Kansas City Royals Countdown: Top Five Second Basemen

Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

5. Mike Aviles (2008-2011, 4.6 WAR)

Mike Aviles did not reach the major leagues until he was 27 years old. By that time, he had spent two and a half years with the Omaha Storm Chasers, where he had nothing left to prove. Yet, the Kansas City Royals still seemed to consider him as a AAA player, despite his solid showing.

Once he reached the majors, Aviles did a tremendous job filling in around the diamond. Initially brought up as a shortstop, Aviles took over as the Royals primary second baseman in 2010 while filling in at short and third. While he may not be spectacular at any one position defensively, Aviles did finish eighth in the American League in defensive WAR at 1.2 in his rookie year.

Offensively, Mike Aviles was a solid player for the Royals. He produced a .286/.317/.417 batting line, hitting 21 home runs and 57 doubles. Considering that, for the most part, Aviles had to force his way into the lineup, that production was pretty solid.

If Aviles had gotten a chance earlier, he would likely be higher on this list. As it was, he did a solid job in his three and a half seasons, despite injuries and inconsistent playing time.

Next: The Cookie Monster