Welcome again to a different week of Prime Dynasty Keepers for 2025. The highlight turns to shortstops this week.
In contrast to second base, which has a reasonably steep drop off in expertise exterior 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 means 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 group.
Now, let’s get to the rankings.
Simply Lacking the Lower
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. If you’re needing so as to add Baez to your group, 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 may also hit just a few homers and steal just a few bases, however at 36 subsequent 12 months, he’s a fill-in participant proper now.
Blaze Alexander had a good 61-game displaying with the Diamondbacks final season, slashing .247/.321/.343, whereas Nick Allen, who simply received traded from the A’s to Atlanta, and Trey Sweeney may very well be emergency shortstops to show to, however they actually aren’t going to offer one stat that may assist you to win.
Prime Prospects
Carson Williams, Tampa Bay
Marcelo Meyer, Boston
JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis
Colt Emerson, Seattle
Sebastian Walcott, Texas
Tier 5
RANK
PLAYER
2024 TEAM
AGE
50
Brooks Lee
MIN
24
49
Nicky Lopez
CWS
32
48
Trevor Story
BOS
32
47
Leo Jimenez
TOR
23
46
Daniel Schneemann
CLE
28
45
Tommy Edman
LAD
29
44
Zach McKinstry
DET
28
43
Jorge Mateo
BAL
29
42
Kevin Newman
ARI
31
41
Max Schuemann
OAK
27
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 well worth the probability 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 not less than 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 group have some worth.
That is the place gamers like Daniel Schneemann, Tommy Edman and Zach McKinstry are available in in addition to a lot of the gamers on this tier. Schneemann can play quick and third in addition to left and proper discipline, Edman can play at quick and heart discipline and McKinstry at second, quick, and third and, relying in your league guidelines, left discipline and proper discipline. McKinstry has one of the best pace out of this bunch with 16 steals this previous 12 months after swiping 16 in 2023 as properly
Tier 4
RANK
PLAYER
2024 TEAM
AGE
40
Brayan Rocchio
CLE
24
39
J.P. Crawford
SEA
30
38
Jacob Wilson
OAK
23
37
Edmund Sosa
PHI
29
36
Dylan Moore
SEA
32
35
Isiah Kiner-Falefa
PIT
30
34
Geraldo Perdomo
ARI
25
33
Paul DeJong
KC
31
32
Orlando Arcia
ATL
30
31
Jordan Lawlar
ARI
22
Making Contact is His Sport
Jacob Wilson shouldn’t be going to be a prolific residence 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 properly is make contact. The A’s shortstop had solely a 4.4% strikeout price throughout his three seasons at Grand Canyon College with an 8.7% stroll price. His slash line was a really wholesome .361/.419/.558. Since turning professional in 2023, all Wilson has accomplished is slash .401/.446/.606 because of 39 doubles in these 79 minor league video games. And his strikeout price is barely 7.7%, although his stroll price is barely 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 price was nonetheless a really good 9.7% to go together with a 7.8% stroll price.
In search of Low cost Energy?
If you happen to 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 first rate 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. Due to 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 on account of a hamstring damage 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 may be additionally a powerful probability he begins the 12 months within the minors. However he has great 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 enjoying it very secure right here.
Tier 3
RANK
PLAYER
2024 TEAM
AGE
30
Luisangel Acuña
NYM
23
29
David Hamilton
BOS
27
28
Xander Bogaerts
SD
32
27
Xavier Edwards
MIA
25
26
Jose Caballero
TB
28
25
Josh Smith
TEX
27
24
Nico Hoerner
CHC
27
23
Ha-Seong Kim
SD
29
22
Tyler Fitzgerald
SF
27
21
Ceddanne Rafaela
BOS
24
Actually a Second Baseman
Luisangel Acuña performed most of his video games at shortstop final season because of the Francisco Lindor damage. 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 shall be answered subsequent 12 months. I’m going to imagine he will get sufficient motion there to stay shortstop eligible in 2026 and hopefully past. Acuña’s principal asset is his pace as he has 198 profession steals in 505 minor league video games. He additionally has some energy, however his skill to steal bases is why you must goal him.
A Sleeper at Brief?
Xavier Edwards is a former prime 100 prospect who has a profession minor league slash line of .313/.385/.399. After enjoying 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 price and 9% stroll price. He isn’t going to hit lots of homers, however he will get on base and steals bases, which is an efficient participant to have in your group.
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 heart discipline. 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 price and minimize down on his strikeouts, serving to him enhance his slash line and energy output. As soon as he does that, he shall be a Tier 2 participant.
Tier 2
RANK
PLAYER
2024 TEAM
AGE
20
Dansby Swanson
CHC
31
19
Willi Castro
MIN
27
18
Carlos Correa
MIN
30
17
Anthony Volpe
NYY
23
16
Jeremy Pena
HOU
27
15
Masyn Winn
STL
23
14
Bo Bichette
TOR
27
13
Matt McLain
CIN
25
12
Trea Turner
PHI
31
11
Corey Seager
TEX
30
Harm Considerations – Each 12 months
Carlos Correa had a very good 12 months 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 may very well be an outlier as it’s 45 factors larger than his profession common of .472 and reversed a pattern 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 larger.
Not Good, However Fairly Good
Jeremy Pena and Masyn Winn should not excellent shortstops. In the event that they had been, they’d be in Tier 1! However each are excellent gamers who provide each energy and pace.
