The way each shortstop fits in with the team as a whole brings a unique dynamic. He has bat speed, but he bars his lead arm much of the time, and has been unable to catch up to velocity up top as a result. He could become a popular star for the Tigers in 2022. ". In 2021, the veteran shortstop Javier Baez boasted an impressive 31 home runs and 87 RBI between stints with the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets. He has also not hit below .300 in the past three seasons. He showed the offensive potential in 2020, putting up a 111 wRC+. Lopez is another one of those young prospects who show immense promise. When hes on the field, hes well worth it. DeJong, who had three hits, a home run and six RBIs in his final Triple-A rehab game before making the journey from Memphis to Seattle, helped the slumping Cardinals avoid being swept by the Mariners for the first time in franchise history. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. We wanted to give him enough at-bats in that rehab stint to show what he was capable of doing, and today was a good start.. Andrus value is what he can do in the field. Whether theyre young players or seasoned veterans, each teams starting shortstop brings different strengths and weaknesses to the table. Jorge Mateo is part of a young squad of shortstops for the Orioles. Hes not an average player, but when compared to his position, hes perfectly average. Peter is the Co-Founder and Director of Content Strategy of Justbaseball.com and the Co-Host of the Just Baseball Show. Last season, DeJong was sent to Triple-A Memphis following another slow start, and he seemed to locate a trusted and repeatable stroke. USA TODAY. In 2021, he had a respectable .226/.265/.309 slash line with five home runs and 39 RBI, but his OPS was the lowest in the major leagues at .574. Obviously, we have a long way to go, but today was a great start.. With 13 seasons under his belt, Escobar is a proven leader who brings wisdom and experience to the Nationals. The line between that third group and the next cluster is pretty fluid you could argue for Maryland infielder Matt Shaw or Georgia prep shortstop Colin Houck in there, for example but the fourth tier is still really strong with college and high school bats. He showed tremendous improvement in the field in 2021, with his errors dropping encouragingly, and the best fielding percentage of his career at .977. Just Baseball's rankings of the top shortstops in baseball. Welcome to our official positional rankings for the 2022 MLB season! While Story isn't quite as elite on the defensive end as Hes about a 40 runner with a plus arm, so third is the ideal position for him, although Im sure he could handle second or at worst right field. departed early from a game with trainers by his side, Breaking down 3 shortstops to consider deeper in your 2021 fantasy baseball drafts. Top 10 Shortstops Right Now | 02/03/2021 | MLB.com Top 10 Shortstops Right Now February 3, 2021 | 00:03:06 Trevor Story, Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts Or is he closer to a .850 OPS that he posted solely with the Brewers? MLB The Show MLB Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onApp Trigger and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Alex Bregman, Houston Astros. A shortstop is one of the integral parts of the infield in Major League Baseball. It was a slow start to Tim Andersons career. He recorded his highest walk rate and lowest chase rate since 2015, and the lowest strikeout rate since 2016. Its a lot to place on the shoulders of such a young player. Near the end of the 2021 season, the veteran infielder Elvis Andrus broke his leg. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. In 2021, we saw a 139 wRC+, which was the third-best at the position. In this series, youll find our rankings for the best players at each position in Major League Baseball. His .288/.347/.463 hitting stats with seven homers and 39 RBI in just 70 games are impressive, and his .977 fielding percentage at shortstop is tough to beat. Top (Photo of Bryce Eldridge in 2022: Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today). Bo is a quickly-improving defender that hits the ball harder on average than any other shortstop not named Fernando Tatis Jr. Bos gonna be a staple in this list for the next decade. In 2021, Volpe became the first minor leaguer since Andruw Jones in 1995 to have at least 20 homers and 50 stolen bases in the same season. The former Red Sox shortstop has gotten off to an awesome start in San Diego. ET slot since 2017, ranked as the No. This is a guy who put in a lot of work this offseason. He can be as electrifying as anyone when on, but is more frustrating than anyone when off. Fernandez, who died this past February at the age of 57, is in a class of He has covered the sport since 2006 and prior to that was a special assistant to the general manager for the Toronto Blue Jays. At 32, Gregarious may be near the end of his career, but the veteran shortstop provides leadership and teamwork that continues to give him an edge. March 31 update: Aldaberto Mondesi will begin this season on the IL due to a strained oblique. But if all they Top 22 observations about NJ's Anthony Volpe, as Yankees rookie What this guys going to accomplish, with the bat-to-ball ability, zone discipline, and defensive silkiness, may be unmatched over the next dozen years in Major League Baseball. Bichette scored 12 times and swiped four bases while slashing .291-.339-.400, but hit only one home run while driving in eight. It was nice to see Pauly today, and I gave him a big hug, said Flaherty, who allowed six or fewer hits for a 30th straight start since September of 2020 -- the longest active streak in MLB. You can go from there all the way down into the mid-teens of the position to find the likes of 2019 AL MVP candidate Marcus Semien and Paul DeJong, who is one season removed for a 30-homer year. The former Red Sox shortstop has gotten off to an awesome start in San Diego. Fernando Tatis Jr. hasnt played a full year in the