B/R Fantasy Baseball 300: Ranking the Top 25 Shortstops
With the top 150 fantasy baseball players all ordered and ranked on the initial 2015 Big Board, it's time to get into the individual position rankings. All told, there will be (count 'em) 300 players ranked.
After we provided some sequencing to the second basemen last time out, next up is shortstop, which is just as difficult a position to rank given the dearth of talent after the few tippy-top names.
Speaking of the top, it all starts with Troy Tulowitzki, who unquestionably is the most impactful fantasy shortstop around. Problem is, of course, he practically comes with the little "DL" designation next to his name when he's on your fantasy roster.
The next tier consists of three high-upside players who also carry some risk in Ian Desmond (batting average), Hanley Ramirez (new league and position) and Jose Reyes (injury issues). After that? Oof.
There are some aging vets in Jimmy Rollins and Alexei Ramirez who still put up useful digits in the home run and stolen base categories, but neither is all that exciting to own. The one guy who might be, though, checks in just after those two in these rankings.
To find out who that is, let's run down the top 25 overall fantasy shortstops and a few others you should watch, including potential impact rookies. Chances are, you're going to want to know about as many of these guys as you can, because just about anyone with a pulse at this spot is borderline rosterable.
These rankings consider three factors:
First, everything is based on 10- or 12-team mixed leagues with standard 5x5 rotisserie scoring (BA, R, HR, RBI, SB for hitters; W, ERA, WHIP, K, SV for pitchers).
Second, lineup construction accounts for 22 active roster positions consisting of: one each for catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, corner infield, middle infield and utility, along with five outfielders and nine pitchers.
And third, to be eligible at a particular position, players either must have played at least 20 games there in 2014 or be in line to start there in 2015.
The Shortstop 'Watch List'
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Didi Gregorius, SS, New York Yankees
Gregorius is known for his glove and not at all for his bat, but he's still just 25 years old and is a lefty swinger who now gets to try his luck at hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium. It wouldn't be crazy for Gregorius to reach the teens in homers while hitting around .250; for his career, he has 13 total long balls and a .243 average in just about a season's worth of at-bats (647).
Brandon Crawford, SS, San Francisco Giants
This is another defense-oriented player, but Crawford brings a little more with the stick. In fact, the 28-year-old was one of only two hitters—along with teammate Hunter Pence!—to smack at least 20 doubles, 10 triples and 10 homers last season. Crawford, who batted .246 after two straight years at .248, managed exactly those numbers, but hey, that's something.
Chris Taylor, SS, Seattle Mariners
This 24-year-old's 47-game MLB intro wasn't half-bad (.287 BA, .347 OBP), but he didn't have much oomph (.346 SLG). If he beats out Brad Miller to win the shortstop job full time, he could help in average and perhaps swipe 15-20 bases, but there's just not much upside here.
Everth Cabrera, SS, Free Agent
The past year-and-a-half has been brutal for Cabrera, who was an All-Star in 2013 but then endured a 50-game suspension from the Biogenesis investigation followed by a hamstring injury that curtailed his biggest asset (speed). Finally, a criminal offense got him booted off the San Diego Padres.
The 28-year-old has a long way to go to make it back into owners' good graces, but there's the possibility for another 30-steal season in here. The Baltimore Orioles reportedly are closing in on a deal with Cabrera, according to Eduardo Encina of The Baltimore Sun, and he could be used in a utility infielder role.
Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians
Widely considered one of the three best shortstop prospects in the game, Lindor has a relatively clear path to taking over the starting gig for the Indians, so it's merely a matter of when, not if for their shortstop of the very near future (read: June at the latest).
For fantasy purposes, that makes the 21-year-old an enticing commodity, but Lindor's defense-first profile won't necessarily translate to huge or immediate fantasy success in 2015 outside of maybe a respectable (but hollow) average and some steals.
