Now that we’ve recapped the prime 20 catchers, prime 20 1st basemen and prime 20 2nd basemen, we’re beginning to see readability on depth of positions, and shortstops are sturdy, and they’ll metaphorically eat. Mookie Betts was a prime three 2nd baseman, right here he’s scrapping the underside of the highest 10. That’s stacked. So, right here’s the ultimate rating from our Fantasy Baseball Participant Rater with my feedback. The Participant Rater permits me to be neutral whereas how I ranked them within the preseason. Anyway, right here’s the highest 20 shortstops for 2024 fantasy baseball and the way they evaluate to the place I initially ranked them:
1. Bobby Witt Jr. – With one eye, I’m Bobby Witt Jr.’s prospect grade the place it says he’s received a 40-grade Hit Software. With my different eye, I’m his MLB-leading common when actually nobody is hitting for common anymore. My two eyes at the moment are crossing to commiserate and are laughing collectively. My God, my eyes are laughing. You’ve managed to make my eyes giggle. Good job. In all seriousness, I assumed Witt would battle to hit .240 final 12 months, and now it seems as if I used to be consuming two forties. Lot is made of men like Kris Bryant cashing in and by no means doing something, however how about props to Witt for signing a ten-year deal via 2034 and having his greatest season? There have been numerous seasons when he would’ve been the highest hitter on the Participant Rater. Unfortch, 30/30/.330 wouldn’t do it this 12 months. For what it’s Cronenworth, I ranked Witt third total this 12 months, and he ended up third total. Too dangerous I ranked within the primary and two slot [redacted]. Preseason Rank #1, 2024 Projections: 103/34/107/.280/47 in 606 ABs, Remaining Numbers: 125/32/109/.332/31 in 636 ABs
2. Elly De La Cruz – His title is Elly, and I took the most important L of this previous preseason by not believing him. He’s Elly and I’m L’ey. I’m at all times seeking to get higher and be taught from previous errors, and I’m selecting to remove from my Elly mistake that even Jesus made the error of not doing something on Sunday when he might’ve put in just a little extra work and glued obliques so that they’d by no means get injured. Gotta grind, Jesus! Nah, okay, my takeaway on my Elly L’ey was to concede that strikeouts won’t be good if excessive, however Onerous Contact can repair quite a bit. Additionally: Pace kills some common issues. I don’t know the way effectively this profile goes to age, however we’ll cross that bridge in 5 years, if it’s even nonetheless a difficulty. The beauty of being such a weapon as Elly is: Properly, take a look at his walks and Ks, 8.2 to 9.9 BB% and 33.7 all the way down to 31.3%. When opposing pitchers concern you, they pitch you extra fastidiously and you’re taking extra walks and could be extra selective, which ups his steals. It’s all constructive, particularly if that development continues. Preseason Rank #11, 2024 Projections: 68/20/72/.219/50 in 514 ABs, Remaining Numbers:
3. Gunnar Henderson – I’ve by no means heard anybody name him Gunny, however I’m additionally 100% positive individuals name him Gunny. Extra positive about that than my wedding ceremony anniversary date. That Gunny went 40/20/.280-ish and is barely within the prime 10 total on the Participant Rater goes to one thing I used to be speaking about within the All-Star Break prime 100. Prime hitters? To misquote Chappell Roan, they’re phenomenalnalnalnalnalnal. It’s the middle-to-late hitters the place you’re like Fred Willard saying wha’ occurred? As for Gunny, I can’t consider I didn’t make it a factor all season about how he was hitting leadoff, when he’s clearly a three-hole hitter. Additionally, his walks and Ks went in the fitting route, which is a studying of mine from a few years in the past: Nice hitters get larger. Preseason Rank #7, 2024 Projections: 106/26/71/.257/11 in 571 ABs, Remaining Numbers: 118/37/92/.281/21 in 630 ABs
4. Francisco Lindor – Had him ranked seventeenth total within the preseason, which I consider was larger than anybody. (Properly, apart from Grimace’s preseason rankings.) Suppose lots of people are gonna look again in a couple of years and be like, “I can’t consider I didn’t belief Lindor to go 30/30 after he mainly went 30/30 12 months after 12 months after 12 months.” Lindor appears to get numerous overreactions (a Mets fan factor?) like he isn’t a constant producer, when, in truth, he’s one of the constant. Preseason Rank #4, 2024 Projections: 94/27/101/.258/30 in 591 ABs, Remaining Numbers: 107/33/91/.273/29 in 618 ABs
5. Willy Adames – Oh, if it’s not clear, as dangerous because the 2nd or 1st basemen have been, shortstops are insane. Willy Adames is larger ranked than the first 2nd baseman (Ketel) total, and solely Vlad Jr. is larger out of the first basemen. Adames is ranked this low, and he went 30/20/.250. Common is just a little low for this comp, however that’s what we used to like getting from perennial prime 20 total man Paul Goldschmidt. Would ya consider, Dong Adames? No, truly, I don’t suppose I do consider. His steals leaping up from 5 the earlier 12 months is standing out, and his energy is screaming both a crash in homers or common. Preseason Rank #17, 2024 Projections: 75/32/89/.226/6 in 572 ABs, Remaining Numbers: 93/32/112/.251/21 in 610 ABs
