MLB Pipeline will announce its 2023 Top 100 Prospects list on Thursday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. ET with an hour-long show on MLB Network and MLB.com. In advance of the release of the Top 100, we’ll be examining baseball’s top 10 prospects at each position.
Second base is one of the least tool rich positions. However, with clubs increasingly emphasizing batting ability, second basemen are working their way into the first round of the draft more than ever.
In the last five drafts, six second basemen have started in the first round: Michael Busch (2019); Nick Gonzales, Justin Foscue and Nick Yorke (2020); and Termarr Johnson and Jace Jung (2022). This total represents the number of Keystone first-rounders from the first 35 drafts. The 2020 and 2022 drafts doubled the number of times multiple second basemen played in the same first round.
Unsurprisingly, our list of the top 10 second base prospects includes all six of these first-rounders—the most we’ve ever featured.
The Top 10 (ETA)
1. Termarr Johnson, Pirates (2025)
2. Michael Busch, Dodgers (2023)
3. Jace Jung, Tigers (2025)
4. Justin Foscue, Rangers (2023)
5. Zack Gelof, Athletics (2023)
6. Connor Norby, Orioles (2023)
7. Edouard Julien, Twins (2023)
8. Nick Gonzales, Pirates (2023)
9. Nick Yorke, Red Sox (2024)
10.Wenceel Perez, Tigers (2023)
Complete list “
Top 10 prospects by position:
RHP | LHP | C | 1B | 2 B
1/23:3B
1/24: SS
1/25: FROM
1/26: Top 100
Hit: Johnson (70)
Scouts considered Johnson the best high school batsman in years, with one saying he combined Wade Boggs’ plate discipline with Vladimir Guerrero Sr.’s bat-to-ball skills. The fourth overall pick in the 2022 draft, he has a compact left-handed strike, excellent hand-eye coordination, and advanced swing decisions.
Power: Johnson, Busch (60)
Johnson isn’t particularly physical at a listed 5-foot-7 and 175 pounds, but his racquet speed, strength and ball-getting ability project to generate plus power. Busch has more raw pop, and last season ranked third in the minors in extra base hits (70) and total bases (285) and sixth in home runs (32) while measuring the time between double-A and Triple-A split.
Run: Perez (60)
Perez’s Plus Speed results in more extra base hits and base advances than steals. He finished fourth in the minors last year with 10 triples while stealing 18 pockets in 23 attempts between high-A and double-A.
Arm: Perez (55)
While second base isn’t a position associated with arm strength, Perez does have a solid arm that allows him to play throughout the infield. That could prove useful as the arrival of 2022 first-rounder Jung could make Perez more of a utilityman for the Tigers in the long run.
Field: Johnson (55)
Although his average arm and speed dictated a move from shortstop to second base, Johnson has the makings of a solid defenseman in his new position. His hands and feet work well and he’s focused on improving his speed and agility to increase his range.
Highest ceiling: Johnson
Johnson has the potential to win batting titles while delivering 25-30 homers a season and being an asset on defense. That is the description of an eternal All-Star.
Top floor: bush
Busch has lived up to his reputation as one of the top all-around offensive players in the 2019 collegiate class, hitting .274/.365/.516 in his first fully healthy season as a pro in 2022. He should be average and hitting power while doing a lot of walks and he has worked to transform himself into an adequate defender.
Rookie of the Year Contestant: Busch
At least half of our top 10 should make their big league debuts this season, with Busch having less to prove than anyone else in the minors. However, he needs to find at-bats in a crowded Dodgers roster that also includes talented rookies Miguel Vargas and James Outman.
Highest climber: Julien
Although Julien led the Minors with 110 walks in his first full pro season in 2021, he only made the top 100 prospects last season. He hit .300/.441/.490 in Double-A while finishing fifth in on-base percentage and sixth in walks (98) with the minors, then hit .400/.563/.686 in the Arizona Fall League and led the development cycle in batting, OBP, OPS (1,249), running (24), and walking (23).
Smallest beginning: Julien
The only members of our top 10 who didn’t receive seven-figure signing bonuses were Julien and Perez, who were appreciated as high-profile candidates but not standout talent. Julien signed in 2019 for a $493,000 over slot as an Auburn sophomore of Round 18, while Perez turned pro in 2016 for $550,000 from the Dominican Republic.
Most to prove: Yorke
A surprise first-round pick in 2020, Yorke led the Low-A East in hits (.323) and OPS (.913) in his pro debut the following year, but broke to .232/ on deals last season. .303/.365 one with injuries and ill-advised adjustments. He looked like his old self in the AFL, hitting .342/.424/.526.
Keep an eye on: Eguy Rosario, Padres
Signed by the Dominican Republic in 2015 for $300,000, Rosario broke out on the record six years later and won in Triple-A last season with a .288/.368/.508 with 22 homers and 21 steals. Listed at 5-foot-9 and 150 pounds, he has feel to hit, some deceptive power and solid speed.