As we move into the All Star Break, I thought it would be a good opportunity to give some quick hits on those I perceive as the top middle infielders at this point.
As a quick hitter article in which I give tidbits about my thinking on players, I won’t rely as much on data in my explanations as I usually do in my articles. But when I do use data, the stats will be as of the end of day, Tuesday, July 8th. Though in the blurbs below I won’t be referencing much of the data that informs my decision making, the rankings are based on the same types of underlying stats I’ve been talking about all season long (hard hit metrics, plate discipline, FB / GB / LD, LA, and so on). As always, feel free to drop a line in the comments to ask any questions you have about my player evaluations.
I am using NFBC for position eligibility, so it’s possible that other players may be eligible at 2B or SS on other sites (Hello, Yahoo!).
And one last note: This rankings list is for anyone who qualifies at middle infield (i.e. 2B or SS). But since I usually rank 2B and SS players separately, the number I have included in parentheses references my most recent ranking of that player at either 2B or SS.
Top 20:
1. Bobby Witt Jr. (SS 1)
Bobby Witt Jr. got off to a slow power start, which worried me not even a little bit. This guy’s only real weakness is that the offense he plays on is extremely limited, suppressing his counting stats. If you drafted him above Shohei Ohtani like I did, OK, lesson learned. Shohei is superhuman, and I will not doubt him ,no matter what injury, gambling concern, or anything else that surrounds him. If you picked Witt at #2, you can’t be too upset by that. Great player.
2. Elly De La Cruz (SS 2)
Elly De La Cruz is still the most exciting player in the game. Still has serious holes in his game, but what he offers is awesome. His K% gains this season (dropping last year’s 31.3% down to 25.1%) are extremely promising. At the beginning of the season, I was higher on Gunnar than I was on Elly because the holes in De La Cruz’s game are more prominent – I thought, anyway. It looks like he has worked to correct the opinions of folks like me, and now the question is who is #1, Witt or De La Cruz?
3. Francisco Lindor (SS 4)
Francisco Lindor is an absolute beast. I don’t know when the age decline will hit, but I’m riding with him until it does. He may outdo 30 HR / 30 SB this year. If you picked him at the RD 1-2 turn, or even into the second round, you found value! Lots of it.
4. Ketel Marte (2B 1)
Same old story – when Ketel Marte is healthy, he is awesome. Currently, he’s in the lineup, but a groin issue is making his day-to-day availability less than a sure thing. Same old story.
5. Gunnar Henderson (SS 3)
I would understand if you haven’t noticed that Gunnar Henderson has bounced back just fine after his slow start. If the Henderson manager in your league still views him as the injury-plagued player from the beginning of the season, go see if you can get Henderson on your team for RD 3 or 4 value instead of a RD 1 price.
6. Trea Turner (SS 9)
I’ve obviously been too low on Trea Turner this year. My bad. My biggest concern was whether soft tissue issues would allow Turner to run this year. His 23 SBs in his first 405 PAs have demonstrated that my concerns were apparently unfounded.
7. CJ Abrams (SS 7)
As wrong as I was on Turner, I think I’ve been that right about CJ Abrams. Most impressive to me is that he has maintained his HH% (last year was 40.4%, this year 40.3%) while dropping his K% 4.5% down to 16.8%. Wow. Abrams offers everything, with his only weakness being that the offense around him doesn’t get on base often enough for him to pad his RBI numbers. Otherwise, he looks like a future RD 1 pick to me.
8. Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2B 2)
Jazz Chisholm has an inconsistent plate approach that can lead to frustration in rostering him – both his missing all of March and his .247 AVG (which, though low, is quite improved since his return from the IL) show why having him on your team can be a headache. But his 15 HRs and 10 SBs in only 251 PAs show why he can be a league changer. As long as he’s healthy, I’ll put up with the frustration.
9. Jeremy Pena (SS 11)
Well, Mr. Jeremy Pena, I stand corrected: Maybe your .300 AVG is sustainable despite my initial belief.
My current biggest concern with Pena is whatever curse is connected to the Astros’ medical staff. Injuries in that organization turn into adventures that no one wants to go on, but here we are. If Pena gets back to the lineup, healthy and ready to go (and, in Houston, “if” is the correct term, unfortunately), my confidence in him is high. My confidence in the Astros’ medical team, though, is nonexistent.