Addison Russell, SS, Chicago Cubs
And on the topic of highly regarded shortstop prospects, this 21-year-old's offensive game makes him much more appealing than Lindor. The thing is, Russell will have to play well enough in his first real shot at Triple-A to crack into a young, fully loaded Cubs infield. It's possible Russell's performance or an injury could force the organization's hand, but otherwise, don't expect to see him until the second half.
Matt Reynolds, SS, New York Mets
Reynolds, 24, is a lesser-known shortstop prospect, but he has two things very much in his favor. One, he's already spent half a season at Triple-A, and it was a good one too (.333 BA, 54 R, 5 HR, 40 RBI, 14 SB). And two, the biggest obstacle in front of him on the depth chart is Wilmer Flores, who can hit but very well might not be able to handle the defensive demands of the position on an everyday basis. Keep tabs in NL-only leagues.
Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers
Seager, the younger brother of the Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle, is a consensus top-10 prospect in baseball, and he's coming off a genuinely dominant 2014 in which he hit .349/.402/.602 with 20 homers and a minor leagues-best 50 doubles across High-A and Double-A.
There are doubts of whether someone his size (6'4") can stick at short, but the expectation is that the Dodgers will let the 20-year-old try—but likely not until 2016. Should something to happen to Jimmy Rollins and Seager continues to blast his way through the minors, there's a possibility of a second-half call-up, but a small one.
Nos. 25-21
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No. 25: Wilmer Flores, SS, New York Mets
Now that the Mets seem to have settled on him as their starter, there's a lot riding on Flores entering 2015. He's no longer a rookie, having accumulated 354 career at-bats, 259 of which came last year when he hit a solid .251 with six homers and 29 RBI in 78 games. There's enough offense in the 23-year-old's bat to make him a late-round flier as a middle infield option in 14-team mixed leagues or as a shortstop in NL-onlies.
Just recognize: While defense doesn't matter in fantasy, it does if Flores' lack of range means he's not capable of starting full time.
No. 24: Marcus Semien, 2B/3B/SS, Oakland Athletics
The A's have Semien, acquired over the winter as part of the Jeff Samardzija swap, pegged as their starting shortstop. And like Flores, the job could prove to be too much for him to handle defensively. The 24-year-old's bat, however, should play well as a middle infield option in deeper formats, as Semien has the pop and speed to reach double digits in both homers and steals.
At worst, his soon-to-be three-position eligibility (once he gets enough games in at short) will make him a versatile roster-filler type.
No. 23: Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B/SS, Tampa Bay Rays
Cabrera had eerily similar stats in 2013 and 2014, hitting .241 with 14 home runs, 61 RBI and 10 stolen bases after going for .242 with 14 homers, 64 RBI and nine steals the year prior. That's about what you can expect from the 29-year-old, who is embarking on his first year with a Rays offense that doesn't exactly offer much support outside of Evan Longoria.
No. 22: Brad Miller, SS, Seattle Mariners
If Miller's awful 2014 turned you off to him, that's understandable. After all, he was a shortstop sleeper this time last year who wound up batting just .221—and was sub-.200 for much of the year until a late second-half push. The 25-year-old also has to contend with Chris Taylor for the starting job, and there's a possibility the lefty-swinging Miller and righty-hitting Taylor could platoon, which would undercut each one's counting stats.
But Miller definitely provides more offensive upside, and in fact, as bad as he was last year, he has hit 18 homers, scored 88 runs and driven in 72 in barely more than a full season's worth of plate appearances (746). If he has another big spring and wins the gig, there could be something here yet.
No. 21: Danny Santana, SS/OF, Minnesota Twins
Santana came from out of nowhere to become a super-sneaky—and super-valuable—fantasy performer last year. As a 23-year-old rookie, the switch-hitter posted a .319 average with 70 runs, seven homers and 20 steals in only 101 games.
So why isn't he higher?
