Fantasy Baseball 2019 Shortstop Rankings

The shortstop position features a good combination of power, speed and contact, providing plenty of fantasy baseball value to be found.

The final infield position, shortstop. This position has seen a lot of changes in fantasy baseball value over the last couple of seasons. Shortstop used to be a position for speed and contact. A position to help balance your ratio stats while the other positions boost power.

As the league changes, so has the shortstop position. At the end of the 2015 season, there were 11 hitters with a .260 average or better, 17 with at least 10 steals and only two with more than 20 home runs.

Fast forward to the end of the 2018 season and those numbers are completely different. Only nine batters had a .260 average, 16 had 10 steals or more and seven hitters reached 20 home runs. Sixteen batters also struck out at least 100 times. That number was up from just 11 in 2015.

There are still shortstops that can hit for a high average and provide value in the other stats. It may just cost you an early-round pick this season. It all depends on your roster construction, what you value more and how you think you can win your league.

Any player with shortstop eligibility in your fantasy league will not appear on this list unless shortstop is their primary position in 2019.

There may be one or two exceptions due to forgetfulness or a free agent signing with a team. I most likely already talked about that player in a previous position or they’ll come up in my outfield rankings.

Here are my top-30 shortstops for the 2019 fantasy baseball season.

30. JT Riddle – Riddle won’t provide a lot of fantasy value. He’s listed as the No. 7 hitter in a Marlins lineup with low expectations. He doesn’t hit for a lot of power or contact, nine home runs and .231 last season. But, in a points or Roto league, an extra home run or RBI could help.

29. Aledmys Diaz – The Astros signed Diaz as a backup utility infielder. He may not get a lot of playing time but if any of the Astros infielders should go down with an injury, Diaz will immediately get a boost in value. He can hit for power while maintaining a decent average.

28. Nick Ahmed – The Diamondbacks lineup isn’t as bad as the Marlins’ but Ahmed and Riddle are very similar. They have similar power numbers, low batting average and no speed.

Chase Field stifles power, so Ahmed’s value is hindered by his home ballpark. Though, his 16 home runs last season could indicate something for this season.

27. Hernan Perez – Perez will float around the field all season, giving him a lot of eligibility. However, he won’t start many games and you probably won’t get a lot of time to change your lineup when he does. Despite that, Perez could still hit 10 home runs, 50 RBIs and .250 throughout the season.

26. Willy Adames – The Rays rookie had a good half of 2018. In 85 games, he hit 10 home runs, 34 RBIs and .278 with six steals in 11 attempts. Equate that to a full season and Adames would have hit 19 homers ans 65 RBIs. I think he’ll get the RBIs but the home runs will stay in the mid-teens with a .255 average. As the No. 6 hitter, he’ll have chances to rack up the RBIs.

The four veterans on this list have some hoops to jump through to get back to fantasy relevancy.

25. J.P. Crawford – Crawford hasn’t played a full season in his two years with the Phillies and will likely fail to do so in 2019. He’s projected to start in Triple-A while Kyle Seager and Tim Beckham man the left side of the infield. If he can reach 100 games, then nine home runs, 40 RBIs and a .235 average is what you should expect.

24. Addison Russell – Russell will serve a 40-game suspension to start the season and will be eligible to return on May 3. In his remaining 85 games, Russell should hit 10 home runs, 42 RBIs and .248. Even when he does return, the Cubs are not forced to play him.

Javier Baez played well at short and the team has other options to play second base. He’s a bench option at best.

23. Tim Beckham – Beckham joins the Mariners as they continue to move players around to find the winning combination. He had a career year with the Orioles in 2017. In 137 games, he hit 22 home runs, 62 RBIs and .278.

Beckham’s numbers dropped across the board in 2018. Four of the five AL West parks are in the top-half in favor of home runs. I think he’ll hit 11 home runs, with 35 RBIs and .248 as the Mariners’ No. 8 hitter.

22. Fernando Tatis Jr. – Tatis is one of the many prospects the Padres are building their future around. The team has Ty France at third base and Luis Urias at shortstop. Urias is another prospect but France isn’t on that list. I expect Tatis to take over third base duties in the second half. I project 75 games played with a 9 HR/32 RBI/.235 line.

21. Troy Tulowitzki – The Yankees signed Tulowitzki for the league minimum and for good reason. Didi Gregorius will miss the first three months of the season. Though, the addition of DJ LeMahieu doesn’t help his value.

Tulo has dealt with injuries over the last couple of seasons and didn’t even play a game last season. If he can stay healthy, he’ll provide more value for the Yankees than fantasy owners. He’s a good bench option in deeper leagues.

This group of shortstops has seen better days. If they can turn it around in 2019, they’ll be great value picks.

20. Dansby Swanson – Swanson saw an increase of power with a decline in batting average last season. He did steal 10 bases, which helps his value some. He’s listed as the Braves No. 8 hitter. With Ozzie Albies and Brian McCann ahead of him, Swanson should be able to drive in some runs. A 12 HR/55 RBI/.248 line isn’t bad for someone drafted in the 26th round.