Majors. Even in his two seasons combined, hes only played in 143 games. I moved him from No. He would have won the MLB batting title if that was an award. He has a solid delivery and is very athletic, so you could certainly project quite a bit on him for long-term development, but I cant imagine taking him as a pitcher when hes more advanced and offers more upside as a hitter. Swanson also had a near-perfect .982 fielding percentage during the Braves championship season and, as a veteran who has played his entire career with the team, he is emerging as a leader who could play almost every game in 2022 as he did in 2021. However, he shows promise that could give the Pirates reason to stick with him. Another reason I love Bogaerts is his durability. Jared Carrabis, Dallas Braden and the guys from Baseball Is Dead are joined by WWE announcer Corey Graves to talk about the Pirates, wrestling crowds and more. Is Trae Young sometimes too cold for his own good? For my money, hes the second or third best bat at the position, but the defense is ultimately what keeps him from being any higher. .827 OPS, 122 wRC+, 29 HR, 102 RBI, 25 SB, 5.8% BB, 19.9% K, 4.9 fWAR, 2 DRS, -6 OAA. List of teams that have advanced to second round of 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Updated bracket heading into second round of 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, How to watch Avalanche vs. Kraken in Game 7 of first round in 2023 NHL Playoffs via live stream, Kings outlook heading into 2023 offseason, Everything you need to know for Warriors vs. Lakers in the second round of 2023 NBA playoffs. Caraway may not end up in school, but if he does, I think hell follow that same path, performing for three years and making everyone ask why he wasnt drafted higher as a high schooler. The shortstop position is stacked heading into 2021. This was tough! It seems like we attach superlatives to shortstop prior to every season these days, but just look at what were dealing with there are three and possibly four first round picks in standard head-to-head, 5x5 leagues. Even though injuries plagued DeJongs 2021 season, his output has been inconsistent during the past few years. The Diamondbacks, who have struggled the past few seasons, need Ahmed more for what he can do in the infield than in the batters box. Crawford has re-engineered his bat, and the glove is elite. A recent MRI didnt reveal any serious damage, and Bogaerts will take batting practice this week. With the team demanding he make substantive changes at the plate, DeJong spent most of the winter at the Cardinals complex in Jupiter, Fla. What arose from that work was a more upright stance that features only a minimal stride to better help him be on time and balanced at the plate. The consensus top prospect in baseball last year came up in a massive way for Tampa Bay. Carlos Correa had a career year in 2021 with the Houston Astros. I saw all of this he stayed inside the ball well and could get to fastballs in various parts of the zone, but he also got badly fooled on breaking stuff down at, or below, the bottom of the zone. We break down the best shortstops to consider in fantasy baseball drafts. Most importantly, he boasts a .994 fielding percentage for last year. He has a 117 wRC+ and a .821 OPS for his career, and although he hit 38 home runs in 2018, hes probably a 25-30 HR guy. Top Fernando Tatis Jr is already the best shortstop in the world at 23 years old. I could talk about all the defensive stats he led in, but can we just talk about his throwing arm for a second? Welcome, Marcelo! Hes committed to Oregon. These guys can be great in spots, but their margin for error is rather slim with the lack of power. Hes less impressive at the plate, with a career average slash line of .236/.291/.382 and an average of 13 home runs and 60 RBI per season. Lopez is another one of those young prospects who show immense promise. Well, that month certainly flew by. best shortstops He played 157 games in 2016, and 145 in 2017. Of course, the Cardinals and DeJong have been here before, hopeful the shortstop has rediscovered the swing that allowed him to hit 25, 19 and 30 homers in his first three MLB seasons. Almost like it was on a timer. (Crowells injury came after FSU used him for a 94-pitch relief outing, by far his longest of the year, then six days later had him throw over 100 pitches in his first, and now only, start of the season. Francisco Lindor normally checks in near the top of the list, but a down 2021 drops him to a respectable seventh on our list. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Natsuki Chronicles review: Bullet hell mayhem, Capcom Arcade Stadium review: Worth every token, The 50 best Nintendo Switch games right now. He faced off against Westfield High School and outfielder Jonny Farmelo on Wednesday night, with at least seven scouting directors or VPs in attendance. At 32, he brings leadership to the Rockies organization along with the skills hes honed over his journeyman career. The Texas Rangers bet a load of money on former Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, but they got a solid hitter. He was also a menace on the basepaths! Rodriguez, who signed a five-year, $77 million contract in November 2021, has a 0.68 ERA with three walks and 24 strikeouts in 26 innings over his past four starts. Crawford can be error-prone, but his 2021 fielding percentage was still an impressive .981. WebMarc Hulet's top 10 shortstop (SS) dynasty prospects rankings for 2021 fantasy baseball leagues. At 21 years of age, Wander Franco is a young infielder who shows an immense amount of promise. Maybe its just the excitement of being back, DeJong said of his notable homer history in his first games back at the MLB level. Norco second baseman/outfielder Grant Gray was the big breakout player of the Boras Classic, showing 80 speed and a fast bat, although he looked out of place at second and isnt as advanced a hitter as some of his peers in the event. Odds and lines subject to change. Ranking the top 25 shortstops in