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 12 months the facility elevated to fifteen residence runs to go together with 70 RBI and 20 steals with a .266/.308/.394 slash line.
After struggling in his 37-game debut in 2023, Winn offered 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 may very well be rather a lot higher. Winn had a 6.4% stroll price whereas Pena had a 3.9% stroll price. If each gamers can enhance that stroll price and get on base extra, it’ll permit them to take extra benefit of their pace and thus enhance their fantasy worth.
A Shortstop or Second Baseman?
That is what I stated about Matt McLain in my second basemen rankings: McLain missed the entire 2024 season because of a shoulder damage 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 cheerful man.
In all chance, McLain will get the vast majority 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 will be nice as a way to preserve McLain as a shortstop by means of not less than 2026.
Simply Exterior the Prime 10
It’s onerous to think about Bo Bichette, Trea Turner and Corey Seager being exterior the Prime 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 (apart from this previous 12 months), his different numbers have dropped. Even when he duplicates his 2023 season for the following three to 5 years, there are youthful shortstops who will do as properly 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 previous subsequent season. Turner put up strong numbers over his 121 video games and his stats had been consistent with what he has accomplished all through his profession. The 20-plus energy and pace 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 group from scratch, I might gladly have Turner or Seager on my group. However I would favor my Tier 1 gamers extra.
Tier 1
RANK
PLAYER
2024 TEAM
AGE
10
Oneil Cruz
PIT
26
9
Ezequiel Tovar
COL
23
8
CJ Abrams
WAS
23
7
Zach Neto
LAA
24
6
Willy Adames
MIL
29
5
Mookie Betts
LAD
32
4
Francisco Lindor
NYM
31
3
Elly De La Cruz
CIN
23
2
Gunnar Henderson
BAL
23
1
Bobby Witt Jr.
KC
24
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 permits Oneil Cruz to return in as my Tenth-ranked shortstop. Defensively, Cruz shouldn’t be an important shortstop as he dedicated 24 errors on the place final 12 months. Issues received so dangerous that the Pirates moved him to heart discipline, 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 offer you not less than yet another season at quick in 2026.
However even when he stays certified at quick for less than 2025, he’s nonetheless an important bat so as to add. He has each energy and pace 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 assume 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 group. All three of them are 24 or youthful subsequent season, all three of them have energy and two of them have pace.
Tovar is the “slugging” shortstop on this group, hitting 26 dingers this previous season to go together 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 really elevated to .295, however he wants to point out slightly extra endurance on the plate as his stroll proportion ranked within the 2nd percentile and his chase price ranked within the first percentile.
Let me get the negatives about Abrams and Neto out of the way in which first. Each gamers should not nice in the case of batting common or OBP. In 2024 Abrams got here in at .246/.314 in these two stats whereas Neto was .249/.318. However exterior of these two areas, they’re prime twin menace 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% price 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 Onerous Hit% of 39.3 is almost 3% larger than the MLB participant.
Each gamers have numerous room to develop, and I absolutely anticipate to see that as they become old. However if you wish to play it safer and go together with a extra established shortstop, then you may slot Turner and Seager right here and transfer two of those gamers down.
Doable Place Change
There’s a probability that Willy Adames may very well be headed to 3rd base subsequent 12 months relying on who he indicators with and what that group’s wants are. But when he does transfer to 3rd, we are going to cope with that subsequent 12 months. For 2025, Adames is a shortstop and one of many higher hitting ones at that. Adames has been on the radar display screen of dynasty gamers for years as he was a former prime 100 prospect when he was with Tampa Bay.
In each full season since 2019, Adames has hit not less than 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 recreation. 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 price of 27.2%. Nevertheless, he has an excellent understanding of the zone as he has a profession stroll price of 9.6% and his stroll price has been at 10.8% or larger in three of the final 4 seasons.
The Two “Outdated Males”
I ranked Turner and Seager simply exterior of the highest 10 on account of 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?”
Properly, Betts is among the greatest general gamers in baseball as he excels at shortstop, second base and proper discipline (and certain wherever else on the sphere if he performed there). He has the entire instruments to construct a profitable fantasy group – pace, 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 consistent with his profession 162-game common of 29 homers, 91 RBI and 22 steals to go together 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 previous or youthful just like the trio of gamers ranked forward of them.
Liked 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 Velocity ranked within the 86th percentile or larger in 2024, his Stroll% ranked within the 72nd percentile and his Dash Velocity ranked within the one centesimal percentile. He nonetheless strikes out an excessive amount of, but when strikeouts preserve you from wanting De La Cruz, then another person in your league shall 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 pink. His xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, AEV, Onerous Hit% and Bat Velocity all ranked within the 92nd percentile or larger whereas his Stroll% and Chase% ranked within the eightieth and 86th percentiles. And his Dash Velocity is nothing to sneeze at because it ranked within the 88th percentile. And in contrast to De La Cruz, Henderson’s strikeout numbers are consistent with the league common, rating within the forty fifth percentile in Ok%.
A Step Above the Relaxation
When my 2025 Prime Dynasty Participant rankings come out towards the top of the 12 months – Bobby Witt Jr. very properly may very well 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. Velocity? His steals the final three seasons have been 30, 49 and 31. Hit Device? He has that as properly. 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 12 months.
Come Again Subsequent Week
Thanks for studying and are available again subsequent week for the highest 50 third basemen.
Earlier Rankings
Prime 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – RelieversTop 100 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Beginning PitchersTop 40 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – CatchersTop 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – First BasemenTop 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Second Basemen