Well, because Santana also notched a .405 BABIP that not only is unsustainable but also was the highest in baseball among players with at least 400 plate appearances. The smart way to use Santana, then, is as a reserve you can plug in at short or outfield when your regulars have an off day or hit the disabled list and you're seeking some stolen base help.
Nos. 20-16
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No. 20: Andrelton Simmons, SS, Atlanta Braves
The breakout 2014 never happened for Simmons, who was utterly useless from a fantasy perspective, providing well below-average numbers in all five fantasy categories: .244 batting average, 44 runs, seven home runs, 46 RBI, four stolen bases. On top of that, the Braves have since gutted their lineup, removing three of their best hitters in Justin Upton, Jason Heyward and Evan Gattis.
If there is any hope here, it's that the 25-year-old Simmons still has another level in him as he approaches his prime, especially for a hitter who makes so much contact (just 60 strikeouts and 32 walks in 146 games last year). Still, you'd like a player who gives you something in fantasy, and right now, it's not clear what Simmons does.
No. 19: Alcides Escobar, SS, Kansas City Royals
Escobar had a very nice 2014, hitting .285 while scoring 74 runs (a career high) and swiping 31 bases. But because the 28-year-old provides next to no power and is so BABIP dependent—he has alternated good BABIP and batting average years with poor ones the past four seasons—there's a real risk that you'll be stuck with a .250 hitter who does little else besides notch 20-30 steals.
No. 18: Jed Lowrie, SS, Houston Astros
Because Lowrie doesn't offer anything in the way of speed (just six career stolen bases!), he really has to hit to be a quality fantasy option. In 2014, he didn't. Last year's .249 average, 59 runs scored, six homers and 50 RBI were downright Simmons-like.
Granted, a fractured index finger on his left hand was partly to blame, and the switch-hitting Lowrie showed the ability to be a borderline starter as recently as 2013. Plus, he's leaving pitcher-friendly O.Co Coliseum in Oakland and joining a power-laden lineup in his return to hitter-friendly Minute Maid Park. Just take note that he's no longer multiposition eligible, which had been a perk in years past.
No. 17: Erick Aybar, SS, Los Angeles Angels
As a fantasy shortstop, Aybar is merely fine, because he does a little bit of everything—emphasis on the "little bit" part. Now 31, he shouldn't be counted on for more than 15-20 steals, since he hasn't thieved more than 20 since 2011. And double-digit homers also is likely out of the question, as he's accomplished that but once, with exactly 10 (also in 2011). That puts a lot on Aybar to maintain a batting average in the .270-.290 range and cross home plate upward of 70 times.
No. 16: Chris Owings, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks
Don't overlook this former top prospect on draft day. Owings, 23, was having a solid rookie year when he lost all of July and August to a left shoulder injury, meaning there's a good chance your league mates won't realize his potential.
In just 72 games prior to the injury, Owings hit .277 with six homers and seven steals. To take Owings as a starting fantasy shortstop might be a stretch in March, but he could turn in a starter-worthy season in the end.
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No. 15: Jung-Ho Kang, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .356 BA, 103 R, 40 HR, 117 RBI, 3 SB (501 PA)
Obviously, the numbers above came in the Korean Baseball Organization, an offense-friendly environment that Jung-Ho Kang obliterated in winning MVP honors last year. That helped him land an $11 million deal from the Pittsburgh Pirates, who plan to use the soon-to-be 28-year-old in the majors right away.
Whether that role will be as the starting shortstop over incumbent Jordy Mercer or as more of a utility man who backs up at short, second and third still remains to be seen. Either way, Kang should see enough playing time to make some sort of impact. And if the latter option plays out, then he'll gain some useful position eligibility too.
The focus for fantasy owners, however, will be squarely on how much of Kang's powerful bat translates across continents. While there's a real risk that he could bust—this is the first-ever position player to come from the KBO to MLB—there's also the possibility that Kang will hit like a starting fantasy shortstop.