19. Scott Kingery – After hitting well in three years in the minors and signing a major deal before playing a game in the majors, Kingery disappointed all who drafted him. He hit .226 with eight home runs, 35 RBIs and 55 runs.

He’s going to start the season on the bench with Jean Segura and Cesar Hernandez holding down the middle of the infield. He’ll hit nine home runs, 40 RBIs and .235 in his limited playing time. I would stay away from him.

18. Orlando Arcia – Arcia played in 34 fewer games in 2018 than in 2017. As a result, he hit fewer home runs, RBIs and average. The Brewers lineup is one of the better lineups in the league. Arcia, even hitting towards the bottom of the order, will have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs. Arcia will hit double-digit home runs and steal double-digit bases.

17. Jorge Polanco – Polanco is projected to hit atop the revamped Twins lineup. He’ll still provide power with 15 home runs and 65 RBIs but will also score 75 runs and steal 14 bases. The AL Central ballparks do not favor hitters but Polanco is good enough to overcome that. He’s being drafted in the 23rd round.

16. Didi Gregorius – As I said in the Tulowitzki section, Gregorius will be out until July. When he does return, he will slot back in as the starting shortstop, creating an issue for LeMahieu and Tulo. Gregorius has 20-home run power with a .280 average.

Though, in half a season, he may hit 11 or 12 home runs. If you’re in the playoff hunt, Gregorius will provide a good spark in the second half of the season.

This group has a couple of young options looking to prove themselves and three veterans who have consistent performances and good value late in the draft.

15. Garrett Hampson – Hampson will be the starting second baseman for the Rockies but only has shortstop eligibility in ESPN leagues. After 10 games (depending on your league), he will get second base eligibility.

Trevor Story is their shortstop and he’s coming up (spoiler). Hampson doesn’t have much power but could reach 10 home runs in Coors Field while maintaining a .275 batting average.

14. Marcus Semien – Semien has been the same player for the last four seasons, and that’s not a bad thing. You know what to expect from him and he has his fantasy value. He hits towards the bottom of the A’s lineup. They have solid hitters ahead of him, giving him chances to drive in runs. Expect 17 home runs, 70 RBIs, .250 and 12 steals for your fantasy baseball team this season.

13. Paul DeJong – DeJong has some power to his game. In 223 career games, he has 44 home runs and 133 RBIs. It’s hard to project what his batting average will be due to hitting .285 and .241 in his two seasons. In a full 140-game season, DeJong should hit 24 home runs, 80 RBIs and .255. He’ll have a lot of lineup protection with Matt Carpenter and Paul Goldschmidt.

12. Amed Rosario – Rosario hasn’t looked good in his first two seasons with the Mets. He has a career .255 average in 200 games. The Mets made some improvements to the lineup with Robinson Cano and Jed Lowrie.

Rosario will hit seventh in the lineup. He can still hit 10 home runs, 60 RBIs and .260, an improvement from his first two years. He’ll also steal 25 bases. He’s one of my sleepers at the position, which is weird as my No. 12 shortstop.

11. Andrelton Simmons – Simmons has been an excellent defender but has improved at the plate over the last few seasons. His power dropped a bit but his average went up a lot. Simmons hit 11 homers and .291 in 146 games.

He’ll have good lineup protection as well with Justin Bour, Albert Pujols, Zack Cozart and, of course, Mike Trout. Simmons is good for 12 home runs, 65 RBIs, a .285 average and 10 steals.

The five shortstops here are a great value and provide owners with performances to cover four of the five hitting categories.

10. Tim Anderson – Anderson had the best season from a White Sox shortstop in years. He hit 20 home runs, 64 RBIs and stole 26 bases with a .240 average. The White Sox lineup has seen some improvements, it’d be better with Manny Machado in the middle.

Regardless, Anderson should maintain his new power and speed with a 21 HR/70 RBI/.252/21 SB line. A good value for those who miss out on the top-five options.

9. Elvis Andrus – Andrus hit 20 home runs in 2017 but dropped back to his career average with six home runs. He hit .256, the lowest of his career, though the 97 games played may have hindered his performance. Andrus also stole just five bases, 20 fewer than the prior season.

The loss of Adrian Beltre will hurt Andrus and the rest of the Rangers hitters. I think Andrus will bounce back with power and speed but his average won’t reach the near .300 we’re used to seeing.

8. Jean Segura – Segura in Philly boosts his fantasy value. He’ll keep up the speed and average while seeing an increase to his power numbers. Citizens Bank Park ranked fourth in home runs. Even better, Nationals Park was fifth.

With Andrew McCutchen and Rhys Hoskins hitting after him, Segura should have no problem scoring 90 runs.

7. Corey Seager – Seager missed all but 26 games. In his last full season, he hit 22 home runs, 77 RBIs, .295 and scored 85 runs. With A.J. Pollock hitting leadoff, Seager will move down to No. 2. Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger will be right behind him.

The only negative to Seager’s game is the lack of speed. He has just nine career steals. But hitting 23 home runs, 80 RBIs and .285 is not a bad tradeoff.

