PC Top 10 Shortstops in MLB
Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals (Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports)
We covered our top 10 list for the hot corner last week, and now we will examine the position of the modern-day super star, shortstop. The position has changed dramatically, as have the expectations of the guys playing it. Cal Ripken was a 6’4” shortstop expected to move to third base when he was coming up in the early 80’s, but he stayed at short until he finally moved over at 36 years old. He was a gold glove at short despite his frame, and provided unusual power for short at the time. He won ROY, two MVP’s, and hit 431 homers in his career. Fast forward a few decades, and the Reds have an electric 6’5” athlete with elite power and speed at shortstop in Elly De La Cruz. The future of the position is in good hands with veterans like Francisco Lindor still dominating, while we see the ascending stardom of Bobby Witt Jr. and company. Our top 10 for this list is stacked, so we had to make some hard choices. Ha-Seong Kim probably makes this list if he’s healthy, but he’s coming off of shoulder surgery and might not be available until later in the season. I am convinced the Rays got him at a bargain rate, as I wrote in this underrated moves piece. Zach Neto would have been top 10 for me if not for injury uncertainty, and I’d like to see him put up another five-win campaign given his lack of a résumé. John and I both ranked Jeremy Peña right outside the top 10 for his dependable glove and average offensive output (99 wRC+ L3 years). Lastly, Ha-Seong’s replacement at short in San Diego, Xander Bogaerts, narrowly missed as well after posting a .763 OPS after the break in 2024.
Bobby takes the crown as PC’s top shortstop for 2025. He struggled defensively his rookie year, with -11 OAA and was criticized often for it. He’s since put up +30 OAA over the last two seasons, which is the best in the American League. He won the Gold Glove in 2024, while also hitting .332 on the way to his first batting title. Witt Jr. has elite speed and 30 HR power, and he’s one of the few true five-tool superstars in the MLB. The 24 year old finished 2nd behind Aaron Judge for the AL MVP this year, but he’s at the top of many baseball folks' lists to win the award in 2025.
Bobby Witt Jr. Statcast Defense (Baseball Savant)
The 2023 AL ROY found a way to best his previous campaign with an MVP worthy 9.1 bWAR. He’s an above average shortstop defensively despite being built more like a third baseman, and he’s got 96th percentile bat speed. Gunnar is a year younger than Bobby, and has quite a different profile offensively. Henderson will probably never win a batting title, but he combines good swing decisions with 40 HR power. Typically, you’ll see 40-homer hitters strikeout close to 30% or even more, but Gunnar sits at around 22%. He also chased only 23.2% in 2024, which is 84th percentile and will likely only get better with age and at-bats. If he can push over .900 OPS and continue to play solid defense at short, he’ll be dangerous for the MVP as well.
It felt like way too much money to me when the Mets signed the switch hitter to a 10-year/$341M deal, but it has paid dividends in Queens so far. Francisco finished top 10 in the NL MVP in each of the last three seasons, including 2nd last year. He’s obviously a premium defender having won a platinum glove, but he also commands the infield and the clubhouse as a leader. He has 64 HR and 60 SB over the last two years combined, so it’s fair to say he’s a consistent 30-30 threat. His +16 OAA was 99th percentile in 2024, and a 13.6% barrel rate paired with a 18.4% K rate is impressive. Lindor may be older at 31, but he’s still a superstar, and well worthy of $34M AAV with the way he’s playing right now. If I was David Stearns running the Mets, it would take quite a package for me to part with Lindor due to both the on-the-field production, as well as the leadership he brings to the organization.
Francisco Lindor Mets Seasons (bRef)
4. Corey Seager
Corey’s brother, Kyle, was an All Star and Glove Glove third baseman, yet Corey found a way to have a considerably better career. He’s a 2X WS MVP for one, and hit .303/.439/.667 for the Rangers on their 2023 World Series playoff run. He’s also known for swinging at the first pitch and ambushing the pitcher, with great success. Seager is solid with the glove, but he’s a star because of what he brings to the table with the bat. His .872 career OPS sounds like the stat line of a first baseman, and he’s a middle-of-the-order hitter when he’s healthy. Lindor gets the edge because he’s more durable, and Seager doesn’t have quite the defensive pedigree albeit carrying more power with the bat.
