X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Mid-Round Second Basemen - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Targets

brandon lowe fantasy baseball rankings draft sleepers mlb player news

Welcome officially to the 2022 fantasy baseball season! Now that an MLB deal is in place, a lot more fantasy drafts will be taking place -- and we're here as always to guide you through it. Once you reach the middle rounds of drafts, everyone is looking to draft players with upside that can provide a great return on value. You can afford to start taking a risk or two on a variety of different players, including emerging prospects, overlooked veterans, players returning from injury, or even talented players who may have some playing time concerns. The early rounds are critical and the late rounds are where you can take your chances on dart-throw sleepers, but the middle rounds can absolutely make or break your roster as those picks are going to make up roughly half of your starting lineup.

Today, we're looking at some middle-round second basemen for you to consider drafting in your season-long leagues this season. Are their ADPs undervalued? Will they make significant fantasy contributions and become a mid-round draft target that you're going to want to prioritize? Read on to see our take.

Our editors have hand-picked these specific MLB players for your draft prep enjoyment. Normally only available to Premium subscribers, the five outlooks below are meant to give you a taste of the in-depth analysis you receive with our industry-leading 2022 Draft Kit. Be sure to subscribe today and start reading all of our in-depth 2022 player outlooks, and many other premium articles and tools, available exclusively in our 2022 Draft Kit.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:

 

Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay Rays' second baseman Brandon Lowe had a career year and was one long ball, one RBI shy of joining the 40-homer, 100 RBI club in 2021. He slashed .247/.340/.523 with 39 home runs, 99 RBI, 97 runs scored, and seven stolen bases over 615 plate appearances. The 27-year-old emerged as one of the best power hitters in the game and closed out the season strong with five home runs over his last four contests. Fantasy managers can expect Lowe to blast another 30 homers and swipe 6-to-8 bags, but don't expect the Maryland product to hit for a high average. Lowe did strike out a whopping 28.6% of the time, and his walk percentage dipped from 11.1% in 2020 to 10.2% in 2021.

He should score plenty of runs and is expected to lead off for a loaded Rays lineup, including Randy ArozarenaWander Franco, and Austin Meadows. Lowe could also have dual eligibility at second base and outfield in some league formats, as the Rays slugger logged 15 games in the outfield last season, increasing his fantasy value. Steamer is projecting a .345 WOBA and .244/.332/.479 slash line, which according to Rotoballer's Expected Draft Values, would put Lowe below fair value at his current NFBC ADP of 84.

-- Brad Camara- RotoBaller

 

Tommy Edman, St. Louis Cardinals

Edman is something of a dinosaur in modern baseball, as the speedy infielder was one of only six players to swipe at least 30 bases in 2021, and only one of two National League players to reach that milestone last season. Edman's penchant for steals pushes his fantasy value far above his actual bat skills, meaning his top-80 draft-day price is a dicey proposition for those who rely on and trust in 'quality of contact' metrics. His meager 87.5 MPH average exit velocity and 35.1% hard-hit rate last season leaves something to be desired, and his 4.2% barrel rate in 2021 was downright pitiful. He made the most of his limited physical abilities at the dish by putting the ball in play with an 86.5% contact rate and 13.7% K rate in 2021, and keeping it on the ground, with a 46% GB rate last season, an approach that perfectly complements his speed-first skillset.

The frequent contact is nice, but his 5.5% career walk rate puts a cap on his on-base upside, and with just a .308 OBP last season, one has to wonder how strong Edman's grip on St. Louis's leadoff spot is, especially since the Cardinals will welcome new manager Oliver Marmol in 2022. A new manager might spell trouble for Edman's stolen base totals well; Mike Shildt was let go over "Philosophical differences", and while the general public will likely never know specifics, one can assume those differences were more related to lineup construction and baserunning strategy than debates about Nietzsche and Heidegger. We can't know how the changing of the guard will affect Edman, but between the new manager and suspect hitting skills, there are reasons to doubt a repeat season here. Still, players who can put up 30 steals don't grow on trees, so Edman may be a worthy gamble in 5x5 Roto or categories leagues if his manager can structure the rest of their team with reliable sources of power and batting average.

--Elliott Baas - RotoBaller

 

Jazz Chisholm Jr., Miami Marlins

Miami Marlins' second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. displayed his power-speed combo last season, smashing 18 HRs and swiping 23 bags while adding 70 runs and 53 RBI in 124 games. However, he showed a lot of contact issues, hitting .248 with a 28.6 K% to just a 6.7 BB%. Plate discipline was a big problem, chasing pitches 30.8% of the time, and he was in the 17th percentile for Whiff%. The Bahamian product did improve over the year, though, striking out at a 24.6% clip in the second half. Chisholm hit the ball hard (84th percentile for max exit velocity, 9.0 Barrel%) but got on top of the ball too often (49.4 GB%), limiting his power. If the Marlins bat him at the top of the order again, he should rack up at least 80 runs and RBI, and if he can maintain his post-All-Star break strikeout rate, he should keep his batting average around .250, especially with his speed.

