Power Profile Shifts Face of Second Base

When the Nationals’ Daniel Murphy finished runner-up in National League MVP bal-loting last year and the Astros’ Jose Altuve placed third in the American League, it opened eyes in the industry.

- Joel Poiley

The Rockies’ D.J LeMahieu hit .348 to win the NL batting title, and the Twins’ Brian Dozier clubbed 42 home runs to rank third in the AL.

The Mariners’ Robinson Cano hit .298 with a career-high 39 homers, and the superstar looked more like he was 27 than 33, his actual age.

People inside and outside the game want to know: Was the preponderance of dominating offensive seasons by second basemen in 2016 just an anomaly? Or is second base now a dominant offensive position?

Several theories abound, though the prevailing one is that in today’s game many of the best players just happen to play the keystone spot.

Power plays big in the post-steroid era, with some teams sacrificing a great glove for a player who can hit 20 homers a year. There’s also a difference of opinion as to what teams look for at second.

“The game goes in waves,” an scout for an AL club said. “It’s hard to say it’s a natural power position now. You always had a few guys who played there and had power, like Joe Morgan and Bret Boone. But I think it’s just a phase where a lot of the best players coming up right now are second basemen.

“You have certain positions where you look for power, like at first base or corner outfield. But at second you’re looking for a complete player with good actions in the field and a good line-drive stroke. Then if the power is there that’s a bonus.”

Twins vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff had a different view and sees the change in the big leagues re-shaping the way amateur players are evaluated.