Fantasy Baseball Shortstops Keepers

Welcome again to a different week of High Dynasty Keepers for 2025. The highlight turns to shortstops this week.

Not like second base, which has a fairly steep drop off in expertise outdoors the highest 15 or so gamers, the shortstop place is loaded with expertise, the kind of expertise that’s ranked among the many greatest in baseball, not simply this place. The gamers ranked in Tier 2 will nonetheless present strong manufacturing and that continues into the gamers ranked in Tier 3.

And this expertise is younger. Of the 30 gamers ranked in Tiers 1 by way of 3, 23 of them are beneath the age of 30. Lacking out on a Tier 1 participant shouldn’t be going to cripple your workforce.

Now, let’s get to the rankings.

Simply Lacking the Minimize

Javier Baez not near being the participant he as soon as was, however he nonetheless has some pop in his bat, however that’s about all that’s left. In case you are needing so as to add Baez to your workforce, you’re in hassle.

Miguel Rojas is a strong participant who can play a number of positions and received’t kill you within the slash line classes. He can even hit a couple of homers and steal a couple of bases, however at 36 subsequent yr, he’s a fill-in participant proper now.

Blaze Alexander had an honest 61-game exhibiting with the Diamondbacks final season, slashing .247/.321/.343, whereas Nick Allen, who simply obtained traded from the A’s to Atlanta, and Trey Sweeney might be emergency shortstops to show to, however they actually aren’t going to supply one stat that may aid you win.

High Prospects

• Carson Williams, Tampa Bay
• Marcelo Meyer, Boston
• JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis
• Colt Emerson, Seattle
• Sebastian Walcott, Texas

Tier 5

Depth Participant Solely

Trevor Story has had a pleasant profession, however his greatest days are behind him thanks largely to accidents. Within the final three years he has performed in 94, 43 and 26 video games. If you wish to take an opportunity that he can keep wholesome and hit 15 or so homers and drive in 60 to 70 runs, it’s definitely worth the likelihood with a participant this far down within the rankings. However at this level, I’ll take an opportunity on a youthful participant.

At all times a Want for Utility Gamers

Most dynasty leagues encompass greater than 12 groups. Many are at the least 16 or 20 groups and a few have the total allotment of 30 groups. In these deep leagues, gamers who can play a number of positions and never kill your workforce have some worth.

That is the place gamers like Daniel Schneemann, Tommy Edman and Zach McKinstry are available in in addition to many of the gamers on this tier. Schneemann can play quick and third in addition to left and proper subject, Edman can play at quick and middle subject and McKinstry at second, quick, and third and, relying in your league guidelines, left subject and proper subject. McKinstry has one of the best velocity out of this bunch with 16 steals this previous yr after swiping 16 in 2023 as effectively

Tier 4

Making Contact is His Sport

Jacob Wilson shouldn’t be going to be a prolific dwelling run hitter, although he has some pop as he hit eight homers in 79 minor league video games. He additionally received’t steal a ton of bases.

What Wilson does so effectively is make contact. The A’s shortstop had solely a 4.4% strikeout charge throughout his three seasons at Grand Canyon College with an 8.7% stroll charge. His slash line was a really wholesome .361/.419/.558. Since turning professional in 2023, all Wilson has performed is slash .401/.446/.606 due to 39 doubles in these 79 minor league video games. And his strikeout charge is simply 7.7%, although his stroll charge is simply at 5.9%.

Wilson appeared in 29 video games for the A’s this previous season and slashed solely .250/.314/.315, however his strikeout charge was nonetheless a really good 9.7% to go along with a 7.8% stroll charge.

In search of Low-cost Energy?

In the event you want some energy off your dynasty bench or to fit in as a center infielder or shortstop when your starter has an off day, Paul DeJong and Orlando Arcia are respectable decisions.

DeJong smashed 24 homers with the White Sox and Royals this season, however that’s the extent of the place he actually helps on offense as he had a .227/.276/.427 slash line and he has not hit higher than .233 because the 2020 season.

Arcia hit 17 homers each this previous season and in 2023 in addition to 15 in each 2017 and 2019. His profession 162-game common is 15 homers and 58 RBI. However his profession slash line is .242/.295/.374. Because of the low common and OBP, he lands right here in Tier 4.