Should you prefer to play it safe with a Erick Aybar-Jed Lowrie-Alcides Escobar type, we won't put up a fight. But Kang's upside is much more intriguing, and upside is the name of the fantasy game.
No. 14: Javier Baez, 2B/SS, Chicago Cubs
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .169 BA, 25 R, 9 HR, 20 RBI, 5 SB (229 PA)
Speaking of upside, Javier Baez has it—and then some. Of course, the 22-year-old with the ridiculous strikeout rate also has just as much downside, which is why he ranks no higher than this, even with enormous power and eligibility at both middle infield spots.
Let's start with this: Any hitter who is going to strike out 41.5 percent of the time, as Baez did in his initial 229 plate appearances in the majors, is never going to last. (That, by the way, is 95 whiffs in 52 games.)
There's also the fact that Baez will have to earn a spot on the Chicago Cubs' 25-man roster by beating out Tommy La Stella and Arismendy Alcantara, both of whom are in the mix at the keystone, which is where Baez has the clearest path to playing time.
But if Baez can make enough contact—heck, even a 30-32 percent strikeout rate would be a massive improvement—to reach 500 plate appearances, then he could smash 25-plus home runs without any trouble. That would likely be with an average no better than .240, but still.
This gamble is not for the faint of heart, but it could pay off in a huge, huge way, provided Baez makes some necessary adjustments in his first full MLB season.
No. 13: Jean Segura, SS, Milwaukee Brewers
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .246 BA, 61 R, 5 HR, 31 RBI, 20 SB (557 PA)
Many figured on regression from Jean Segura after a crazy first half, in which he hit .325 with a whopping 11 homers and 27 steals, propped up his very good first full season in 2013.
That said, the decline in production he experienced (.246 BA, 61 R, 5 HR, 31 RBI, 20 SB) was steeper than expected. The 24-year-old also had to endure a scary early-season injury in which he was struck on the head by a Ryan Braun warm-up swing and, even worse, went through a family tragedy too.
Here's hoping for—and banking on—a better year ahead for this still-young, still-promising player, who could approach 10 homers and 30 steals with a helpful average and runs-scored total, if everything clicks.
No. 12: J.J. Hardy, SS, Baltimore Orioles
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .268 BA, 56 R, 9 HR, 52 RBI, 0 SB (569 PA)
One of the mysteries of the 2014 season was what in the H-E-double-hockey-sticks happened to J.J. Hardy's pop. After racking up 77 home runs the previous three campaigns—and never fewer than 22 in that time—the 10-year veteran didn't hit one out until (gasp) June 21 and finished with all of nine total.
Some of that can be attributed to lower-back tightness and spasms that plagued Hardy throughout the season, even if he never actually went on the DL.
The other culprit? A home run/fly-ball rate of 5.6 that was a career low and well below the rate he'd established from 2011 to 2013. His batted-ball data doesn't indicate any significant change otherwise, so a bounce back to the 20-homer plateau is certainly possible, if not likely.
Just don't consider it a guarantee like it had been before. And anything north of .260 in the batting average department is gravy given that Hardy is now 32 and showed some slightly concerning dips in his contact rates, including a career-worst 7.3 swinging strike percentage and near career-worst 81.5 contact percentage.
No. 11: Ben Zobrist, 2B/SS/OF, Oakland Athletics
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .272 BA, 83 R, 10 HR, 52 RBI, 10 SB (654 PA)
At this stage of Ben Zobrist's career, his three strongest attributes for fantasy are: 1) an ability to get on base (identical .354 OBPs in 2013 and 2014) and score runs; 2) the durability to have played at least 146 games every season since 2009; and 3) the defensive versatility that allows him to maintain eligibility at three positions.
Otherwise, this is a player who is entering his age-34 campaign and who has seen his home run, RBI and stolen base totals either remain the same or decline each of the past four seasons.
