Sports Illustrated is ranking the top 10 players at each position. First up were the catchers and first basemen . Today, we're onto the second basemen. Never before has more been expected from major-league second basemen. Like so many other positions, at a slot where defense was far and away the main priority, the pressure to produce at the plate is now omnipresent. The spot requires tremendous athleticism and usually asks for speed on the base paths. Nevertheless, there's no shortage of top-tier players who have staked out their territory at second base with a solid mix of veterans and rising stars. Here are our picks for the 10 best across baseball. 10. Xavier Edwards, Marlins Xavier Edwards is one of MLB’s best contact hitters. | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Edwards has developed into one of the league’s premier contact hitters, carrying a .301 career batting average over parts of four seasons, and he’s off to a torrid start at the plate this year with other added elements to his profile.…