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Shortstop

Below are our rankings of shortstops entering the 2017 season.  The list was last updated on January 27, 2017.

The Elite

1.

Carlos Correa (HOU) Best Correan in the game. The sky is the limit for this young phenom.

2.

Jonathan Villar (MIL, 3B elig) The power/speed combo will be highly coveted this spring as will the soon-to-be 2B eligibility. Villar is one of only a handful of players who are capable of delivering fifty+ thefts.

3.

Corey Seager (LAD) It took one year for Corey to supplant Kyle as the best Seager in the game. When the only thing one has to complain about is the lack of a running game, there really isn’t much need to complain.

4.

Francisco Lindor (CLE) Power, speed, and one of the best gloves in the game. What’s not to like?

5.

Xander Bogaerts (BOS) At this time last year there were no shortage of questions being asked about Bogaerts. They have been answered.

The Middle Tier

6.

Trevor Story (COL) Last year was a short story. This year we get the second half of the book. The strikeout rates have to be a concern, but the power/speed potential makes the potential low BA worth enduring.

7.

Addison Russell (CHC) 21-95 as a 22-year-old rookie. Any uptick in the BA and Russell goes from very good to elite.

8.

Aledmys Diaz (STL) Do you remember when Ruben Tejada was the answer at shortstop, filling in for the injured Jhonny Peralta? Me neither….

9.

Marcus Semien (Oak) 27 homers, 75 RBI, and ten stolen bases should generate a bit more respect at the draft table than we’re currently witnessing.

10.

Elvis Andrus (TEX) If one is looking for 20-to-25 thefts and solid runs scored, leave the building with Elvis.

11.

Brad Miller (TAM, 1B elig) Are we sure that Miller hitting 30 homers isn’t an alternative fact?

12.

Brandon Crawford (SF) The home runs dropped, BA improved, and he drove in exactly the same number of runs as he did in 2015. Under-appreciated by everyone except his owners.

13.

Dansby Swanson (ATL) Batting in front of both Freddie Freeman and Matt Kemp has its charms.

14.

Didi Gregorius (NYY) The last time we saw a Yankee shortstop hit 20 homers, it was 2004 and that player was future HOF’er Derek Jeter.

15.

Troy Tulowitzki (TOR) Still has some pop left in the bat, and at least on stint per year on the DL.

Intriguing Options

16.

Tim Anderson (CWS) The power and speed potential is huge. The 13 walks is a concern.

17.

Jose Peraza (CIN, OF elig) If the Reds can sort out the glut of middle-infielders, the stolen base potential is huge.

18.

Orlando Arcia (MIL) Slow and steady growth in 2017. The power will develop. The speed game is already solid.

Best of the Rest

19.

Freddy Galvis (PHI) The 20 homers and 17 stolen bases are offset by the .274 OBP. The ability to draw a walk once per week is not an asset.

20.

Asdrubal Cabrera (NYM) Pencil in a boring but still useful 15 HR, 60 RBI campaign.

21.

Danny Espinosa (LAA) He’ll be moving to second base. Hope for twenty homers and that your League uses OBP and not BA.

22.

Ketel Marte (ARZ) He earns a mulligan for struggling and trying to play through mono last year. The DBacks obviously agree.

23.

Chris Owings (ARZ, OF elig) It’s a tad crowded in Arizona, but if he can get at-bats, the speed potential late in drafts is worth the investment.

24.

Zack Cozart (CIN) Mid-teens power. Where will he be calling home in 2017?

25.

Alcides Escobar (KC) The speed is slowly dwindling, but there’s still enough in the tank to warrant a late-round pick.

26.

Jorge Polanco (MIN) After a 12-year run where we’ve seen ten, yes ten, different shortstops man the position for the Twins on opening day, is Jorge Polanco poised to end that streak of futility?

27.

Andrelton Simmons (LAA) Great glove and won’t hurt you. Also won’t help all that much.

28.

Jordy Mercer (PIT) Best left for 20-team or NL-only formats.

29.

Jose Iglesias (DET) All-glove, offensive offense. If you’re considering Iglesias as an everyday option, you better be rebuilding in a Dynasty format.

30.

J. J. Hardy (BAL) He now has something in common with Frank and Joe Hardy. Solid results are likely to be fiction rather than fact.

31.

Adeiny Hechavarria (MIA)

32.

Eduardo Escobar (MIN, 3B elig)

33.

Tim Beckham (TAM)

34.

Franklin Barreto (Oak)

35.

Willy Adames (TAM)

36.

Amed Rosario (NYM)

37.

J.P. Crawford (PHI)

38.

Daniel Descalso (COL)

39.

Shawn O’Malley (SEA, OF elig)

40.

Erick Aybar (FA)

41.

Alexei Ramirez (TAM)

42.

Nick Ahmed (ARZ)

43.

Lourdes Gurriel (TOR)

44.

Ivan DeJesus Jr. (MIL, 2B elig)

45.

Matt Reynolds (NYM)

46.

Gavin Cecchini (NYM)

47.

Cristhian Adames (COL)

48.

Chase d’Arnaud (ATL)

49.

Gleyber Torres (NYY)

50.

Luis Sardinas (SD)

51.

Allen Cordoba (SD)

52.

Jimmy Rollins (SF)

 

8 comments on “Shortstop

  1. Where would Machado be on this list?

  2. No Jean Segura? Maybe I missed him.

  3. […] Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Prospect361.com ranks the top 50+ shortstops for 2017 […]

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