So while there was some hubbub over his joining the Oakland Athletics via trade this offseason, don't mistake Zobrist for the fantasy darling he was a few years ago. He's useful and can cover as your starting shortstop because the spot is so shallow, but there's a reason 10 players rank ahead of him, even at this position.
No. 10: Elvis Andrus, SS, Texas Rangers
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .263 BA, 72 R, 2 HR, 41 RBI, 27 SB (685 PA)
Elvis Andrus played 157 games last year, which is remarkable, because more or less every single one of his Texas Rangers teammates suffered some sort of injury that forced them to the DL for a stint, stretch or chunk of the season.
It's also remarkable that Andrus, 26, played that many games, because his counting stats were wholly uninspiring (and those AL-high 15 caught stealings were downright off-putting). Granted, some of that was due to the loss of so much of the surrounding lineup for so long.
While some have been waiting for Andrus to bump up his power production even a smidge as he enters his prime, it's looking more and more like he is what he is by now—a player whose fantasy value is tied entirely to his batting average, stolen bases and runs scored, which fluctuate from OK to very good from year to year.
If Andrus can put all three of those categories together—something he's come close to doing (check 2011) but has not quite done—then he's a very strong play. If he can get two of the three, Andrus is a worthwhile starter.
The guess here is that things will go better for him and the Rangers in 2015 than they did last year—how can it not, right?—but the down 2014 makes him a much more affordable option in the middle rounds.
No. 9: Starlin Castro, SS, Chicago Cubs
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .292 BA, 58 R, 14 HR, 65 RBI, 4 SB (569 PA)
Starlin Castro bounced back from a terrible 2013 to make his third All-Star appearance last year. He's still only 24 (25 in late March), and the Chicago Cubs lineup should be a lot better with the improvement made by slugging first baseman Anthony Rizzo, as well as the incoming additions of on-base machine Dexter Fowler and top prospect Kris Bryant, among others.
Plus, Castro's final stats would have been better, but he missed the final four weeks of the season with a severely sprained left ankle from sliding into home plate. In fact, his .777 OPS, while not elite, was above-average, especially for a shortstop, and his career high, to boot.
As much as there is to like about Castro, though, he's clearly given up on one aspect of his game that used to add fantasy value: stolen bases. While he was never a high-percentage base stealer, Castro did nab 22 and 25 bases in 2011 and 2012, respectively. He has since stopped running almost entirely, swiping just four out of eight last year and 13 out of 23 since the start of 2013.
For Castro to earn his keep, he's going to have to build on the gains he showed at the plate.
No. 8: Jhonny Peralta, SS, St. Louis Cardinals
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .263 BA, 61 R, 21 HR, 75 RBI, 3 SB (628 PA)
Perennially underappreciated as a starting shortstop in fantasy, Jhonny Peralta brings more bat than all but the very best at this position.
The 32-year-old smacked 21 homers and drove in 75 last year, the fifth season in which he's hit that many home runs and sixth in which he's notched that many RBI in his 10 full MLB campaigns.
Peralta's batting average tends to fluctuate between anywhere from very good (.303 in 2013) to not so good (.239 in 2012). In fact, he started off batting just .241 through the first three months in 2014 before turning things around with a .284 average after that point.
As much as the St. Louis Cardinals offense struggled throughout last year—the club finished tied for the seventh-worst mark in runs scored—it's just as likely to get better in 2015, especially if Yadier Molina stays healthy, Kolten Wong takes another step and newcomer Jason Heyward provides a much-needed on-base boost near the top of the lineup.
All of which is to say, Peralta should have another highly productive year, so don't be afraid to draft him as your shortstop if you miss out on one of the top options.
No. 7: Xander Bogaerts, 3B/SS, Boston Red Sox
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .240 BA, 60 R, 12 HR, 46 RBI, 2 SB (594 PA)
If there's one player who has the biggest opportunity—not to mention the skill set—to take a leap from borderline fantasy irrelevant a year ago to a top-fiver at this position, it's Xander Bogaerts.