However, there's a lot of risk in the young infielder. His minor league numbers show he's never hit much for average and has had strikeout issues throughout his pro career. He has legitimate 25-25 upside, though, and his 129 ADP is an appropriate place to take a shot on him with the hopes that he can improve his contact rates.

-- Spencer Seguin - RotoBaller



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!




More Fantasy Baseball Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Derrick Jones Jr.33 mins ago

Moving Into Starting Five
D'Angelo Russell42 mins ago

Ruled Out For Wednesday
Deni Avdija53 mins ago

Tagged As Doubtful For Thursday
Jerami Grant59 mins ago

To Remain Sidelined On Thursday
Bam Adebayo1 hour ago

Available On Wednesday
Aaron Gordon1 hour ago

Ruled Out For Wednesday
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.1 hour ago

Mets Have Checked In On Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Jamal Murray1 hour ago

Good To Go On Wednesday
Nikola Jokic2 hours ago

Out Versus The Rockets
Karl-Anthony Towns2 hours ago

Dealing With Multiple Issues With His Thumb
Trayce Jackson-Davis2 hours ago

Active For Wednesday Against Timberwolves
Kyle Anderson2 hours ago

Inactive On Wednesday Against Timberwolves
Draymond Green2 hours ago

Out On Wednesday Against Timberwolves
Gary Trent Jr.2 hours ago

Misses Third Consecutive Game
Tari Eason2 hours ago

Out For Wednesday Night Matchup Against Nuggets
Khris Middleton2 hours ago

Returns To Bucks Lineup
Kyrie Irving2 hours ago

Officially Out On Wednesday Night
Giannis Antetokounmpo2 hours ago

Available For Wednesday's Contest
Jay Huff2 hours ago

Available For Wednesday Against Spurs
Dejounte Murray2 hours ago

Available On Wednesday For Matchup Against Mavericks
Donovan Clingan2 hours ago

To Be Re-Evaluated In One Week
A.J. Brown2 hours ago

Held Out On Wednesday
Josh Okogie3 hours ago

Hornets Acquire Josh Okogie In A Trade With Phoenix
Alex Laferriere4 hours ago

Ruled Out For Thursday
Joe Mixon4 hours ago

Finds His Way Onto Injury Report On Wednesday
Calvin Pickard4 hours ago

Faces Wild Wednesday
Mattias Samuelsson4 hours ago

Returns To Sabres Lineup
Brock Faber4 hours ago

Still Out Wednesday
Kirill Kaprizov5 hours ago

To Miss 10th Consecutive Game
CAR5 hours ago

Dustin Tokarski Gets The Nod For Wednesday's Action
Mattias Ekholm5 hours ago

A Game-Time Decision Wednesday
Lamar Jackson5 hours ago

Not On The Injury Report For Divisional Round
Tristan Jarry5 hours ago

Placed On Waivers
Diontae Johnson5 hours ago

Ravens Claim Diontae Johnson Off Waivers From Texans
Will Zalatoris8 hours ago

Looking To Keep Momentum Going At The AmEx
Zay Flowers8 hours ago

Missing From Wednesday's Practice
Ha-Seong Kim8 hours ago

Unlikely To Be Ready For Opening Day
Las Vegas Raiders9 hours ago

Momentum Building For Ben Johnson To Become Raiders Next Head Coach
David Montgomery10 hours ago

Says He's "Ready To Go"
Indianapolis Colts10 hours ago

Colts To Play In First-Ever NFL Game In Berlin In 2025
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.13 hours ago

Given Contract-Extension Deadline
Leevi Merilainen14 hours ago

Wins Third Straight Contest On Tuesday
David Pastrnak14 hours ago

Busy In Tuesday's Victory
Kyle Connor14 hours ago

Scores Natural Hat Trick In Victory
Cole Caufield15 hours ago

Tallies Pair Of Points On Tuesday
Ryan McDonagh15 hours ago

Exits Tuesday's Contest Early
Thomas Chabot15 hours ago

Exits Early On Tuesday
PGA24 hours ago

J.T. Poston A Volatile Player With Upside At American Express
Justin Thomas24 hours ago

Fits The AmEx Layouts Like A Glove
J.J. Spaun1 day ago

Carrying Plenty Of Momentum Into American Express
Adam Schenk1 day ago

Breaks Slump Ahead Of American Express
Alex Bregman1 day ago

Cubs Having Contract Conversations With Alex Bregman
Patrick Mahomes1 day ago

Practices In Full On Tuesday
Isiah Pacheco1 day ago

Practices In Full On Tuesday
Troy Terry1 day ago

Returns To Action Tuesday
John Marino1 day ago

Set For Utah Debut On Tuesday
Jack Eichel1 day ago

Expected To Return To Vegas Lineup Tuesday
Charlie McAvoy1 day ago

Lands On Injured Reserve
Taylor Moore1 day ago

Struggles Continue Ahead Of American Express
Chris Kreider1 day ago

Poised To Return Tuesday
Michael Bunting1 day ago

Back For Penguins Tuesday
Evgeni Malkin1 day ago

On Track To Return Tuesday
David Montgomery1 day ago

Practicing In Full
Tom Kim1 day ago

Looking To Bounce Back At American Express
Diontae Johnson1 day ago

Cut Loose By Texans
Wyndham Clark1 day ago

Looking To Keep Momentum Going At La Quinta
PGA1 day ago

Sungjae Im Is A Hot Commodity At The American Express
Christiaan Bezuidenhout1 day ago