6. Jackson Merrill – Just one utterly out of nowhere for me, and as talked about many occasions this 12 months, he was my very 1st week Purchase, writing an entire submit about him proper after the Padres’ opened the season in Korea. Merrill being a rookie and a impartial .290 hitter is a fireplace emoji that’s the blue flame that’s extraordinarily sizzling. That he’ll be 21 after subsequent season begins? Are you able to make that fireplace emoji hotter? That he has impartial 25 homer energy and 15-steal velocity? Is Jackson Merrill who we thought Wyatt Langford was gonna be? Sure, sure he’s. Preseason Unranked, Remaining Numbers: 77/24/90/.292/16 in 554 ABs
7. Trea Turner – Contemplating he missed roughly six weeks with a hammy and nonetheless completed the 12 months this excessive within the shortstops reveals how good he was when taking part in. Deal with Urner will get a biscuit. Properly accomplished. Has age lastly caught as much as him? Nonetheless a stable BABIP and steals (for two-thirds of a season), so I feel we maintain Urner off the glue farm for now, however his ADP will likely be attention-grabbing subsequent 12 months. I might see him falling into the 30’s and being . Preseason Rank #3, 2024 Projections: 101/22/81/.273/28 in 621 ABs, Remaining Numbers: 88/21/62/.295/19 in 505 ABs
8. Zach Neto – Kinda love doing these recaps as a result of I can return and take a look at what I assumed within the preseason and why on this case I ranked Neto thirty first for shortstops. With that mentioned, our Steamer projections have been proper to like Neto. Right here’s what I mentioned, “I like Neto, however nobody likes him as a lot as Steamer! Wow, his projections are nice. (Roughly 22/12/.250 in 150 video games.) Tremendous intrigued, however getting him to twenty+ homers feels extremely optimistic.” And that’s me quoting me! Clearly, I used to be not optimistic sufficient. Preseason Rank #31, 2024 Projections: 61/16/67/.256/12 in 471 ABs, Remaining Numbers: 70/23/77/.249/30 in 542 ABs
9. Ezequiel Tovar – I’m gonna make a New Yr’s decision to by no means look once more at prospect grades for guys who’ve been within the majors for a couple of 12 months however Ezequiel is a 40 grade energy? C’mon, man! A 60 grade hit device? C’mon! Suppose we should always give props to Tovar for not solely having a stable season but additionally — presumably — ignoring all the pieces Bud Black and the Rockies have to be telling him. One factor that have to be true: Rockies gamers who succeed? Ignore all the pieces they’re informed. Preseason Rank #32, 2024 Projections: 72/14/75/.251/12 in 579 ABs, Remaining Numbers: 83/26/78/.269/6 in 655 ABs
10. Mookie Betts – Already went over him within the prime 20 2nd basemen for 2024 fantasy baseball.
11. Oneil Cruz – What’s wild about Oneil getting OF eligibility this 12 months is that really helps him greater than shortstop. In most leagues, you want extra outfielders than shortstops and shortstops are far more stacked than OF. Wanting again at my love for Oneil over Elly and it seems to be like I used to be proper to like Oneil, simply unsuitable to comp him to and hate Elly. What I see with Oneil is much like Elly of their contact too. 35% Okay% to 30% and seven.8% BB% to eight.5%. My worries will likely be do these regress, however I truthfully don’t suppose there’s any method of figuring out. Certain, some individuals will let you know he’ll or received’t, however I feel it’s unknowable. Preseason Rank #10, 2024 Projections: 82/25/64/.248/25 in 547 ABs, Remaining Numbers: 72/21/76/.259/22 in 599 ABs
12. CJ Abrams – He was caught stealing a lot. On the basepaths, then for wage theft for exhibiting as much as the video games with three hours of sleep! [screams at clouds, shakes fist] If he would’ve been caught a bit much less, he would’ve mainly had the very same season because the earlier 12 months, so don’t actually see this 12 months as a setback in his profession, except the Nats are purchased by MGM. Preseason Rank #8, 2024 Projections: 90/18/59/.251/52 in 585 ABs, Remaining Numbers: 79/20/65/.246/31 in 541 ABs
13. Corey Seager – Reminded of the one who was badgering me all preseason that I had Seager ranked too low. The humorous factor is I by no means know which participant somebody goes to get a bee of their bonnet about, and so they’re positively carrying a bonnet. It’s normally very stunning to me too. I assumed I had Seager ranked pretty contemplating he has zero velocity. A 30-homer, 1-steal, .285 hitter is basically that good? No, not likely for fantasy. They’re fantastic. Preseason Rank #5, 2024 Projections: 96/33/109/.310/3 in 533 ABs, Remaining Numbers: 68/30/74/.278/1 in 475 ABs