The Sleeper

Jordan Lawlar has solely 31 at-bats with the Diamondbacks, however all of these got here in 2023. This previous season he was restricted to 23 video games within the minors resulting from a hamstring harm after which thumb surgical procedure. Lawlar, like many different shortstops, can hit for energy and steal bases and has a profession slash line of .294/.392/.501 in 230 profession minor league video games.

He ought to compete for the beginning job at shortstop, however there’s additionally a powerful likelihood he begins the yr within the minors. However he has large upside, which is why I rank him forward of incumbent Arizona shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. And if Lawlar comes near the potential he confirmed beforehand within the minors, I’ll look foolish for rating him on this tier. However I’m not 100% bought on him so I’m taking part in it very secure right here.

Tier 3

Actually a Second Baseman

Luisangel Acuña performed most of his video games at shortstop final season due to the Francisco Lindor harm. However with Lindor entrenched at quick, Acuña will slide over to second base in 2025 and the way a lot time he will get at shortstop is a query that can be answered subsequent yr. I’m going to imagine he will get sufficient motion there to stay shortstop eligible in 2026 and hopefully past. Acuña’s important asset is his velocity as he has 198 profession steals in 505 minor league video games. He additionally has some energy, however his capacity to steal bases is why it’s best to goal him.

A Sleeper at Quick?

Xavier Edwards is a former high 100 prospect who has a profession minor league slash line of .313/.385/.399. After taking part in 30 video games for Miami in 2023, the Marlins gave him extra of a possibility to point out what he can do that previous season as he appeared in 70 video games and had 303 plate appearances. All Edwards did was slash .328/.397/.423 with 31 steals in 35 makes an attempt. In 100 profession video games within the majors he has a .321/.383/.402 slash line with a 17% strikeout charge and 9% stroll charge. He isn’t going to hit lots of homers, however he will get on base and steals bases, which is an effective participant to have in your workforce.

Anticipating Enchancment

Ceddanne Rafaela didn’t put up eye-popping numbers as a rookie this previous season, however he put up very strong numbers with 15 homers, 79 RBI and 19 steals whereas splitting time between shortstop and middle subject. The draw back to Rafaela this season was a .246/.274/.390 slash line and solely 15 walks in 571 plate appearances with 151 strikeouts (2.6%/26.4% charges).

I anticipate Rafaela to enhance his stroll charge and lower down on his strikeouts, serving to him enhance his slash line and energy output. As soon as he does that, he can be a Tier 2 participant.

Tier 2

Harm Considerations – Each 12 months

Carlos Correa had a very good yr for the Twins, hitting 14 homers and driving in 54 whereas slashing .310/.388/.517 for a .905 OPS and a 152 OPS+. However The issue was that manufacturing got here in solely 86 video games. And having Correa on the sphere for a full season appears to by no means occur. Solely twice in his profession has he topped 140 video games performed. And whereas the .517 SLG was excellent this season, it might be an outlier as it’s 45 factors increased than his profession common of .472 and reversed a development of a declining SLG since 2021.

Correa shouldn’t be getting youthful, and since he doesn’t present steals any extra, I can’t rank him increased.

Not Excellent, However Fairly Good

Jeremy Pena and Masyn Winn will not be excellent shortstops. In the event that they have been, they’d be in Tier 1! However each are excellent gamers who provide each energy and velocity.

Pena hit 22 homers and had 63 RBI with 11 steals as a rookie in 2022 and the idea was he can be a 20-homer, 15-steal participant. However he adopted that season with a ten homer, 52 RBI, 13 steal season in 2023. This previous yr the ability elevated to fifteen dwelling runs to go along with 70 RBI and 20 steals with a .266/.308/.394 slash line.

After struggling in his 37-game debut in 2023, Winn supplied a glimpse of what he can do by hitting 15 homers, driving in 57 runs and stealing 11 bases whereas slashing .267/.314/.416.

What hurts each Pena and Winn is an OBP that might be rather a lot higher. Winn had a 6.4% stroll charge whereas Pena had a 3.9% stroll charge. If each gamers can enhance that stroll charge and get on base extra, it is going to permit them to take extra benefit of their velocity and thus enhance their fantasy worth.

A Shortstop or Second Baseman?

