Top 10 Shortstops for 2024
Zach Neto - Los Angeles Angels
It was super tough to distinguish Neto from the others among my honorable mentions, but my gut told me to go with the youngster from Los Angeles. Fresh off a 5.0 bWAR season, I couldn’t resist putting Neto in the top 10. The Angels might have some life after all, and I am all for it. If he can get on base more in 2025 with an improved lineup, Neto is going to skyrocket in value for dynasty leagues.
2024: 23 HR | 30 SB | 77 RBI | 34 2B | 39 BB | .249 AVG | .318 OBP | .443 SLG | .761 OPS | 5.1 bWAR | 114 wRC+
Career: 32 HR | 35 SB | 111 RBI | 51 2B | 59 BB | .241 AVG | .314 OBP | .420 SLG | .734 OPS | 6.8 bWAR
Willy Adames - San Francisco Giants
Adames is in his prime, and I could eat crow by putting him 9th on this list. I don’t love drafting players after they just switched teams, but the Giants should be solid in 2025. Adames might continue to mash; I am just expecting a regression from his 2024 112 RBIs + 32 bombs. It would be a tough act to follow up in a much tougher National League West division.
2024: 32 HR | 21 SB | 112 RBI | 33 2B | 74 BB | .251 AVG | .331 OBP | .462 SLG | .794 OPS | 3.1 bWAR | 119 wRC+
Career: 150 HR | 51 SB | 472 RBI | 172 2B | 348 BB | .248 AVG | .322 OBP | .444 SLG | .766 OPS | 21.5 bWAR
CJ Abrams - Washington Nationals
CJ Abrams is barely average if you go by wRC+, but he has so much potential to grow. Maybe if he stopped going to the casino and focused on baseball (jokes), he would become a top-5 SS for 2026. Abrams was an All-Star in 2024 and is still only 23 years old. If Abrams continues to develop, the Nationals are going to be a force in two years. He needs to see more pitches and focus on making good contact in 2025. 246 strikeouts across his last two seasons is not a way to succeed in Major League Baseball.
2024: 20 HR | 31 SB | 65 RBI | 29 2B | 40 BB | .246 AVG | .314 OBP | .433 SLG | .747 OPS | 3.4 bWAR | 107 wRC+
Career: 40 HR | 85 SB | 150 RBI | 69 2B | 77 BB | .246 AVG | .302 OBP | .402 SLG | .704 OPS | 6.8 bWAR
Trea Turner - Philadelphia Phillies
People are sleeping on Trea Turner this season. I don’t know if it is because he is now 31 years old or that he had a “down” year in 2023 and hasn’t checked his stat page recently. The guy hit .300 in 2024 and was a stolen base away from a 20-20 year. Philadelphia has a loaded lineup with plenty of opportunities to accumulate the counting stats. I will be looking to draft Turner everywhere and anywhere!
2024: 21 HR | 19 SB | 62 RBI | 25 2B | 27 BB | .295 AVG | .338 OBP | .469 SLG | .807 OPS | 3.0 bWAR | 124 wRC+
Career: 171 HR | 279 SB | 572 RBI | 251 2B | 340 BB | .296 AVG | .348 OBP | .481 SLG | .829 OPS | 36.3 bWAR
Corey Seager - Texas Rangers
Seager is undoubtedly one of the best hitters in all of baseball. That being said, he is now in his thirties and has never really been a threat on the bases. I have a feeling Texas will rebound and play their way into the 2025 playoffs. The only way this team does that is if Seager continues to mash the way he has always done, and the rest of the team gets over their World Series hangover.
2024: 30 HR | 1 SB | 74 RBI | 21 2B | 53 BB | .278 AVG | .353 OBP | .512 SLG | .864 OPS | 5.0 bWAR | 140 wRC+
Career: 200 HR | 617 RBI | 251 2B | 415 BB | .290 AVG | .360 OBP | .512 SLG | .872 OPS | 36.8 bWAR
Francisco Lindor - New York Mets
Lindor is a special talent. He is constantly overlooked, even though he has put up 8 seasons with 4+ bWAR during his 10-year career. He was a stolen base away from a 30-30 season in 2024, and I don’t doubt he can accomplish that in 2025. The crazy thing is that Citi Field is not an easy ballpark to hit home runs, and I am still a full believer in Lindor hitting 30-30.