fantasy baseball [UPDATE], When should Pirates fans buy into this team? Fernando Tatis Jr. has been out of the Padres lineup for the past few days. His troubled 2021 numbers led the Cardinals to relegate him to a reserve role for a time, but he was soon back as a starter when Edmundo Sosas star faded. Hes not a powerhouse hitter, with a slash line of .271/.309/.391, nine homers, and 48 RBI, but those numbers arent discouraging. With a lifetime batting average of .264, Rojas is solid even if he doesnt deliver tons of homers or RBI. The Yankees acquired Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the Texas Rangers just one season after he acclimated himself to the role of shortstop. MLB The Show 22: 10 Best Shortstops Infielder Trent Caraway (JSerra) is committed to Oregon State, and reminded me in a general way of Michael Conforto, another player whose best tool was his ability to hit but didnt show anything else plus as a high schooler, which is how he ended up in Corvallis and became the 10th overall pick three years later. Carlsons program, which has held the coveted 8 p.m. While he did have his struggles offensively, the glove was still platinum level. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. It will be available for PlayStation and, for Willy Adames 2021 trade from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Milwaukee Brewers may have been just what he needed. Top The lowest batting average of his career last year didnt stop him from hitting 13 home runs and 54 RBI, and a serviceable .953 fielding percentage helps his case. He hit career highs last year for batting average (.273), home runs (9), and RBI (54). His average career stats show the promise that he has, with a lifetime .238 batting average, 28 home runs, and 83 RBI per 162 games. video for Is Trae Young sometimes too cold for his own good? Dont let Brandon Crawfords status as a 12-year veteran fool you. It looks like he can really hit, which will trump all other concerns if thats the case. If DeJong can do that well or better, Cardinals fans will be happy. He bars his lead arm about as badly as Ive seen on any prospect in years, and then his finish looks like someone tried to do launch-angle optimization with him and cut off his finish, so theres no impact even though he looks strong enough to do damage on contact. With the release of MLB The Show 21 coming in April and the start of Spring Training right around the corner, were eager to get a jump on this years player ratings. We know what Paul can do when hes right. Three of the top 10 hitters ranked by SIscore came from shortstop last season. At 35 years of age, Alcides Escobar doesnt have many more years of playing time, but hes the Washington Nationals starting shortstop until prospect Luis Garcia is ready to take over the role. His 2021 fielding percentage of .971 is consistent with what hes done throughout his career, and the leadership he brings to the team is important as well. Who will Panthers face in second round of 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs? We have accounted for defensive and offensive production since 2019, with an emphasis on 2021. In 2021, he had his second-best batting average at .338, and he hit a respectable 10 home runs and 28 RBI. J.P. Crawford is one of those infielders who plays with a fun attitude that endears fans to him. When he does what he can do, it adds another dimension to the lineup. Its that time of year, as the injuries among pitchers are starting to pile up and lay waste to draft rankings. After St. Louis scored just six runs in the first two games of the series, DeJong was an integral part of an offense that pounded out 13 hits and smashed three home runs. Jack Flaherty, whose three runs allowed in six innings on Sunday gave the Cardinals the kind of quality start they badly needed, feels DeJong is finally poised to be a sustainable difference-maker for St. Louis. Most importantly, he boasts a .994 fielding percentage for last year. Semien signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jays this winter, adding more pop to an already-fearsome lineup. With the 4th pick in the 2021 #MLBDraft, we have selected shortstop Marcelo Mayer from Eastlake High School (CA). The defense pair with the offense resulted in the 8th-best fWAR in all of baseball in 2021. MLB Shortstops The third group would include Wake third baseman Brock Wilken, Florida right-hander Hurston Waldrep, high school right-hander Noble Meyer (who has separated himself from the other prep arms), TCU third baseman Braden Taylor, Grand Canyon shortstop Jacob Wilson, and Vandy outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. The shortstop position is so incredibly stacked. At short, Turner had a perfect fielding percentage in 2021 and, if he can continue in those ways, hell remain valuable to the team. With a slash line of .271/.312/.357, eight home runs, and 53 RBI in 2021, the expectations on Kiner-Falefa to perform at the plate will be high, and his 20 stolen bases last year provide even more value to his new team. He had limited playing time in 2021, but he put up decent numbers in 89 games between the Orioles and the San Diego Padres: a .247/.293/.376 slash line with 4 home runs, 14 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. His .328 clip was nine points better than Yuli Gurriel, and 15 points better than Juan Soto. Fantasy Baseball SS Rankings 2021 10. March 9 update: Xander Bogaerts has made strides with his balky right shoulder. Detroit Tigers' bats wake up in 7-4 win over Orioles in Game 1 Fernando Tatis Jr. is currently out, recovering from a wrist injury in the off-season, but hes still on this list because when he returns, hell immediately be the star of the team. Youll see stats such asWAR,OAA,fWAR,DRS, etc. Keith Law is a senior baseball writer for The Athletic. Its the part after the strong starts that has tended to trip up DeJong in the past, but he is hoping he is immune to that happening now with a new-and-improved plate approach that certainly yielded stellar results on Sunday.