10. Zach Neto (SS 8)
I struggled with drafting Zach Neto, not because I didn’t believe in his game, but because his injury worried me. Now, the jammed shoulder has me worried. Despite my concerns, Neto continues to show he is a top shelf offensive talent among shortstops. I’m 100% in until he just can’t play.
11. Oneil Cruz (SS 5)
Oneil Cruz has a ceiling so high we can’t even see it. He also has a floor that could keep midwesterners safe in the worst tornado. Rostering Cruz means you get to watch both in a given season. His .203 AVG and 32.8% K-rate show the bottom; his HR, R, and SB numbers show the top. Our main hope is that he gets traded to an organization that can work with him on his plate discipline – the rest of the package is a potential RD 1 player.
12. Corey Seager (SS 10)
Finally healthy, Corey Seager looks amazing. How long will he be healthy, though? My bet is on the under…
13. Maikel Garcia (2B 10)
Maikel Garcia is flying up my ranks. He’s improved almost every single underlying number I care about. His plate discipline, contact skills, hard hit metrics, and GB/FB% all point to Garcia’s start being real. Now, he looks like Nico Hoerner with power.
14. Nico Hoerner (2B 3)
Speaking of Nico Hoerner… I appreciate that he is who he is, and he doesn’t try to be anything else. His HRs tend to be fluky and are certainly not his main intention at the plate. His AVG, R, and SB numbers make him an absolutely valuable player.
15. Jose Altuve (2B 4)
Jose Altuve’s 29.7% HH% would concern me if he were just about anyone else. But Altuve is a smart player who has made a career out of collecting respectable, even good, HR totals without actually hitting the ball hard (Hello, Crawford Boxes!). His SB totals probably aren’t what you hoped for if you drafted him, but his HR, R, RBI, and AVG totals are still right in line with the Altuve we’ve known for years.
16. Jackson Holliday (2B 8)
I am happy to say that I kept the faith with Jackson Holliday, even after his slow start. He still has some work to do, but he’s made tremendous strides and is certainly offering value to those who roster him.
17. Jordan Westburg (2B 5)
The talent is clear for Jordan Westburg, but the injuries just won’t leave him alone. I’m afraid this season may not have the trajectory I expected, not because he isn’t good enough, but because he can’t stay on the field.
18. Mookie Betts (SS 6)
I’ve made my concerns about Mookie Betts clear: his lack of hard hit ability looks like a trait, not a brief state (a progression of my thinking on Mookie, starting with concerns in my May 22nd piece, and then advancing to more certainty the old Betts is gone in my July 3rd article). But let me be clear: Mookie still offers value with his Rs and RBIs. He’s just not a RD 2 player anymore.
19. Dansby Swanson (SS 13)
Dansby Swanson is quietly putting together a tremendously helpful season. If you decided to get your serving of oatmeal during drafting season, I suspect your heart health is looking quite good.
20. Matt McLain (2B 7, SS 12)
We are starting to see good Matt McLain. But don’t get too comfortable – his inconsistent plate approach means bad Matt McLain could be right around the corner, but I’ll enjoy the good one while we have it.
Next 10:
21. Gleyber Torres (2B 9)
22. Brendan Donovan (2B 11)
23. Brice Turang (2B 6)
24. Geraldo Perdomo (SS 14)
25. Bo Bichette (SS 18)
26. Willy Adames (SS 16)
27. Jacob Wilson (SS N/R)
28. Marcus Semien (2B N/R)
Well, once I was finally out on Marcus Semien, he reminded me that he likes to start performing later in the year as opposed to earlier. In the past, I’ve been patient enough to take advantage of Semien’s slow starts – after someone would drop him amid an early-season slump, I would swoop in and grab him, getting all of his statistical goodness to come. Oops, this year, I’m the overreactor, and someone else is benefiting from my own impatience. My bad, Mr. Semien.
29. Otto Lopez (2B 18)
30. Luis Garcia Jr. (2B 12)
Notable names who continue to slip down my rankings:
Tommy Edman (2B 13)
Ozzie Albies (2B 14)
Bryson Stott (2B 15)
Anthony Volpe (SS 15)
Masyn Winn (SS 19)
Ezequiel Tovar (SS 20)
That is my list for this week. If you are one who enjoys the All-Star Week festivities, I hope it’s all you expect. For those of us who take a well-deserved break from the grind, enjoy your rest.
Until next week. – ADHamley
