2016 AL East Rankings by Position: Second Base
By Nate Wardle
3. Tampa Bay Rays – Logan Forsythe, Steve Pearce, Tim Beckham, Ryan Brett
Forsythe had a breakout year in his second season in Tampa Bay in 2015. He finished with a .281/.359/.444 slash line with 17 HRs, 33 2Bs, 68 RBIs, and 69 runs for the Rays. Logan is also a very good defender, rating positively in dWAR in 2015. In fact, his 5.0 WAR was very good. Forsythe also was fourth in the AL in HBP, showing his is willing to sacrifice his body for his team.
Forsythe made 123 starts at second base in 2015 and only made seven errors, which is very good. The only thing left now is to prove that he can sustain his 2015 success.
Pearce is also the backup at first base, but first grabbed a second base glove in 2015 for the Orioles. His range at the position wasn’t great, but he is a much bitter hitter than Tim Beckham, the Rays’ other option. Pearce also struggled mightily in 2015 at the plate, hitting below .220. If he has to play a major role in 2016 for Tampa Bay, Pearce is going to have to prove he can hit in a uniform that does not say Baltimore on the front.
Beckham is a number one draft pick of the Rays who has never lived up to his potential, despite many opportunities. At 26, he can still prove he can play in the majors but will have to improve on 2015, where in 82 games he hit .222/.274/.429 with 9 HR, 7 2B, 37 RBIs, 24 runs scored, and 69 strike outs as compared to only 13 walks. Beckham is still on his rookie contract, and it is time to prove he can compete in the major leagues, something he has not done so far.
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