That is what I mentioned about Matt McLain in my second basemen rankings: McLain missed the entire 2024 season due to a shoulder harm that required surgical procedure. However in 2023 he slashed .290/.357/.507 with 16 homers, 50 RBI and 14 steals in 89 video games. That interprets to a 162-game common of 29 homers, 91 RBI and 25 steals. Give that manufacturing yearly and I’m a contented man.

In all chance, McLain will get nearly all of his time at second base in 2025. However I see him getting some begins at quick when Elly De La Cruz will get a relaxation. That may be nice with a view to maintain McLain as a shortstop by way of at the least 2026.

Simply Exterior the High 10

It’s arduous to think about Bo Bichette, Trea Turner and Corey Seager being outdoors the High 10, however that speaks to the expertise and depth at this place, particularly among the many youthful gamers.

Bichette had a depressing 2024 season, slashing .225/.277/.322 with 4 homers and 31 RBI in solely 81 video games. Even when wholesome, nevertheless, Bichette’s manufacturing has slid since his breakout 2021 marketing campaign when he hit 29 homers, drove in 102 runs and stole 25 bases. Whereas his slash line since then has remained comparatively the identical (aside from this previous yr), his different numbers have dropped. Even when he duplicates his 2023 season for the subsequent three to 5 years, there are youthful shortstops who will do as effectively if not higher.

Each Trea Turner and Corey Seager are actually of their 30s however are nonetheless excellent gamers. So why are they not Tier 1 gamers? Primarily as a result of they’re 30 and 31 years outdated subsequent season. Turner put up strong numbers over his 121 video games and his stats have been in keeping with what he has performed all through his profession. The 20-plus energy and velocity are nonetheless there. Seager reached 30 homers for the third straight season and his .512 SLG equaled his profession common.

If I’m beginning a workforce from scratch, I might gladly have Turner or Seager on my workforce. However I would like my Tier 1 gamers extra.

Tier 1

Take Him for His Bat

The sweetness about fantasy baseball is protection shouldn’t be a priority in almost each league on the market. That enables Oneil Cruz to return in as my Tenth-ranked shortstop. Defensively, Cruz shouldn’t be an awesome shortstop as he dedicated 24 errors on the place final yr. Issues obtained so unhealthy that the Pirates moved him to middle subject, and that transfer will clearly have an effect on Cruz’s standing as a shortstop past 2025. I’m pondering he will get in sufficient video games at quick to provide you at the least yet one more season at quick in 2026.

However even when he stays certified at quick for under 2025, he’s nonetheless an awesome bat so as to add. He has each energy and velocity as he hit 21 homers and stole 22 bases in 2024 and his 162-game common is 27 homers, 91 RBI and 23 steals. And I don’t suppose he has reached his ceiling.

Love This Trio

Ezequiel Tovar, CJ Abrams and Zach Neto are three shortstops I might be thrilled to have on my workforce. All three of them are 24 or youthful subsequent season, all three of them have energy and two of them have velocity.

Tovar is the “slugging” shortstop on this group, hitting 26 dingers this previous season to go along with a .269 batting common and .469 SLG. He took a pleasant leap from his rookie season when he hit 15 homers and slashed .253/.287/.408. The OBP truly elevated to .295, however he wants to point out a bit of extra endurance on the plate as his stroll proportion ranked within the 2nd percentile and his chase charge ranked within the first percentile.

Let me get the negatives about Abrams and Neto out of the way in which first. Each gamers will not be nice with regards to batting common or OBP. In 2024 Abrams got here in at .246/.314 in these two stats whereas Neto was .249/.318. However outdoors of these two areas, they’re high twin risk shortstops. Abrams hit 20 homers and stole 31 bases and Neto slugged 23 homers and swiped 31 bases.

Since debuting in 2022, Abrams has seen his Barrel% charge climb from 2.1% to six.9percentand his Common EV has elevated from 86.5 mph to 88.2 mph. Neto, who debuted in 2023, has a profession Barrel% of 8.5% in comparison with the MLB common of seven.0% and his Exhausting Hit% of 39.3 is almost 3% increased than the MLB participant.

Each gamers have a lot of room to develop, and I absolutely anticipate to see that as they become old. However if you wish to play it safer and go along with a extra established shortstop, then you possibly can slot Turner and Seager right here and transfer two of those gamers down.

