To round out the infield I will be ranking the top three fantasy baseball shortstops to target in 2024 drafts. This list will not include Mookie Betts who is currently eligible for the shortstop position. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently switched Betts to shortstop amid Gavin Lux’s struggles at shortstop.
Roberts stated, “Just to make this move right now, it’s something that the entire organization feels is the right thing to do to give us the best chance to prevent runs and win baseball games.” Regarding Gavin Lux, Roberts also went on to say, “I think that, specific to Gavin, it gives him an opportunity to get to the other side of the diamond… So to get him back over there, shorten the throw, it should be less of a toll on his body overall and give him an opportunity to have success.”
I will not be including Betts because I listed him in my second basemen rankings. However, even without having Betts on this list, the first shortstops off the board will be in the early rounds. According to the average draft position, there will be one shortstop taken in each of the first three rounds.
In 2023 there was a massive drop off in production between the third and fourth-highest scorers at the position. Between three and four we saw a 32-point decline in points scored in the season. This means you should target shortstops very early if you want one of the top players at the position. However, if you find yourself in the middle rounds without a shortstop, don’t worry about picking one right away. You can find the same production in round ten that you would get in a fifth-round fantasy baseball shortstop.
1. Bobby Witt Jr.– Kansas City Royals
Excluding Mookie Betts, Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals will be the first fantasy baseball shortstop taken in 2024 drafts. Witt finished 2023 as the number one fantasy baseball shortstop in points with 478. This was 29 more points than the next closest player.
Bobby Witt Jr. has a combination of power and speed that makes him immensely valuable to fantasy baseball managers. Witt finished 2023 as the leader among shortstops in at-bats (641), hits (177), triples (11), stolen bases (49), plate appearances (694), and total bases (317). He also finished top three among shortstops in slugging percentage (.495), extra-base hits (69), runs batted in (96), runs (102) home runs (30), and games played (158).
In his outstanding 2023 season, Witt finished at least top three among shortstops in almost every category that translates to fantasy production. In his first two years with the Royals, he has hit at least 20 home runs and stolen 30 bases in each season. His batting average might not jump off the page. However, his power threat, and ability to steal bases makes him a very sought-after player in 2024 fantasy drafts.
This is reflected in his average draft position. His current ADP is 4.6. With an ADP this high, you will most likely need to use your first-round pick in order to get him on your squad.
2. Trea Turner– Philadelphia Phillies
According to ADP, Witt will be the only shortstop to be selected in the first round. The next shortstop is projected to be drafted in the second round. The next fantasy baseball shortstop to be selected will likely be Trea Turner of the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2023 Truner finished the season as the fifth-highest-scoring shortstop in terms of fantasy points. His current ADP of 15.4 has him being drafted in the middle of the second round.
Trea didn’t top the position in any relevant fantasy stats. But he did finish top five in almost all of them. Trae finished top five in categories such as games played (155), home runs (26), at-bats (639), runs (102), hits (171), doubles (35), triples (5), stolen bases (30), plate appearances (691), total bases (294), and extra-base hits (66),
Turner is currently being projected to bat second in the Phillies lineup behind Kyle Schwarber. In 2023 Schwarber had a batting average of only .197. However, with his 126 walks, he still managed a .343 on-base percentage. With a higher batting average from Schwarber in 2024 Trea Truner should see more opportunities to drive in runs this season. This combined with the fact he will be scoring plenty of runs himself because he will be hitting in front of Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto makes him a top target among fantasy baseball shortstops in 2024.
3. Corey Seager– Texas Rangers
The next shortstop coming off of draft boards in 2024 will be the Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager. Seager finished 2023 as the third-highest-scoring fantasy baseball shortstop. Seager will likely spend some time on the injured list to start 2024. He is currently working his way back from a sports hernia surgery. However, he will likely be back early in the season. He has recently started taking ground balls and should be cleared to swing a bat any day now.
Seager’s current ADP is 26.2. This means he will likely be drafted somewhere in the middle of the third round. It might be scary to draft a guy that high who played in a limited number of games last year. However, Seager’s production in those limited games was extremely high. Proving he can be a top talent at the position while not topping the list for number of games played. Barring another injury, he should find himself firmly near the top of fantasy baseball shortstops in 2024.
Seager had an outstanding 2023 season. While only playing in 119 games he still managed to finish first among shortstops in home runs (33), doubles (42), extra-base hits (75), batting average (.327), on-base percentage (.390), and slugging percentage (.623). He also found himself in the top five at the position in runs scored (88), hits (156), runs batted in ((96), and total bases (297). Accomplishing all of this while playing only 119 games is an impressive feat.
Should Seager return soon he will have no problem once again finishing among the top fantasy baseball shortstops. Once back in the lineup, he will likely be batting in the number two spot. This will put him behind Marcus Semien who finished with an on-base percentage of .348 in 2023. This will give him plenty of RBI opportunities. If he does bat second in the order, that will have him batting in front of Adolis Garcia. Garcia hit 39 home runs and drove in 107 runs last year. The potential for scoring runs and driving in runs is there for Seager. Assuming he doesn’t spend much time on the injured list it should be another great season for the Rangers shortstop in terms of fantasy production.
Late-Round Sleeper
With the aforementioned players being drafted in the first three rounds, you will likely need another player later in your draft you can target. My late-round fantasy baseball shortstop is Xander Bogaerts of the San Diego Padres. Bogaerts finished 2023 as the sixth-highest-scoring fantasy baseball shortstop. Padres manager Mike Shildt announced that he will be moving Bogaerts to second base in 2024. However, as of now Bogaerts will retain his shortstop eligibility for fantasy baseball.
Bogaerts finished last season top five among shortstops in games played (155), at-bats (596), hits (170), plate appearances (665), batting average (.285), and on-base percentage (.350)
Xander will likely be batting in the Padres lineup behind Fernando Tatis Jr. who had an on-base percentage of .322. This will result in him having plenty of at-bats with runners on base and opportunities to drive in runs. He will also hit in front of Manny Machado who hit 30 home runs and drove in 91 runs. This is a recipe for top-level fantasy production.
Bogaerts is currently being drafted with an ADP of 94. This puts him in the tenth round before being selected. Should you miss the opportunity to draft one of the top shortstops in fantasy baseball I would suggest waiting until much later in drafts. If you can draft a talent like Bogaerts in the tenth round, there are much more productive players at other positions you should prioritize first.
Keep an eye out for my final few lists where I will go over the top outfielders and Pitchers for 2024 fantasy baseball drafts.
Click here for more MLB content.
Like Fantom Sports on Facebook!
Follow Fantom Sports on Twitch!