Makes 2025 Debut At PGA West
Harry Hall1 day ago

In Great Form Ahead Of American Express
Eric Cole1 day ago

Seeking First Tour Victory At American Express
Tony Finau1 day ago

Eyeing Victory At American Express
Ben Griffin1 day ago

Looks To Stay Hot At La Quinta
Billy Horschel1 day ago

A Fade Candidate At American Express
Kurt Kitayama1 day ago

In Solid Form Ahead Of American Express
Keith Mitchell1 day ago

Tough To Trust At American Express
Patrick Rodgers1 day ago

A Player To Fade At The American Express
PGA1 day ago

Ben Silverman A Risky Option At PGA West
Nick Taylor1 day ago

Aims For Back-To-Back Victories At American Express
Cameron Young1 day ago

A Golfer To Watch At American Express
Luis Arraez2 days ago

Padres Would Prefer To Hold Luis Arraez
Tyler Higbee2 days ago

In Stable Condition At Hospital, Expected To Be OK
Los Angeles Rams2 days ago

Rams Defense Wreaks Havoc Monday
Chicago Bears2 days ago

Mike McCarthy Set For Meeting With Chicago
Dallas Cowboys2 days ago

Deion Sanders In Talks With Cowboys About Head-Coaching Vacancy
MLB2 days ago

Dodgers, Padres, Blue Jays Finalists For Roki Sasaki
Donovan Solano2 days ago

Inks One-Year Deal With Seattle
Jayden Reed2 days ago

Doesn't Need Shoulder Surgery
Zay Flowers2 days ago

Ravens In "We'll-See" Mode With Zay Flowers
Lamar Jackson2 days ago

Not Expected To Be Limited In Practice This Week
Justin Verlander2 days ago

Feeling Good
Las Vegas Raiders2 days ago

Raiders "Enamored" With Ben Johnson
Dallas Cowboys2 days ago

Mike McCarthy Out In Dallas
Amanda Ribas2 days ago

Loses Second Fight In A Row
Mackenzie Dern2 days ago

Scores Submission Victory At UFC Vegas 101
Carlston Harris2 days ago

Gets TKO'd At UFC Vegas 101
Santiago Ponzinibbio2 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Abdul Razak Alhassan3 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC Vegas 101
Cesar Almeida3 days ago

Scores Knockout Victory
Robert Suarez3 days ago

Padres Have "Entertained" Trade Talks For Robert Suarez
Uros Medic3 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC Vegas 101
Punahele Soriano3 days ago

Gets A Knockout Win At UFC Vegas 101
Austin Bashi3 days ago

Suffers First Career Loss At UFC Vegas 101
Christian Rodriguez3 days ago

Pulls Off Upset At UFC Vegas 101
Chris Curtis3 days ago

Gets Finished At UFC Vegas 101
Roman Kopylov3 days ago

Scores Last-Second Knockout At UFC Vegas 101
Bo Bichette3 days ago

Has "No Real Interest" In Re-Signing With Toronto
Yandy Díaz3 days ago

Yandy Diaz Not Expected To Be Traded
Sean Sullivan4 days ago

Invited To Spring Training
Sandy Alcantara5 days ago

Will Not Be Traded Before Opening Day
Jeff Hoffman5 days ago

Inks Three-Year Deal With Toronto
Amanda Ribas5 days ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Mackenzie Dern5 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 101
Zac Gallen5 days ago

Diamondbacks Avoid Arbitration With Zac Gallen
Josh Jung5 days ago

Will Be Full-Go For Spring Training
Santiago Ponzinibbio5 days ago

Set For Co-Main Event
Carlston Harris5 days ago

Set For Welterweight Matchup
Pete Alonso5 days ago

No Deal Close Between Pete Alonso And The Mets
Abdul Razak Alhassan5 days ago

Returns To Action At UFC Vegas 101
Cesar Almeida5 days ago

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Uros Medic5 days ago

Opens Up UFC Vegas 101 Main Card
Punahele Soriano5 days ago

Remains At Welterweight At UFC Vegas 101
Christian Rodriguez5 days ago

Looks To Start Off 2025 On Right Note At UFC Vegas 101
Josh Naylor6 days ago

Diamondbacks Avoid Arbitration
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.6 days ago

Blue Jays Avoid Arbitration
Andrew Kittredge6 days ago

Inks One-Year Deal With Baltimore

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP