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Complete 2013 Projections

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ESPN's projections are the product of an analysis of a player's past performance, growth or regression potential and expected playing opportunity. While the overall ranking is based in large part on the player's projected performance, it also takes into account risk factors such as age, injury history and past statistical fluidity, the players' ceiling (upside), as well as positional and categorical scarcity.

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PROJECTED 2013 SEASON STATS

1. Robinson Cano, NYY 2B	YEAR		AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS		PTS
	2012 Statistics		627	105	33	94	61	96	3	.313	.379	.550	.929		561
	2013 Projections		627	106	33	109	54	91	6	.313	.373	.555	.928		581.5
2013 Outlook: Now 30 years old and in the prime of his career, Cano is riding a streak of four consecutive seasons with at least a .300 batting average and 25 home runs. To put that into historical perspective, only one second baseman in history has had more such seasons in his entire career: Rogers Hornsby, who had five. Cano is the best run-producing second baseman in fantasy baseball, he has Yankee Stadium's short porch helping his cause -- he has hit 21 more home runs there (68) than on the road (47) since it opened -- and he's playing for a new contract this summer. If he has any warts, they're either his career-worst performance against lefties in 2012 (.239/.309/.337), his rising swing-and-miss rate (20 percent, up 2 percent from 2011) or the fact that his Yankees lack some of the firepower that their teams of the past decade had, impacting his runs/RBIs potential. But we admit that we're nitpicking; Cano's chances at another top-10-in-the-game season remain outstanding.

2. Dustin Pedroia, Bos 2B	YEAR		AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS		PTS
	2012 Statistics		563	81	15	65	48	60	20	.290	.347	.449	.797		451
	2013 Projections		600	92	17	70	67	70	20	.293	.364	.453	.818		500
2013 Outlook: It was not the best year for Pedroia or his right hand. In early May, the diminutive second baseman sprained his right thumb, but he toughed it out at the expense of production, as evidenced by his uncharacteristically poor pre-All-Star-break line of .266 with only six homers and six steals. Then in late July, Pedroia tore a ligament in his right pinkie, which necessitated offseason surgery. The pinkie did not bother Pedroia nearly as much, as he returned to form, going .318 with nine homers and an impressive 20 steals after the break. Pedroia could be moved down in the order, leading to more RBI opportunities. Regardless, the former rookie of the year and MVP should again be among the most valuable second basemen.

3. Ian Kinsler*, Tex 2B	YEAR		AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS		PTS
	2012 Statistics		655	105	19	72	60	90	21	.256	.326	.423	.749		502
	2013 Projections		615	103	23	68	72	79	21	.265	.349	.450	.799		515.5
2013 Outlook: My, how quickly a player sheds the injury-prone label. After making two trips to the DL in 2010 alone while averaging 124 games played per year from 2006-10, Kinsler amassed the most plate appearances in baseball the past two seasons combined, sitting out only 12 games total in 2011-12. This afforded him the opportunity to total 51 home runs and 51 stolen bases in those two years, making him the only second baseman and one of only three players overall to amass at least 50 of each. With health no longer a valid criticism, Kinsler's only weakness is batting average, odd considering he had a remarkably low strikeout rate (11.4 percent) and swing-and-miss rate (11.8 percent) in those two seasons. No matter -- it's that contact ability that makes him one of the most attractive selections in points-based leagues. Kinsler also makes a compelling case to be picked in the first three rounds in rotisserie, too, considering his skills relative to his second-base brethren.

4. Brandon Phillips, Cin 2B	YEAR		AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS		PTS
	2012 Statistics		580	86	18	77	28	79	15	.281	.321	.429	.750		428.5
	2013 Projections		610	93	18	76	38	81	15	.285	.333	.436	.769		456.5
2013 Outlook: After years of teasing fantasy owners with upside potential, Phillips has settled in as one of the more reliable performers in the game. His skills are solid and he's durable, averaging 654 plate appearances a year since 2007. A fantasy roster should feature both risk and stability. Phillips is the perfect complement to offset some speculative picks elsewhere.

5. Ben Zobrist, TB RF, 2B, SS	YEAR		AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS		PTS
	2012 Statistics		560	88	20	74	97	103	14	.270	.377	.471	.848		490.5
	2013 Projections		565	91	19	82	91	108	17	.269	.369	.462	.831		498
2013 Outlook: After a three-year stretch of solid but inconsistent production, Zobrist has turned in consecutive seasons of nearly identical numbers. This should be considered his new baseline with a bit of power upside if he can loft a few more balls. His qualifying at three positions, including second base and shortstop, adds to Zobrist's value. That said, this also might induce some to reach for the veteran switch-hitter. So if you want him, be ready to pay the price. Of note is that Zobrist's excellent walk rate leads to sneaky value in on-base percentage and points leagues.

