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2024 Fantasy Baseball Second Base Rankings

 

 

Second Base Targets for 2024 Fantasy Baseball

Matt McLain

Matt McLain has been exactly as advertised when he was drafted out of UCLA. McLain is a reliable high floor middle infielder who will help you in every category. McLain hits the ball hard as evidenced by his 110 mph max EV and near 40% sweet spot %. McLain also possesses 90th percentile sprint speed to pair with his pop and benefits greatly from playing with a good offensive team in Great American Ballpark. McLain is someone I hope to be drafting if I took a few more risky options earlier on. 

Since 2000, only 21 rookies have hit .275, with a .340 OBP and 16 HR

4 of those 21 players accomplished that feat in 2023:

Corbin Carroll
Matt McLain
Nolan Jones

and

Jordan Walker

Yet Walker seems like an afterthought in the fantasy baseball world pic.twitter.com/kf7Rcjj7WJ

— have you tried the lasagna (@SethDaSportsMan) February 12, 2024

 

 

Zack Gelof

If you like McLain but get snipped there is good news. Zack Gelof is essentially the same player, just 69 picks later. The risk level with Gelof is certainly higher and he will have less counting stats while playing for the Athletics who will be more likely to get the #1 overall pick than to end up fighting for a playoff spot. Gelof hits the ball hard (39% sweet spot) and runs in the 91st percentile. I promise you I am not looking at McLains statcast again, they are that similar. Draft him confidently as a McLain-esque second base option. 

Nolan Gorman

Nolan Gorman has suffered through some growing pains over the past few seasons but was able to put up 27 homers in just 406 at bats. Gorman struggles mightily against left handers but he is just 23 years old and I think this year the Cardinals will give him an opportunity to prove that he can become an everyday player instead of just the strong side of a platoon. Gorman’s statcast is a dream as he posted a 16.5% barrel rate last year putting him in the 97th percentile. Gorman also walks a lot and has an xSLG in the 87th percentile. 

If Gorman can cut down on strikeouts even a little his batting average could rise to the .245 range which with 30+ homer potential is something that can't often be found outside the first 5-6 rounds. The beauty is Gorman is getting drafted at an average spot of 190 so even if he is a strong side platoon for the majority of the year, he’ll likely return equal value so even if it doesn’t work out against lefties he is still a reasonable value. 

 

 

Christopher Morel

Christopher Morel is the ultimate boom/bust option at second base, potentially for all positional players. Morel gives you multi positional eligibility which we love in fantasy (although the main reason is because he is bad at defense at all positions) and hits the ball insanely hard (50% hard hit rate!). If Morel can settle into a position in the lineup I think he could be the steal of the draft at a post 200 spot. Morel has the potential to put up 35 homers and 15 stolen bases (81st percentile sprint speed). Similar to Gorman, Morel strikes out a good amount but with his barrel percentage, hard hit rate and general profile I think he’s worth the risk as long as you have some stability on your team otherwise. 

Christopher Morel hit 37 HR in 2023, let that sink in #Cubs pic.twitter.com/slhOfyzgG4

— Nico Hoerner's Dog (@NicoHoernersDog) February 6, 2024

 

 

Colt Keith 

There is a good chance Colt Keith shoots up draft boards a bit if he has a decent spring and confirms that he will break camp with the Tigers. Keith recently signed a big ole’ contract which makes him likely to start with the team but at 22 years old and the Tigers not being likely to be in contention there is a chance they let him “season a bit more.” Keith has 70 grade power and has not hit less than .287 in each of his years in the minors. Now I don’t fully expect Keith to keep up that superior batting average but even if it drops into the .255 range and his power comes through, he could carry some teams to a title next year. My gut says Keith will end up on a lot of my rosters this year especially with his second base and third base eligibility.