As bad as the 22-year-old's final numbers were—and you only need to take a peek through your fingers at the stats up top to see how poor things went for Bogaerts in 2014—he still showed plenty of the promise that made him a consensus top-three prospect in the sport and one of the Rookie of the Year faves at this time last year.
Bogaerts bookended a dreadful two-month stretch (.177/.211/.291 from June to July) by hitting rather well from April through May (.304/.397/.438) and then again in September (.313/.317/.490). Coincidentally (or not?), he was at his best when he was playing his natural shortstop, which is where the Boston Red Sox will deploy him in 2015.
Given the surrounding formidable lineup, as well as Bogaerts' own talent, this could be the breakout everyone was looking for last year.
But because he won't bring any speed to the table, Bogaerts' value may not skyrocket—unless he really hits.
No. 6: Alexei Ramirez, SS, Chicago White Sox
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .273 BA, 82 R, 15 HR, 74 RBI, 21 SB (657 PA)
Alexei Ramirez's 2014 was a nice bump from the past two years when his production dipped some, especially in the power department. To wit, his 15 homers last season equalled his total from 2012 to '13.
And Ramirez gets the job done on the bases as well, having stolen at least 20 bags the past three campaigns.
That said, it is fair to question both aspects of Ramirez's fantasy game, particularly as he's getting up there at 33 and may not run quite as often as we're accustomed to. Plus, there's no guarantee he'll reach even double digits in home runs, considering his pop had been trending downward.
Oh, and there's this: As great as Ramirez was from the start of 2014 through May, hitting .329 with seven homers, 36 RBI and 11 steals in 57 games, he was much less effective the rest of the way, batting just .243 with eight homers, 38 RBI and 10 thefts over 101 games.
Because Ramirez showed last year that he can still hit for power and run, he's going to be a starter-worthy shortstop who likely does at least one of those two, if not both. And certainly the Chicago White Sox's decision to bring in Melky Cabrera and Adam LaRoche should strengthen and lengthen the one-through-nine, giving Ramirez a chance to keep his runs and RBI somewhere close to his 2014 levels.
No. 5: Jimmy Rollins, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .243 BA, 78 R, 17 HR, 55 RBI, 28 SB (609 PA)
It's a bit crazy to rank a 36-year-old shortstop in the top five, but Jimmy Rollins actually is very similar to Alexei Ramirez in that both bring sufficient production in the home run and stolen base categories, which is a very valuable skill set for fantasy.
Should you prefer Ramirez to Rollins, who is not only older at 36 but also more of a batting average risk (.249 BA since 2012), that's a perfectly legitimate decision. Oh, and Rollins also plays in a much less hitter-friendly park now that he's a Los Angeles Dodger.
Call it a gut feeling, but something about Rollins, a California native, getting a chance to put together one final quality campaign in LA with a team that has World Series hopes just might revitalize him a bit.
Besides, even if he's a long way from his fantasy heyday, Rollins has averaged 15.5 homers and 27.5 steals the past four seasons. That's nothing to turn your nose up at when every offensive stat is worth scratching and clawing for these days.
No. 4: Jose Reyes, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .287 BA, 94 R, 9 HR, 51 RBI, 30 SB (655 PA)
Look, there will always be injury concerns from the moment you draft Jose Reyes and for as long as you own him. Heck, the man hurt his hamstring in his very first plate appearance of 2014 and missed nearly three weeks.
But when Reyes is playing, he's also hitting, running and, especially, scoring. The switch-hitting 31-year-old brings a little something in homers and RBI, which is rare for a shortstop, particularly one whose game revolves around his speed. That means Reyes contributes in all five categories.
And in the Toronto Blue Jays offense, now featuring Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin, the leadoff-hitting Reyes could be in for an all-around great campaign. As long as he's, you know, healthy.
