2013 MLB Draft Prospects: 10 Best Second Basemen in the 2013 Draft Class

Outside of the Weeks brothers, few second baseman have been drafted in the top half of the first round of the MLB draft over the last decade.

Of course, some players have quickly changed positions to become second baseman, but there seems to be less value placed on taking high school or college players at that position very high in the annual June draft.

While the game today is littered with legitimate stars at second base—Robinson Cano, Dustin Pedrioa, Brandon Phillips, Ian Kinsler—all skew as in their prime or about to leave their prime, respectively.

While Chase Utley paced the field years ago, his health and game have slipped in recent years.

In San Diego, Jedd Gyorko represents a future star at the position, unless he eventually shifts back to third base.

In short, the position could use a youth movement around the game. Odds are, this class will provide the next big thing at second base in baseball.

Here are the 10 best second basemen in the 2013 draft class.

1. Cavan Biggio, St. Thomas HS, Houston

Any second base prospect receiving four years of coaching from future Hall of Famer and 3,000-hit man Craig Biggio would be ahead of his peers at the position.

When that coach and former great doubles as your father, the sky is the limit when it comes to lineage, coaching and future potential.

Cavan Biggio is the top second base prospect in the 2013 MLB draft, taking a different route than his father did coming out of Seton Hall University in 1987.

Although he signed with Notre Dame, a Seton Hall rival, expect Biggio to be taken within the first few rounds and begin his professional career this summer.

2. JaCoby Jones, Louisiana State

Jones, the 19th-round selection of the Houston Astros in 2010, is heading back into the draft after excelling in the SEC for LSU since opting to attend college.

When evaluating Jones' future potential, expect teams to focus on his tools. He's strong, has the ability to play all over the infield and can develop into a hitter with legitimate power.

On the other hand, his approach at the plate still needs work. Last summer during the Cape Cod League, where he won the Home Run Derby, his BB/K ratio was a porous 10/55.

His name deserves to be called early on in the 2013 MLB draft. With the right coaching and work, he'll arrive at a ballpark near you sooner than later.

3. Myles Smith, Lee (Tenn.)

Smith profiles as a scouting director's dream. Although he may be drafted and developed as strictly a second baseman, he's played shortstop and pitched throughout his high school and college career.

Depending on how his bat plays at the lower levels of the professional ranks, his future could be on the mound.

However, he clearly has the ability to field in the middle of the diamond at a very, very high level.

In fact, with an arm as dynamic as Myles', some may see his greatest tool as potentially wasted at second base. While an outstanding arm isn't often a requirement to play the position at a high level, it doesn't hurt.

Just watch Robinson Cano for evidence there.

4. Jamie Westbrook, Basha HS, Chandler, Ariz.

While Westbrook has athletic ability, defensive prowess and idea of how to approach an at-bat, the tool that will land him in a professional baseball organization this summer is power.

Legitimate, professional power.

Without the luxuries of professional trainers, state-of-the-art weight room or the natural strength that will come with maturity, Westbrook has shown flashes of strength in Arizona that profile very, very well for his future.

His frame isn't very large, so it's clear that the torque and bat speed in his swing are providing the lift.

5. Kean Wong, Waiakea HS, Hilo, Hawaii

If this name, player type and background sound familiar, you aren't crazy. In fact, you might just be a St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Two years ago, St. Louis selected Kean's brother, Kolten, in the first round of the 2011 draft. Currently, he's knocking on the door to the big leagues for Mike Matheny's first-place squad.

Kean, a very similar player, spent most of his high school days behind the plate, but profiles as a second base prospect, strong left-handed hitter and possesses a great deal of plate coverage for someone so young.

His background at the Hlio Baseball Academy couldn't have hurt, either. During a summer 2011 trip to Hawaii, I was taken aback at how highly the locals spoke of the coaching, training and fundamentals shown by that team and the players produced there.

Wong isn't just a good player, he's one of the surest bets in this group.

6. Malik Collymore, HS, Canada

Short, compact swing. Speed. Strong arm.

When assessing middle infield talent in baseball, it's hard to ask for much more than Collymore provides as a young player.

Of course, there's a chance he could be under-the-radar due to playing in Canada.

Baseball fans would like to think that scouting departments are keen enough to not let a diamond in the rough slip by because of geographical location, especially those in Canada with the success of Joey Votto, Justin Morneau and, back in the day, Larry Walker.

If Collymore's name isn't called in the top half of the draft, something went wrong.

7. Gosuke Katoh, Rancho Bernardo (Calif.) HS

While Katoh played shortstop for the majority of his high school career, there's concern over his arm strength moving forward.

For a team envisioning him as a second baseman with pop in his bat, he could be a steal in the early-to-middle rounds of the MLB draft.

His left-handed swing is quick, compact and short to the ball, but that hasn't limited his ability to drive the baseball when he wants.

Professional hitting coaches will be working with a self-taught left-handed hitter who has an idea of what he's trying to accomplish at the plate well in advance of most his age.

Expect the names of previous Rancho Bernardo alumni, Cole Hamels and Hank Blalock, to be brought up during Katoh's development.

8. L.J. Mazzilli, Connecticut

Much like Cavan Biggio, L.J. Mazzilli has grown up with the gift of baseball bloodlines, great coaching and a father that excelled on the diamond.

While Lee Mazzilli didn't have close to the career on the field that Craig Biggio did, he stayed around the game for a long time as a coach and manager, allowing his son, L.J., to see the game from behind the scenes, what it took to play in the show and the constant work that professional players put in to make it and stay in the big leagues.

All that has helped transform L.J. from UConn standout to a legitimate second base prospect in the upcoming draft.

If he follows his father's footsteps, a New York team could come calling in a few weeks.

9. Tony Kemp, Vanderbilt

When assessing the future of a young player, the ability to play multiple positions, adapt and accept coaching is crucial. Few players are close to big-league ready, thus making the need for development and acceptance vital in maximizing the tools that are already there.

Vanderbilt's head coach, Tim Corbin, summed up why so many franchises will be enamored with Tony Kemp when they take the time to scout him leading up to the June draft. From the team's official website:

"

Tony is a special talent. It takes a rare athlete to make a move from the outfield to second base in the middle of the season and play it proficiently. His physical tools are uncommon and his positive personality is infectious. He is one the most exciting players we have had in our program in quite sometime.

"

Count Kemp as a rare athlete that will be valued highly in the 2013 draft.

10. Dominic Ficociello, Arkansas

From high school to the SEC, Ficociello seems to have the ability to grow as a player every single season.

As scouts evaluate his potential heading into the 2013 draft, it would be short-sighted to expect his development to level off anytime soon. While his tools aren't as highly thought of as his second base comrades in this particular class, the knack for adjusting and thriving on a year-to-year basis will likely endear Ficociello to scouts.

If that's not enough of a selling point, the catch he made in the video above is reason enough to be excited about his ability on the diamond!


Who is your favorite prospect in the 2013 MLB draft?

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