2016 AL East Rankings by Position: Second Base
By Nate Wardle
4. Baltimore Orioles – Jonathan Schoop, Ryan Flaherty, Jimmy Paredes, Steve Tolleson
This is hard for me, because I firmly believe that if Jonathan Schoop stays healthy, he will break out and be the best second baseman in the division in 2016. However, staying healthy has been an issue for Schoop in his young MLB career. The 24-year-old hit .279/.306/.482 in 2015 and is by far the best power hitter of the AL East second basemen. Schoop had 15 HRs, 17 2Bs, 39 RBIs, and 34 runs in 86 games.
Schoop has the potential, if healthy, to double each of those numbers for the Orioles in 2016. That is the talent he possesses. He has become a more patient hitter, and is a guy who has a really strong build.
Schoop did not rate as a strong defender in 2015 like his did in 2014, but does not commit many errors and turns a number of double plays that other players won’t because of his strong arm. If Schoop plays in 135 or more games, the Orioles won’t finish fourth on this list, write that down.
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The other problems lie behind Schoop. The Orioles’ utility infielder, Flaherty, has never hit over .225, and suffers from prolonged 0-fer slumps. He does have some power, but is very inconsistent at the plate, despite being a very solid fielder.
Paredes is the opposite, a guy who is a decent hitter, but is terrible with the glove. You look at his 2015 numbers, and Paredes hit .275/.310/.416. Not bad at all. But, then you look at his first half and second half splits. Paredes was nothing short of sensational in the first half, putting himself in the talk for All-Star status. The second half, he was equally as bad. Paredes struck out 111 times, compared to only 19 walks, so he is certainly a free swinger. Paredes has a chance to make the Orioles, but he is going to have to show he is not a liability defensively for Buck Showalter.
Tolleson, who has played for the Orioles before, is a journeyman utility infielder who is an insurance piece for the Orioles. Another possible option here is Paul Janish, who in my mind would be a better utility type than Flaherty or Tolleson for the Orioles.
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