No. 3: Hanley Ramirez, SS/OF, Boston Red Sox
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .283 BA, 64 R, 13 HR, 71 RBI, 14 SB (512 PA)
Hanley Ramirez has been a walking DL stint in recent years—a common theme here at the top of the shortstop rankings—and after playing just 86 fantastic games in 2013, he made it through 128 last year. Ramirez, it seemed, dealt with a new injury or ailment each week, including ones to his hand, shoulder, calf and oblique.
That explains partly why his five-by-five scoring numbers were more good than great. Another consideration? The 31-year-old 10-year vet has spent so much of his time hitting in pitcher-friendly parks, like Dodger Stadium and in Miami, as Peter Gammons of MLB Network points out.
But now? Well, now, Ramirez gets to do damage in the AL East, where some of the most hitter-friendly stadiums reside, including Camden Yards, Rogers Centre, Yankee Stadium and his own Fenway Park.
More than that, Ramirez also will hit amid a very deep, dangerous lineup that has added Pablo Sandoval and what figures to be a full season of Rusney Castillo, not to mention the returns to health of Dustin Pedroia, Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino, and the potential advancements of Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts too. There's also that Big Papi guy.
And while playing left field for the first time in his career could present a challenge, Ramirez also just might stay healthy (or at least healthier) now that he's not at the demanding shortstop position. He is, however, still eligible there for fantasy purposes, so take full advantage.
No. 2: Ian Desmond, SS, Washington Nationals
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .255 BA, 73 R, 24 HR, 91 RBI, 24 SB (648 PA)
Ian Desmond is the surest thing at shortstop. The 29-year-old is still very much in his prime, has played at least 154 games in four of the past five years and has posted three consecutive campaigns with at least 20 homers and 20 steals.
Oh, and Desmond also is a part of the loaded Washington Nationals.
If there is something to nitpick, it's that Desmond's sketchy plate discipline holds him back from being a truly elite fantasy player. He isn't likely to hit much better than .260 because his strikeout total continues to climb—he whiffed a career-high 183 times last year. He also doesn't walk all that much, either, which is why he has never scored more than 77 runs in a season.
But even those pockmarks aren't that bad at this position. After all, without knowing the other three categories, you would be perfectly happy if your shortstop hit .260 with 70ish runs. And Desmond is going to crush it in the other three categories.
No. 1: Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .340 BA, 71 R, 21 HR, 52 RBI, 1 SB (375 PA)
OK, the injury thing is now officially and laughably ridiculous. Troy Tulowitzki just cannot—will not—make it through the season without some sort of injury that puts him on the DL, likely for a chunk of the year.
And yet, he's so damn productive that it's hard not to rank him as the No. 1 overall shortstop, even though he played just 91 games due to a torn labrum in his left hip that required surgery. Seriously, just look at the .340 average or the 21 homers or the 71 runs scored, which ranked first, tied for second and ninth among all shortstops—even in just half a season.
The Colorado Rockies still boast a prodigious, powerful order, featuring bats like Carlos Gonzalez, Justin Morneau, Corey Dickerson, Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon, especially at Coors Field. That, combined with Tulo's own talent, is what makes him worth owning for the time that he is healthy.
Granted, there's a chance that the Rockies could trade Tulowitzki this year, and the hip surgery presents another concern that ultimately could take more out of him.
Tulowitzki is now gettable in the middle to late second round in most drafts, which makes him a slightly better buy than in years past. From there, the key is to know that you should target another shortstop down the line who is good enough to plug into the utility position. That way, even if (when?) Tulo has his inevitable injury, you're still going to get elite production at your SS spot with Tulowitzki plus his replacement.
Statistics are accurate through the 2014 season and courtesy of MLB.com, Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.
Need more fantasy baseball help? Have a comment about the rankings? Come pepper me with your questions on Twitter today at 2 p.m. ET: @JayCat11
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