AL East Positional Rankings: Baltimore Orioles’ Jonathan Schoop Joins Long List of All-Star Second Basemen
By Nate Wardle
3. Boston Red Sox
Second basemen: Dustin Pedroia, Eduardo Nunez, Brock Holt, Josh Rutledge
The Red Sox ended up using some second basemen as Pedroia’s knee caused him issues for much of the season. Despite it, Pedroia hit .293/.369/.392 with seven home runs, 19 doubles, 62 runs batted in, and 46 runs scored in 105 games. Pedroia combined a 1.7 offensive WAR with a 0.1 defensive WAR for what in some ways was his worse season of his career.
Pedroia started 97 games at second base, committing only two errors for a fielding percentage of .995. His range was low, and some of his other metrics were not good, and on an injured knee that shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Nunez did a fantastic job in Boston, filling in primarily at second base despite being reasonably inexperienced at the position. He hit .321/.353/.539 in Boston with eight home runs, 12 doubles, 27 runs batted in and 23 runs scored in only 38 games played.
Nunez’s defense was not great, but a guy who almost doubled his games played at the position will get a pass on that.
Holt had a miserable season, battling vertigo for much of the year and slumping to a .200/.305/.243 line.
Rutledge was a little better, as he continues to fill the optionable utility player role for Boston.
Pedroia is under contract for several more years (2021), but with two injury-plagued seasons in the last three, one has to wonder if he can stay healthy.