MLB Midseason Position Power Rankings: B/R's Top 30 Shortstops
The MLB landscape has been flooded with young star power at the shortstop position in recent seasons, and a quick look at any top prospect list shows there's plenty more on the way.
Ahead we've set out to rank the top 30 shortstops at the midway point of the 2017 season.
A few things to consider before we get started:
- League averages: For the sake of reference, the league-average triple-slash line for a shortstop this season is .258/.312/.404.
- Eligibility: To be considered for inclusion, a player must have played at least 51 percent of his innings at the shortstop position this season.
- Preseason rank: Included is a look at where each player stood in our preseason rankings, which can be found here.
The other important thing to note is that the goal was to identify the 30 best shortstops for the 2017 season and the 2017 season alone.
Is someone like Brandon Crawford a better bet to produce going forward than Tim Beckham?
Probably, but that's not what this is about—it's about ranking players based on their performance so far this season.
Previous top 30 series entries: Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen
30. Alcides Escobar, Kansas City Royals (Preseason Rank: 26)
1 of 30
2017 Offense: .225 BA, .549 OPS, 73 H, 21 XBH (2 HR), 26 RBI, 32 R
2017 Defense: 2 DRS, 5.8 UZR/150, 7.0 DEF
WAR: -0.6
Player Summary
Alcides Escobar remains one of the league's best defensive shortstops, and that's the only reason he still grabs a spot in these rankings.
His .549 OPS ranks last in the majors among 165 qualified hitters and gives him a 44 OPS+.
By comparison, Madison Bumgarner posted a .629 OPS for a 70 OPS+ last season.
The 30-year-old Escobar will be a free agent this coming offseason, and he could have a tough time finding an everyday job unless he shows signs of life offensively after the All-Star break.
29. Aledmys Diaz, St. Louis Cardinals (Preseason Rank: 12)
2 of 30
2017 Offense: .260 BA, .688 OPS, 71 H, 23 XBH (7 HR), 20 RBI, 30 R
2017 Defense: -9 DRS, -2.5 UZR/150, 2.1 DEF
WAR: -0.5
Player Summary
A spring injury to Jhonny Peralta opened the door for Aledmys Diaz to break camp as the St. Louis Cardinals' starting shortstop last season, and he took that opportunity and ran with it.
He hit .300/.369/.510 with 48 extra-base hits to earn a spot on the NL All-Star team and finish fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.
Unfortunately, the 2017 season has seen the 26-year-old experience significant regression.
He's currently suiting up for Triple-A Memphis after being demoted as he looks to get things rolling at the plate.
28. Tim Anderson, Chicago White Sox (Preseason Rank: 16)
3 of 30
2017 Offense: .239 BA, .615 OPS, 72 H, 19 XBH (7 HR), 25 RBI, 34 R
2017 Defense: -6 DRS, -25.1 UZR/150, -6.6 DEF
WAR: -0.2
Player Summary
The Chicago White Sox gave Tim Anderson a six-year, $25 million extension during the offseason in hopes he would continue to develop into a cornerstone piece of the team's rebuilding efforts.
Not only did he hit .283 with 37 extra-base hits as a rookie last season, but he also graded out better than expected defensively (6 DRS, 10.9 UZR/150) after his glove drew significant question marks during his time in the minors.
While the 24-year-old has regressed significantly on both sides of the ball in his sophomore campaign, he still has considerable upside. Look no further than his .301/.340/.426 slash line over parts of four minor league seasons.
27. Asdrubal Cabrera, New York Mets (Preseason Rank: 17)
4 of 30
2017 Offense: .260 BA, .762 OPS, 57 H, 19 XBH (8 HR), 24 RBI, 36 R
2017 Defense: -10 DRS, -17.1 UZR/150, -3.7 DEF
WAR: -0.2
Player Summary
The New York Mets gave Asdrubal Cabrera a two-year, $18.5 million deal prior to last season to serve as a stopgap until top prospect Amed Rosario was ready.
Cabrera performed well enough in his first season in New York, posting an .810 OPS with 30 doubles, 23 home runs and 62 RBI on his way to a 2.7 WAR.
However, the 31-year-old's offensive numbers are down across the board this season, and he's struggled mightily on the defensive side of things as well.
The team recently shifted him to second base in favor of Jose Reyes to fill in for the injured Neil Walker. Rosario is knocking on the door, so Cabrera could soon become expendable for a Mets team expected to sell.
26. Adam Rosales, Oakland Athletics (Preseason Rank: NR)
5 of 30
2017 Offense: .233 BA, .618 OPS, 45 H, 14 XBH (4 HR), 27 RBI, 14 R
2017 Defense: -3 DRS, -2.1 UZR/150, 1.5 DEF
WAR: 0.0
Player Summary
Marcus Semien has missed significant time with a fractured wrist, while top prospect Franklin Barreto only recently got the call from the minors, so veteran utility man Adam Rosales has seen the bulk of the playing time at shortstop for the Oakland Athletics this season.
The 34-year-old put together a solid season for the San Diego Padres last year, posting an .814 OPS with 12 doubles and 13 home runs in 248 plate appearances.
While he hasn't shown that level of pop this season, on a one-year, $1.25 million deal he's been a useful piece for a rebuilding Oakland squad.