6. Jason Kipnis, Cle 2B	YEAR		AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS		PTS
	2012 Statistics		591	86	14	76	67	109	31	.257	.335	.379	.714		453.5
	2013 Projections		606	90	15	70	64	120	25	.257	.332	.393	.725		447
2013 Outlook: Kipnis' career breaks down into three half-seasons of wildly varying performance. During his 36-game stint in the second half of 2011, he hit seven home runs with a .507 slugging percentage, driven by an unrealistic 19.4 home run/fly ball percentage. During the first half of 2012, he ran wild, stealing 20 bases on 21 tries. And in the final half of 2012, he completely collapsed, batting .233/.322/.328. The sum is a player who was clearly adapting to life in the bigs, and his 2013 drafting owners will be taking a leap of faith that this soon-to-be-26-year-old is ready to take the next step. Scouts always felt he was capable of 20-homer potential, and while he's probably more of a 20-steal than 30-steal candidate, a potential 20/20 player carries a lot of value at the second-base position. Kipnis belongs in the top-eight discussion at second base regardless of format, considering he's a good bet for at least 15/15 numbers right now, and his 10.0 percent walk rate last season makes him even more attractive in leagues that use on-base percentage.

7. Aaron Hill*, Ari 2B	YEAR		AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS		PTS
	2012 Statistics		609	93	26	85	52	86	14	.302	.360	.522	.882		528
	2013 Projections		559	80	20	75	45	78	14	.275	.334	.460	.794		441
2013 Outlook: Despite consistent contact and plate discipline skills, Hill's numbers have been all over the place. Since 2009, his homers have ranged from eight to 36, steals from two to 21 and average from .205 to .317, with all four years being represented. In situations such as this, history has taught us that splitting the difference is the prudent play, although treating 2010's low average and 2011's lower power as outliers can be justified. The bottom line is Hill's excellent contact rate makes him a safe play, but like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.

8. Jose Altuve, Hou 2B	YEAR		AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS		PTS
	2012 Statistics		576	80	7	37	40	74	33	.290	.340	.399	.740		405
	2013 Projections		587	77	6	39	34	78	30	.279	.321	.376	.698		379
2013 Outlook: Do you know that old saying, "You can't tell the players without a scorecard?" That's true about the 2013 Houston Astros ... with the possible exception of Altuve, their lone 2012 All-Star representative. But don't discount the kid simply because of that silly rule about every team requiring a rep, or because his supporting cast is a bunch of no-names; Altuve earned his spot with good play. Previously a swing-at-everything, high-contact speedster, Altuve actually showed a hint of patience in his sophomore campaign. He walked 8 percent of the time after the All-Star break, and he chased 13 percent fewer pitches outside the strike zone for the full year. Those improvements help bolster Altuve's potential in the batting average and on-base percentage categories, important because getting on base will drive his stolen-base total, his most valuable asset. Even on a bad team, he might be a shining star at a weak fantasy position.

9. Martin Prado, Ari LF, 2B, 3B	YEAR		AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS		PTS
	2012 Statistics		617	81	10	70	58	69	17	.301	.359	.438	.796		474.5
	2013 Projections		627	88	14	75	51	70	12	.297	.348	.437	.785		472
2013 Outlook: If you're looking for reliability and durability to stabilize your lineup, Prado is your man. Other than a 2011 dip in average, which was the result of an uncharacteristically low BABIP, Prado has been a bastion of consistency. His high contact rate yields a high average, and he has double-digit pop. He even added some steals to his repertoire last season. Granted, Prado likely will not pick up second base or shortstop eligibility this season, but the move to the desert could mean a few more homers. There are sexier players with more upside, but there is something to be said for the peace of mind Prado brings to your squad, regardless of his position.

10. Neil Walker, Pit 2B	YEAR		AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS		PTS
	2012 Statistics		472	62	14	69	47	104	7	.280	.342	.426	.768		336
	2013 Projections		581	76	16	84	56	118	10	.279	.341	.430	.771		421
2013 Outlook: Walker is a viable fall-back plan if you miss out on the elite middle infielders early and just want someone who won't hurt you in the spot. His skills are average, but since Walker does a little of everything and hits near the top of the order, the counting stats can accumulate at a solid rate. The one caveat is Walker has played more than 129 games just once in the past three seasons, in 2011 when he totaled 159. On the other hand, this could depress Walker's market value, and you can always play someone in his stead if necessary.