6. Xander Bogaerts – The Red Sox struggles in 2019 will come from their pitching staff, not their offense. Bogaerts is projected to hit cleanup and based on his 2018 numbers, he’s a good choice. Bogaerts hit 23 home runs, drove in 103 runs and hit .288. He scored just 74 runs and stole eight bases. His run totals may be low again but the power and average will make him a valuable shortstop.

Carlos Correa saw a drop in power and average last season. He finished with a .239 average, 15 home runs and 65 RBIs. He’s missed a lot of time over the last couple of seasons. Yet, Correa is just 24 years old.

Correa hits in the middle of one of the best lineups in the league. They added Michael Brantley in the offseason after his comeback year with the Indians. George Springer, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman will hit in front of Correa.

The former rookie of the year has improved his fly ball and ground ball rates over the last three seasons. He saw a three percent jump in his soft hit rate but it didn’t affect his batting average or batted ball profile.

Correa is being drafted at the end of the fourth round in 10-team leagues. There are six shortstop-eligible players getting drafted ahead of Correa as of this writing. With his shortened season, it makes sense owners are staying away from Correa.

Correa has 30-home run potential with a .265 average and 90 RBIs. I’ll take him over the other shortstops drafted ahead of him.

Trevor Story had an MVP-like season last year. He hit 37 home runs, 108 RBIs and a .291 average. He still combined that with 168 strikeouts and 88 runs. The Rockies No. 5 hitter can easily do it again this season.

Yes, he benefits from calling Coors Field home. But, unless he’s traded, we have to factor that into his fantasy value. The ballpark ranked either first or second in hits, runs and home runs according to ESPN Park Factors.

Despite the rumors of the Rockies wanting to bring back Carlos Gonzalez, the rest of the lineup is still pretty solid. Charlie Blackmon, recently signed Daniel Murphy, Nolan Arenado and David Dahl are hitting in front of Story. If they don’t drive in enough runs, Story will bring them all home.

He makes really hard contact, evident by the 30-plus home runs. He could afford to reduce his ground balls and hit more line drives but that will come with experience.

Story is being drafted at the end of the third round, 30.5 ADP. With his power numbers at a low-power position is worth the draft pick. He can hit 35 home runs, 100 RBIs and .272 with ease.

Trea Turner dealt with injuries in his first couple of seasons. But, after playing in all 162 games last year, we know what to expect from Turner.

He hit 19 home runs, 73 RBIs and .271 with 43 steals. I think he could reach 20 HR/50 SB this season, which will push him up the rankings. The RBIs will be low due to him hitting at the top of the order but he will score a lot of runs.

Nationals Park is one of the more hitter-friendly parks in the league, which will help boost his value. He improved his fly ball and ground ball rates between 2017 and 2018. Turner also hit the ball harder last season.

Speed is hard to come by in fantasy baseball. There are only a select few that can eclipse more than 30 steals. If you want to compete in that category, Turner will have to be drafted early. Without him, you’re going to struggle to find saves later in the draft.

Turner is being drafted at the beginning of the second round, good value for the 25-year-old.

It’s February 4th and Manny Machado is still without a team. Pitchers and catchers are reporting in two weeks. Unless Machado goes to San Francisco or San Diego, Machado’s fantasy baseball value will still be a top-20 pick.

Machado has hit at least 33 home runs in his last four seasons. He has at least a.286 average in three of those years (he hit .259 in 2017). Machado can also run, when he wants to, and drive in a lot of runs. He hit 13 home runs and 42 RBIs in just 66 games with the Dodgers.

The Phillies, White Sox, Padres and a mystery team are all interested. The Yankees are all but out. The move to Philadelphia or Chicago will help keep Machado’s fantasy value afloat. Going to the pitcher-friendly San Diego won’t. Plus, he’d have to play some games in Arizona, though him playing in Colorado could offset that.

The NL East is a very hitter-friendly division. The AL Central isn’t but the opposing pitching, outside of the Indians, shouldn’t scare anyone away from drafting Machado.

Machado is still good for 30-plus home runs and a .285 average. The RBI and run totals depend on who his teammates are. I would still draft him as a top-end hitter. He will also have third base eligibility.

Francisco Lindor was the best shortstop in the league last season. He improved on his power with 38 home runs, 92 RBIs, a league-leading 129 runs scored and a .277 average. He added in 25 steals to his MVP-like season.

To think Lindor will post those same numbers in 2019 is ridiculous. But, if he can replicate 85 percent of that, he’d still be top fantasy shortstop.

The Indians made some interesting moves this offseason. I like the addition of Jake Bauers, though downgrading from Edwin Encarnacion to Carlos Santana may affect the lineup.

Progressive Field is the most hitter-friendly park in the AL Central at No. 14. The top of the Indians lineup will take advantage of that and the poor pitching they’ll face all season.

The shortstop position has seen an increase in power over the last few seasons. The speed is there but it will cost you if you want to get a leg up on your opponents. You can afford to wait a few rounds before drafting your shortstop. You may not even have to draft one if you have a few players with multi-position eligibility.

The next position in my rankings list is outfield. I’ll be doing a top 100 for that. Stay tuned!