Baltimore Orioles: Best 2nd Basemen in the Last 30 Years

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ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 03: Hanser Alberto #57 of the Baltimore Orioles turns a double play in the fourth inning during the first game of a doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 03, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Continuing our series of the best Baltimore Orioles to play the game in the last 30 years, let’s move around the bases to second.

Second base is often the least respected position, but not for the Baltimore Orioles. Some outstanding men have fielded this position.

We’ve looked at first base, looking at big men who hit the ball hard and made quick scoops. Chris Davis, Jeff Conine, and Rafael Palmeiro lead the Orioles in WAR while playing first base.

But, the defensive skills at second base are slightly different. This position requires agility and range. Players at second base do not have to be as tall as those who play first. They need to have quick feet, but still have the ability to hit for average or better.

Today’s best second basemen are players who are agile and strong. They can cover a serious amount of ground, often going deep into right field or off into foul territory to snag a fly. They need to work with the shortstop to make double plays, and they have to help prevent steals from first.

When looking at the best second basemen in the last 30 years, let’s look at who was at the top in 2019. According to batting stats, Yankees DJ LeMahieu lead the league with a slash of .327/.375/.518. Mike Moustakas hit 35 home runs to lead the MLB. Orioles second baseman, Jonathan Villar, led 2019 second basemen with 40 stolen bases.

Not to be forgotten in 2019 is Hanser Alberto. After joining the Orioles in March of 2019, he and Villar split their time between second and short. Alberto also occasionally filled in at third and in the outfield, too. When comparing his batting stats to the rest of the men who played second, he had the second-highest batting average of .305. He finished above perpetual leaders like Whit Merrifield, Jose Altuve, and Jason Kipnis.

Let’s look back at the best second basemen from the 2010s, 2000s, and 1990s.

BALTIMORE, MD – JULY 28: Jonathan Schoop #6 of the Baltimore Orioles tags out Kevin Kiermaier #39 of the Tampa Bay Rays trying stretch a single into a double in the first inning during a baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 28, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

When looking at the recent Orioles history, one man dominated second base during the 2010s. That man is Jonathan Schoop. He debuted with the Orioles in 2013 and the Curacao native put on a second-baseman clinic during his time with the team.

In 2018, the Orioles traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers and he wasn’t quite himself. Then, in 2019 he returned to form after being granted free agency and signing with the Minnesota Twins. He is scheduled to play second base for the Detroit Tigers in 2020.

He played for the Orioles between 2013 and the July trade deadline of 2018. While he was always a reliable player at second, his best year was 2017 when he earned a 6.3 WAR and played in his one-and-only All-Star Game.

During his career with the Orioles, he always had a positive WAR, adding up to 14.6 over the years. Defensively, he was always above average in range per nine. In 2016 and 2017, he was at the top of the pack with assists by a second baseman, and in 2017, he led the league in put-outs at second. In 2016, he had the third best fielding percentage as a second basemen.

Offensively, Schoop was a solid bat with the Orioles. His career slash with the Birds was .261/.296/.450. During his All-Star season, he hit .293/.338/.503. Schoop began the 2017 batting in the bottom half of the lineup, moving between six, seven, and eight. But, by mid-June, Buck Showalter changed the lineup for the remainder of the season, moving Manny Machado to the second spot and Schoop to the third hole. They stayed that way for the remainder of the season.

His 2017 season was so good that he was in discussion for an MVP award. While he didn’t win, he finished 12th in the voting. Jose Altuve won that season, followed by Aaron Judge and Jose Ramirez.

TORONTO, CANADA – SEPTEMBER 14: Anthony Gose #8 of the Toronto Blue Jays is caught stealing second base in the fifth inning during MLB game action as Brian Roberts #1 of the Baltimore Orioles prepares to apply the tag on September 14, 2013 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

During the 2000s, Brian Roberts was the top Orioles second basemen. Other than a brief stint with the Yankees in 2014, Roberts was a career Oriole who came up in the system. He played second base throughout the decade and dipped a bit into it during the early 2010s.

In his 14-year career, Roberts only had two seasons with negative WAR numbers. His career WAR with the O’s was 28.8. His top season, statistically was 2005, when he had an outstanding WAR of 7.3. He finished 18th in the AL MVP votes that year.

Roberts went to two All-Star Games: 2005 and 2007. Standing all of 5’9, he was an agile man built for the position.

As a switch-hitting batter, his slash with the Orioles was .278/.349/.412. He topped .300, once, when he hit .314/.387/.515 in 2005. During that year, he hit 18 home runs, which remained his apex. Roberts’ strength was in hitting doubles and stealing bases. He led the league in doubles in 2004 and 2009, with 50 and 56 respectively. In 2007, his other All-Star season, he led the league in stolen bases with 50. In fact, between 2003 and 2010, he consistently had double-digit stolen bases.

Unfortunately, Roberts had a few issues during his career with the Orioles. He had a fluke concussion in 2010, when he hit himself in the head with a bat. He suffered a second concussion in 2011 after a head-first slide into first base. In 2013, he suffered a knee injury early in the season; he was never the same after that injury.

While injuries changed his career, the most damaging part of his career was admitting to steroid use. He was named in the Mitchell Report, but did not talk with investigators. He told reporters that he used them early in his career, but only once.

During the 1990s, the Orioles had several players who stood in at second base. Billy Ripken, Harold Reynolds, and Mark McLemore all played second base and had notable statistics.

But one man stands out from the rest: Roberto Alomar.

He played second base for the Orioles for three seasons: 1996-1998. During those three seasons, he earned two Gold Glove Awards, a Silver Slugger, and three All-Star berths. He also earned MVP votes in two seasons.

Alomar was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2011, on his second ballot. He earned 90% of the vote, and is wearing a Blue Jays cap on his plaque. He’s the first player to enter the Hall wearing a Blue Jays cap.

Continuing our series of the best Baltimore Orioles to play the game in the last 30 years, let’s move around the bases to second.

When looking at the recent Orioles history, one man dominated second base during the 2010s. That man is Jonathan Schoop. He debuted with the Orioles in 2013 and the Curacao native put on a second-baseman clinic during his time with the team.

During the 2000s, Brian Roberts was the top Orioles second basemen. Other than a brief stint with the Yankees in 2014, Roberts was a career Oriole who came up in the system. He played second base throughout the decade and dipped a bit into it during the early 2010s.

During the 1990s, the Orioles had several players who stood in at second base. Billy Ripken, Harold Reynolds, and Mark McLemore all played second base and had notable statistics.

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