5. Mookie Betts
Mookie is yet another Hall of Famer on this list, only adding to his trophy case with another World Series ring this October. Betts is such a special athlete that he became a generational defender in right field simply because second base was reserved for Dustin Pedroia in Boston. The Dodgers moved him back in the infield, and he’s found a way to play average infield defense despite being in his thirties and having played most of his MLB career as an outfielder. He’s got six GG and seven Silver Sluggers, and he’s never had an OPS below .800 in a season. Mookie should put up another season with an OPS in the .850-.900 range, with solid defense up the middle. He’s still only 32 and one of the best players on the best team in baseball. I project Mook for another 5-6 win season in 2025, with a very high floor provided he’s healthy.
Elly may have the highest ceiling of any player on this list, in competition only with Bobby Witt Jr. Elly is a burner with elite 30 ft/sec speed, as well as +15 OAA last year, which makes him an elite shortstop. Though he misses routine plays more than most, he also makes plays and throws that literally no one else can make so it more than evens out. With the rule changes, he’ll probably steal 50 bags in his sleep for the next several years, and his 75.2 MPH bat speed ranks in the 90th percentile. My main concern here is the whiff and K rates– Elly struck out 31.3% of the time last season. While this isn’t critical during the regular season given everything else he does, the strikeout problems could be amplified in big games with the elite pitching you see in October. Even still, he could steal 70, hit 30 bombs, and win the MVP with a 30% K rate because he’s so good. The Reds are one of the most exciting teams in baseball, and he’s the main reason for it.
Elly De La Cruz Metrics (Baseball Savant)
7. Willy Adames
Willy has never won a Gold Glove or made an All Star team, but the Giants gave him $182M over seven years because of his consistency as a 3 and D guy. Adames has hit .242 with an annual average of 28 HR and 91 RBI over the last four seasons, with solid defense. His glove metrics were further down last season than they have been for most of his career, but +26 OAA for 2022 and 2023 combined. Willy is also durable and he’s in the lineup all year, and durability can be an underappreciated trait. A .750 OPS and good defense up the middle is probably worth $26M AAV. The question is how long Adames can provide that solid range before the Giants have to consider moving him over to third.
8. Trea Turner
Trea is the smoothest slider in the league, but he’s also a batting title and World Series champion. He’s posted a .791 OPS in his first two years of the Philly contract, but his defense has slipped quite a bit. His -26 DRS in those two years is well below average, and he’s a three-four win player instead of a five-six bWAR guy now because of it. The defense often doesn’t bounce back once it takes a turn for the worst, especially with a middle infielder over 30. Trea is still only 31 though, and while he probably needs to move to second base, he’s a good player. He’s good for an .800 OPS or so, and he still has elite speed. Turner is part of that Phillies core that keeps getting older and older. It'd be nice to see them in the World Series this year to get their shot before the window closes.
Trea Turner Season Values (bRef)
Dansby was a key part of the 2021 Braves World Series team, even if he only hit .224 on the Postseason run. Not only is Dansby a 2X GG winner, there is argument for him as the best shortstop in the league right now defensively. Swanson only posted a 95 OPS+ over his career in Atlanta, but he’s posted a 101 OPS+ in his two years with the Cubbies. He’ll hit .240-.250 with 20 or so homers, with a career .734 OPS. There are plenty of left fielders and first basemen can hit .250 with 20 homers, but not very many guys can do the same while playing GG defense at short. Dansby is also a gamer– he’s a locked-in winner and has plus makeup. The former 2015 #1 overall pick may not be the MVP candidate some of the superstars are, but he’s a reliable veteran with elite defense at a very hard position.
10. Carlos Correa
Carlos is also a 1|1 pick just like Dansby, but in 2012 rather than in 2015. Correa won the ROY at 20 years old, with comparisons to Álex Rodríguez. He’s won a Platinum Glove, has a career .826 OPS, but he’s struggled to truly put it all together for a career year. Correa has had plenty of good seasons, with another in 2024. His career year was 2021, when he posted 7.2 bWAR and finished 5th in the AL MVP voting. He was in line for a major payday, before failing multiple physicals with the Giants and Mets due to ankle issues. While still a very good player, I am skeptical about Carlos playing 150 games this season. This is why he drops to #10 for me, though I could see him putting up a banner year for the Twins if he can avoid the injury list.