14. Brice Turang – Already went over him within the prime 20 2nd basemen for 2024 fantasy baseball.
15. Jeremy Pena – Good man to take a look at with the purpose made in Seager’s blurb saved in thoughts. Is Pena wherever near Seager in energy or common? Not likely, however 20-steal velocity is a big bump in worth vs. zero. Preseason Rank #18, 2024 Projections: 73/15/77/.267/15 in 566 ABs, Remaining Numbers: 78/15/70/.266/20 in 602 ABs
16. Anthony Volpe – Was about to say his season was a story of two halves, however I completely misremembered what he did. His 1st half numbers are virtually similar to his 2nd half. After all, the first half was in virtually twice as many ABs, however I might’ve sworn he was higher within the 1st half. Total, the numbers aren’t actually spectacular and he didn’t take the step ahead from the rookie 12 months. Or did he?! Rattling, Mr. Reversal, I knew you have been gonna say that. His Ks went method down and hitting .243 is method higher than .209. If he can now mix his rookie energy along with his sophomore common, he may get there. And he’s nonetheless younger. Preseason Rank #14, 2024 Projections: 71/25/69/.237/27 in 551 ABs, Remaining Numbers: 90/12/60/.243/28 in 637 ABs
17. Nico Hoerner – Already went over him within the prime 20 2nd basemen for 2024 fantasy baseball.
18. Dansby Swanson – Should you would’ve informed me within the preseason Swanson would get much more steals than my projections, I’d’ve mentioned, “Giddy up!” However that horse actually stalled on energy. So, going into this 12 months, it appeared just like the .240-ish common was a fluke, however this 12 months illustrates a bigger subject. He makes very bleh contact. One humorous factor I observed in his numbers, in 2018, as a 24-year-old, he was prime 20 in dash velocity and stole 10 baggage. Now he’s across the two hundredth quickest and he almost doubles these velocity numbers. Rickey Henderson would’ve stolen 200 baggage in at present’s sport. Preseason Rank #15, 2024 Projections: 81/25/85/.254/12 in 545 ABs, Remaining Numbers: 82/16/66/.242/19 in 534 ABs
19. Ceddanne Rafaela – Echoing what I mentioned within the Pena and Seager blurbs. Is Ceddanne blowing off the roof with 30+ homer energy? Or Elly velocity? No, however 15-ish/20-ish within the on a regular basis lineup lifts numerous fantasy worth. The promising factor right here is Ceddanne will get higher at selecting spots to steal? He may problem Duran subsequent 12 months for star of the Crimson Sox. Or Roman Anthony? Or Kristian Campbell? Or–ugh, I just like the younger Sawx quite a bit. We’ll get into them in a pair weekswit my rookie outlook posts. Preseason Rank #28, 2024 Projections: 49/13/44/.254/19 in 367 ABs, Remaining Numbers:
20. Masyn Winn – Refreshed my Reminiscence Cocktail on what I mentioned within the preseason, and it went just a little one thing like this, “Most necessary takeaways from this submit: (Winn) has velocity, makes contact and burgeoning energy. The ultimate large one: The taking part in time. I don’t know. My guess is he’s the beginning shortstop from the soar, however the Playing cards would wish to maneuver on from somebody, possible Edman. Folks will overlook Winn due to a nasty month of hitting his rookie 12 months, however you shouldn’t.” And that’s me quoting me! But, he didn’t actually do a lot of something. 15/11/.267? My yawn’s going to the Yawn Retailer to get extra yawns. He was largely benefitted by hitting leadoff mainly the entire 12 months. Due to that glove, he performs, which kinda jogs my memory of Ezequiel. Name him Amish Winn. Preseason Rank #29, 2024 Projections: 41/8/45/.258/18 in 388 ABs, Remaining Numbers: 85/15/57/.267/11 in 587 ABs
