nab at second base, eh?

2018 Staff Targets at Second Base

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Rougned Odor, Rangers (Heath Capps)

As I said in the state of the position, Odor was a “BABIP victim” in 2017. He had no significant changes in line drive rate, ground ball rate or fly ball rate. He pulled the ball a little more and still made loads of hard contact (36.7%). He’ll always have more risk than a player who walks more, but last year’s .224 BABIP is very unlucky. Odor’s career BABIP is .274, for reference. Steamer projects a return to a normal .278 BABIP this year, as well as a tolerable .256/.303/.480 slash. Odor is only 24 years old and has managed 30/14 and 33/15 over the last two seasons. In OBP leagues his value decreases, but in my head-to-head formats I am all over him at his depressed ADP. I can make up for his batting average liability elsewhere.

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Ian Kinsler, Angels (Brian Creagh)

My gut instinct was to write up Ozzie Albies here, but Eddy already had dibs so I’m going to my second favorite target in Ian Kinsler. Age is a bit of a concern at 35 years old, but Kinsler has topped 600 plate appearances in each of the last seven seasons. This year will be his first hitting in front of the most productive fantasy baseball player in the game, Mike Trout. Kinsler still has double-digit home run and stolen base potential and his run total could flirt with 90. It’s not a sexy pick but there are so many other high risk, high reward options at this position that you can supplement Kinsler with a Devon Travis, Ian Happ, or Scooter Gennett to hedge against his injury risk.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Yoan Moncada, White Sox (Punk is Dead)

Moncada was a top 10 prospect in 2016 and 2017, top three on most sites. Now that he has debuted, everyone seems to be overlooking him. Sure he’s had a rough start to his MLB career, but it’s just 62 games! The 22-year-old has a ton of room to grow and this could be a big year for him. He has 30 HR+30 SB upside and is currently going outside the top 150 overall. He could be the reason you win your league.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Ozzie Albies, Braves (Eddy Almaguer)

I’m going to try and own Ozzie Albies across every league this year. Overshadowed by the Acuna hype all season, Albies debuted as a 20-year-old and slashed .286/.354/.456. Combined between Triple-A and the MLB, he had 15 home runs and 29 stolen bases. Remember what Whit Merrifield did last season? This is what I think Albies can do, save for slightly less pop but a similar slash line and great speed. His 144 NFBC ADP makes him an absolute steal on draft day. With stolen bases at such a premium, you’d be wise to reach.