11. Howie Kendrick, LAA 2B	YEAR		AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS		PTS
	2012 Statistics		550	57	8	67	29	115	14	.287	.325	.400	.725		337.5
	2013 Projections		571	78	12	61	32	114	14	.289	.332	.424	.756		378
2013 Outlook: Kendrick sported the third-highest ground ball percentage in the majors last season, which was a big reason his homers fell from 18 in 2011 to eight. Truth be told, 2011 is the outlier, with low-double-digit bombs being Kendrick's reasonable expectation. Add in low-teens steals with a consistently solid batting average, and Kendrick can hold down the fort in the middle without hurting your squad anywhere. The trade-off for this is limited upside, although 2011's power outburst showed Kendrick has the ability to run into a few more homers. The days of expecting Kendrick to win the batting title are long gone, but he can still help you to a fantasy title with across-the-board production.

12. Danny Espinosa, Wsh 2B, SS	YEAR		AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS		PTS
	2012 Statistics		594	82	17	56	46	189	20	.247	.315	.402	.717		362.5
	2013 Projections		590	80	20	63	52	175	19	.242	.317	.412	.729		381.5
2013 Outlook: Espinosa is one of fantasy's rare power/speed middle infielders -- he was one of five second basemen with at least 15 home runs and stolen bases apiece last season -- but also one of the game's most free-swinging players; he had the seventh-worst strikeout rate (28.7 percent), sixth-worst swing-and-miss rate (32 percent) and fifth-worst swing rate on non-strikes (39 percent) in baseball. That made him both a batting average and on-base percentage liability, and to throw more concerns on the pile, he played through a torn left (non-throwing arm) rotator cuff -- an injury that, if it returns, might eventually require surgery -- and has a talented backup for his position in Stephen Lombardozzi. Fortunately, Espinosa is a middle-of-his-prime 26 (he turns 27 in April), so there's reason to believe he could make a run at 20/20 numbers if healthy, even if his other categories disappoint. That's a rotisserie-league asset; it's probably also a player overrated in things like points-based or head-to-head leagues.

13. Chase Utley*, Phi 2B	YEAR		AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS		PTS
	2012 Statistics		301	48	11	45	43	43	11	.256	.365	.429	.793		264.5
	2013 Projections		433	68	17	62	51	58	13	.270	.364	.455	.819		374
2013 Outlook: Now 34 years old, Utley's downward career slope has manifested itself in two specific aspects: First, his health. He has had disabled list stints that have cost him at least 40 games in each of the past three seasons, sitting out 185 of 486 contests during that three-year span. Second, he's back to struggling against left-handed pitching, sporting .215/.324/.355 rates against lefties in 2012. Forgive Utley those -- and they're understandable if you're familiar with age curves -- and he has actually done a brilliant job remaining a productive batsman and baserunner. Consider this: He had an 82 percent career contact rate before his 30th birthday but 85 percent since. And he has been successful on 95 percent of his stolen-base chances while attempting them on 9 percent of his opportunities since turning 30, compared to 85 percent and 5 percent, respectively, before his 30th birthday. Utley can still contribute to your fantasy team in terms of homers, steals, RBIs and runs, at least when he's healthy. Don't forget about him, but don't forget to draft a contingency plan.

14. Rickie Weeks, Mil 2B	YEAR		AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS		PTS
	2012 Statistics		588	85	21	63	74	169	16	.230	.328	.400	.728		401.5
	2013 Projections		564	89	22	63	69	151	13	.250	.345	.429	.774		410.5
2013 Outlook: Markedly improved production after the All-Star break salvaged what was looking to be a disastrous season for Weeks. After hitting a paltry .199 with eight homers and six steals, Weeks turned it on to the tune of .261 with 13 homers and 10 steals. Ignoring the splits and instead focusing on the season as a whole, Weeks' power continued its descent although his speed rebounded a bit. His contact rate also dipped, which, when combined with lower power, puts his already tenuous average in more peril. Weeks can still produce bountiful counting stats from the middle infield, just be sure to buffer his sliding average.

15. Dan Uggla, Atl 2B	YEAR		AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS		PTS
	2012 Statistics		523	86	19	78	94	168	4	.220	.348	.384	.732		380
	2013 Projections		563	91	27	86	79	153	3	.243	.343	.437	.780		428.5
2013 Outlook: Uggla's owners waited all season and, unlike 2011, the second-half power surge never materialized. The culprit was a significantly depressed HR/FB, which plummeted below 12 percent after averaging a healthy 18 percent from 2008 to '11. Everything else was consistent with career norms, so a bounceback is likely. This means that if you were willing to live with Uggla's low batting average before, you should be willing to live with it again. A return to the 30-HR level would not be a surprise.

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