2024: 33 HR | 29 SB | 91 RBI | 39 2B | 56 BB | .273 AVG | .344 OBP | .500 SLG | .844 OPS | 6.9 bWAR | 137 wRC+
Career: 248 HR | 185 SB | 770 RBI | 304 2B | 523 BB | .274 AVG | .342 OBP | .476 SLG | .818 OPS | 49.6 bWAR
Elly De La Cruz - Cincinnati Reds
Honestly, I would have ranked De La Cruz lower on this list, but I know I would have been attacked. Lindor and Seager are better than De La Cruz. I will not be talked out of that take. The reason I have Elly at #4 is simple. SPEED. Lindor and Seager will not come close to De La Cruz in stolen bases, but they will all finish with 20-35 home runs. If Elly’s new approach in the box works, he can go nuclear. The keyword here is ”if”.
2024: 25 HR | 67 SB | 76 RBI | 36 2B | 69 BB | .259 AVG | .339 OBP | .471 SLG | .809 OPS | 5.2 bWAR | 118 wRC+
Career: 38 HR | 102 SB | 120 RBI | 51 2B | 104 BB | .250 AVG | .324 OBP | .447 SLG | .771 OPS | 6.0 bWAR
Gunnar Henderson - Baltimore Orioles
Back-to-back 6+ bWAR seasons for the 23-year-old shortstop will land him in the top 3 on this list. Henderson is a beast and will be the key piece of the Orioles lineup for years to come (as long as they pay him!). He racked up 11 more steals in 2024 compared to 2023 and has room to grow. If others in the Baltimore lineup can rebound in 2025, it can only help Henderson with the counting stats.
2024: 37 HR | 21 SB | 92 RBI | 31 2B | 78 BB | .281 AVG | .364 OBP | .529 SLG | .893 OPS | 9.1 bWAR | 155 wRC+
Career: 69 HR | 32 SB | 192 RBI | 67 2B | 150 BB | .268 AVG | .346 OBP | .504 SLG | .850 OPS | 16.2 bWAR
Mookie Betts - Los Angeles Dodgers
If this were a best-overall-player list, Betts would be ranked above Witt Jr. Mookie gets it done every year from all over the field. Whether you ask him to play Outfield, Second Base, or Shortstop, he does it at an elite level. He is undoubtedly a 1st Ballot Hall of Famer and will be hitting between Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani this season. Cannot say enough positive things about Mookie Betts.
2024: 19 HR | 16 SB | 75 RBI | 24 2B | 61 BB | .289 AVG | .372 OBP | .491 SLG | .863 OPS | 4.8 bWAR | 141 wRC+
Career: 271 HR | 188 SB | 831 RBI | 371 2B | 675 BB | .294 AVG | .373 OBP | .524 SLG | .897 OPS | 69.6 bWAR
Bobby Witt Jr. - Kansas City Royals
Bobby Witt Jr. is a specimen. I can’t find one flaw in his game. He is only 24 years old and has already had an awe-inspiring career. Witt Jr. has already claimed two top-10 MVP finishes, a Silver Slugger award, an All-Star appearance, and a Gold Glove. This man is just getting started, and I expect him to be a problem for opposing pitchers for the next decade.
2024: 32 HR | 31 SB | 109 RBI | 45 2B | 57 BB | .332 AVG | .389 OBP | .588 SLG | .977 OPS | 9.4 bWAR | 168 wRC+
Career: 82 HR | 110 SB | 285 RBI | 104 2B | 127 BB | .288 AVG | .336 OBP | .505 SLG | .841 OPS | 14.7 bWAR
Honorable Mentions: Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, Masyn Wynn, Oneil Cruz, Ezequiel Tovar
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