Potential Place Change

There’s a likelihood that Willy Adames might be headed to 3rd base subsequent yr relying on who he indicators with and what that workforce’s wants are. But when he does transfer to 3rd, we are going to cope with that subsequent yr. For 2025, Adames is a shortstop and one of many higher hitting ones at that. Adames has been on the radar display of dynasty gamers for years as he was a former high 100 prospect when he was with Tampa Bay.

In each full season since 2019, Adames has hit at the least 20 homers and in two of the previous three seasons he has topped 30 homers. And this previous season he added the stolen base to his sport. After by no means having greater than eight steals in a season, Adames swiped 21 bases this previous season and was solely caught 4 occasions.

Adames isn’t excellent. He sports activities a profession batting common of .248 and his OBP is a pedestrian .322. He additionally has a profession strikeout charge of 27.2%. Nonetheless, he has a very good understanding of the zone as he has a profession stroll charge of 9.6% and his stroll charge has been at 10.8% or increased in three of the final 4 seasons.

The Two “Previous Males”

I ranked Turner and Seager simply outdoors of the highest 10 resulting from their age, but listed below are Mookie Betts and Francisco Lindor at No. 5 and No. 4, respectively. So you could be asking “what provides, Jakkers?”

Effectively, Betts is among the greatest general gamers in baseball as he excels at shortstop, second base and proper subject (and sure anyplace else on the sphere if he performed there). He has the entire instruments to construct a profitable fantasy workforce – velocity, hitting and energy.

The identical goes for Lindor. He his 33 homers this previous season with 91 RBI and 29 steals whereas slashing .273/.344/.500. These numbers are in keeping with his profession 162-game common of 29 homers, 91 RBI and 22 steals to go along with a .274/.342/.476 slash line.

So if Betts and Lindor are so nice, why are they not ranked first and second? As a result of they aren’t 24 years outdated or youthful just like the trio of gamers ranked forward of them.

Cherished the Above Trio, REALLY love this Duo

Elly De La Cruz doesn’t fairly examine to Gunnar Henderson or Bobby Witt, however that is probably not the case for lengthy.

De La Cruz hit 25 homers, drove in 76 runs and stole 67 bases this previous season – in solely his second season within the majors. His 162-game common is 24 homers, 75 RBI and 64 steals with a .250/.324/.471 slash line. His Common EV, Barrel% and Bat Pace ranked within the 86th percentile or increased in 2024, his Stroll% ranked within the 72nd percentile and his Dash Pace ranked within the a centesimal percentile. He nonetheless strikes out an excessive amount of, but when strikeouts maintain you from wanting De La Cruz, then another person in your league can be ecstatic to take him.

In 2023, Henderson’s first full season with the Orioles, he slashed .255/.325/.489 with 28 homers, 82 RBI and 10 steals. All he did this season was enhance throughout the board, slashing .281/.364/.529 with 37 homers, 92 RBI and 21 steals.

His Statcast numbers are a sea of crimson. His xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, AEV, Exhausting Hit% and Bat Pace all ranked within the 92nd percentile or increased whereas his Stroll% and Chase% ranked within the eightieth and 86th percentiles. And his Dash Pace is nothing to sneeze at because it ranked within the 88th percentile. And in contrast to De La Cruz, Henderson’s strikeout numbers are in keeping with the league common, rating within the forty fifth percentile in Okay%.

A Step Above the Relaxation

When my 2025 High Dynasty Participant rankings come out towards the top of the yr – Bobby Witt Jr. very effectively might be the No. 1 ranked participant.

Critically, what’s there to not like about Witt?

Energy? In his three years he has hit 20, 30 and 32 homers. Pace? His steals the final three seasons have been 30, 49 and 31. Hit Instrument? He has that as effectively. His common, OBP and SLG have improved yearly and got here in at .332/.389/.588 this previous season.

He completed fourth in ROY voting in 2022, was seventh in MVP voting in 2023 and is a finalist for MVP this season.

And he doesn’t even flip 25 till June of subsequent yr.

Come Again Subsequent Week

Thanks for studying and are available again subsequent week for the highest 50 third basemen.

Earlier Rankings

High 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Relievers
High 100 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Beginning Pitchers
High 40 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Catchers
High 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – First Basemen
High 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Second Basemen