Next up is the top 10 shortstops. The list includes of baseball’s best postseason hitters, some of baseball’s best defenders and perennial All-Stars.
1. Corey Seager
Texas Rangers’ superstar shortstop Corey Seager comes in at No. 1 on the list of top 10 shortstops. In his nine-year MLB career, Seager has done nothing but produce for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Rangers. Last season was the best of his career. In only 119 games, he led the American League with 42 doubles. Additionally, he slashed .327/.390/1.013, which are all career-high marks in a season where he played 30+ games. He finished second in the AL Most Valuable Player voting, only behind two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.
When the lights got bright, he improved his game. Seager helped cement himself as one of baseball’s best postseason performers by claiming his second World Series MVP award in 2023. He hit another six home runs, which gives him 19 postseason home runs — tied sixth all-time. Seager will be a critical player for the Rangers as they try to become the first team to repeat as World Series champions since the late 1990s-early 2000s Yankees,
2. Trea Turner
Trea Turner had an up-and-down first season with Philadelphia, which places him at No. 2 of the top 10 shortstops. In the first half of 2023, Turner was experiencing one of the worst stretches in his nine-year career. On Aug. 4, Turner was slashing .236/.289/.656. That same day, Philadelphia fans gave him a standing ovation. During the last 47 games of his season, Turner returned to his old self and performed well for the Phillies down the stretch. Heading into his age-31 season, the two-time NL All-Star is an important player to one of the National League’s best offenses. Turner has finished top-15 in NL MVP voting twice in his career, and it’s likely he’ll return to that form in 2024.
Francisco Lindor continued to perform well for the disappointing 2023 New York Mets. Lindor has placed top 10 in NL MVP voting in back-to-back seasons. Lindor smacked 31 home runs in 2023 — the most in a single-season since his 2019 campaign. He is an all-around threat at the shortstop position — four consecutive All-Star appearances from 2016-2019, three Silver Slugger Awards, including one in 2023, two Gold Gloves and a Platinum Glove Award. He will be a key contributor for New York, who compete in a tough National League East.
23-year-old Kansas City Royals’ shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. slots at No. 4 on the top shortstops list. Witt Jr. showcased improvement in most offensive categories from 2022 to 2023. One of the game’s fastest players, he led MLB with 11 triples and snagged 49 stolen bases — fourth-most in baseball last season. In addition to his elite speed, he torched 30 home runs in 2023 — one of only 29 players to do so. While he didn’t make the AL All-Star game in his second season, he finished seventh in AL MVP voting. He parlayed his early-career success with an 11-year contract extension that will keep him in Kansas City until 2037. The Royals have their shortstop of the future.
5. Bo Bichette
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette earned his second-career All-Star appearance in 2023. One of the best pure hitters at the position, Bichette is a career .299 hitter, has led the American League in hits in back-to-back seasons (2021-22) and his 177 hits in 2023 was eighth in baseball. Additionally, Bichette has solid pop in his bat. He has accumulated 30+ doubles and 20+ home runs in each of the last three seasons. As he gets older, Bichette will continue to rise on the top 10 shortstops list.
Back-to-back NL All-Star Dansby Swanson comes in at No. 6 on the list. One of the best overall defenders in baseball, Swanson has earned the Gold Glove Award in two consecutive seasons. Swanson signed a seven-year, $177 million contract with the Chicago Cubs before the 2023 season, and he’s one of Chicago’s veteran leaders. Swanson is one of Chicago’s four Gold Glove-caliber defenders, including one-time winner Nico Hoerner. Hoerner and Swanson each won the award — the first time in Cubs history both middle infielders won the award in the same season. Two-time winner Ian Happ is in left field, while they recently re-signed Cody Bellinger, who is a defensive wizard in the outfield and first base. There are some limitations in Swanson’s offensive game, but his defense up the middle puts him in the middle of the top 10.
7. Ha-Seong Kim
San Diego Padres’ shortstop Ha-Seong Kim comes in at No. 7 on the top 10 shortstops list. Kim, who bounced around three infield positions during the 2023 season, has been named San Diego’s shortstop for 2024. Most of his value comes from elite defense around the infield, which earned him the utility Gold Glove — his first career win. In addition to his defense, he provided 17 home runs, 23 doubles and slightly above-average offensive production. Cementing his position at shortstop, Kim will be in the running for the Gold Glove for 2024.
Seattle Mariners’ shortstop J.P. Crawford had the best offensive season of his career in 2023. The 29-year-old led the American League with 94 walks, while posting a career-best batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS. His improved offensive production earned him 16th in AL MVP voting. Additionally, he slashed 19 home runs in 2023 — the first time he’s hit double digit home runs in his seven-season career.
Carlos Correa returned to the Minnesota Twins in 2023, following an unusual free agency run. He originally signed with both the Mets and San Francisco Giants, before his physical stopped both contracts becoming official. The 29-year-old had a disappointing campaign in Minnesota. He posted a full-season career low .711 OPS, hit less than 20 home runs, and hit into a league-leading 30 double plays. However, the two-time All-Star and Platinum Glove Award winner has a successful track record. Correa’s output will be important for the Twins, who will be looking for their fourth American League central title in six seasons.
10. Willy Adames
Milwaukee Brewers’ shortstop Willy Adames finalizes our top 10 list. Adames, entering his fourth season with Milwaukee, is one of baseball’s best defensive shortstops. He ranked sixth in MLB with 16 Baseball Savant outs above average — only second at the position behind Swanson’s 20. He has some limitations offensively, as his career batting average sits below .250. Still, he has some pop in his bat. He hit 30+ home runs and doubles in 2022. Those numbers slipped last season, but he still provided 20-20 power for the Brewers’ lineup.
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