25. Erick Aybar, San Diego Padres (Preseason Rank: NR)
6 of 30
2017 Offense: .231 BA, .655 OPS, 51 H, 15 XBH (6 HR), 13 RBI, 26 R
2017 Defense: -1 DRS, -4.8 UZR/150, 0.5 DEF
WAR: 0.2
Player Summary
Veteran Erick Aybar spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Angels, racking up 23.8 WAR while making one All-Star appearance and winning a Gold Glove award.
Aybar joined the Atlanta Braves last season as a bridge to prospect Dansby Swanson and then moved to the Detroit Tigers in an August waiver deal, posting a combined .623 OPS with 24 extra-base hits in 459 plate appearances.
Despite his declining production, the 33-year-old managed to find an everyday role with the San Diego Padres on a one-year, $1.75 million deal. If nothing else, he's a valuable veteran presence on a young, rebuilding team.
24. Troy Tulowitzki, Toronto Blue Jays (Preseason Rank: 8)
7 of 30
2017 Offense: .242 BA, .659 OPS, 45 H, 13 XBH (5 HR), 20 RBI, 14 R
2017 Defense: 0 DRS, -4.6 UZR/150, 0.5 DEF
WAR: 0.1
Player Summary
Troy Tulowitzki simply isn't the same player he was during the prime of his career with the Colorado Rockies.
His decline in offensive production has expedited at an alarming rate this season. He sports a career-high 26.4 percent soft-contact rate, while his line-drive and fly-ball rates are down and his ground-ball rate is up.
He's no longer a legitimate middle of the order threat given his current offensive metrics.
With three years and $54 million left on his contract, the Toronto Blue Jays will certainly be hoping for a reversal of fortune.
23. Jorge Polanco, Minnesota Twins (Preseason Rank: 29)
8 of 30
2017 Offense: .231 BA, .614 OPS, 59 H, 19 XBH (3 HR), 30 RBI, 28 R
2017 Defense: 2 DRS, 0.7 UZR/150, 2.3 DEF
WAR: 0.4
Player Summary
Jorge Polanco was a productive offensive player for the Minnesota Twins as a rookie last season, hitting .282 with 23 extra-base hits over 270 plate appearances.
However, his value was undercut by his struggles defensively (-8 DRS, -32.3 UZR/150), and there were questions about his long-term fit with the team.
There's still a good chance he'll wind up sliding over to second base in favor of prospect Nick Gordon once Gordon is deemed ready, but he has been significantly better with the glove this season.
Now it's his offense that's been the issue, as his numbers are down across the board. Part of that is due to bad luck with a .263 BABIP, so there could be some positive regression coming.
22. J.T. Riddle, Miami Marlins (Preseason Rank: NR)
9 of 30
2017 Offense: .250 BA, .643 OPS, 48 H, 15 XBH (3 HR), 27 RBI, 18 R
2017 Defense: 5 DRS, -2.2 UZR/150, 2.0 DEF
WAR: 0.7
Player Summary
A 13th-round pick in 2013, J.T. Riddle has ranked among the top 25 prospects in the Miami Marlins organization the past three years, per Baseball America, but he's never been viewed as a true top prospect.
MLB.com wrote: "Because the athleticism, hands and arm strength are all clean fits across the infield, many scouts believe he may end up in a utility role."
However, he got a chance at the everyday shortstop job this season when Adeiny Hechavarria struggled early and then was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays.
There's no one close to pushing him for the job among the team's in-house talent, so look for Riddle to hold down the job for the foreseeable future.
21. Nick Ahmed, Arizona Diamondbacks (Preseason Rank: 30)
10 of 30
2017 Offense: .251 BA, .717 OPS, 42 H, 15 XBH (6 HR), 21 RBI, 24 R
2017 Defense: 2 DRS, 0.2 UZR/150, 2.2 DEF
WAR: 0.1
Player Summary
Slick-fielding Nick Ahmed was one of the league's best defensive shortstops last season when he tallied 13 DRS and a 14.9 UZR/150 serving in a semi-regular role for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The former Atlanta Braves farmhand has never provided much in the way of offensive production, though.
Over parts of three seasons in the majors prior to 2017, he only managed a .597 OPS with 59 extra-base hits in 842 plate appearances.
The 27-year-old had improved his production at the plate this season before suffering a fractured right hand at the end of June that will keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks following surgery.
20. Dansby Swanson, Atlanta Braves (Preseason Rank: 13)
11 of 30
2017 Offense: .227 BA, .634 OPS, 66 H, 19 XBH (6 HR), 35 RBI, 33 R
2017 Defense: 1 DRS, 0.2 UZR/150, 4.0 DEF
WAR: 0.3
Player Summary
Dansby Swanson entered the season as the overwhelming favorite to take home NL Rookie of the Year honors.
And why not?
Swanson hit .302/.361/.442 with 11 extra-base hits in 145 plate appearances last season after debuting Aug. 17, and his pedigree as a former No. 1 overall pick speaks to his upside.
However, the 23-year-old's first full season in the big league has been a bumpy ride.
To his credit, he has picked things up at the plate of late with a .294/.350/.413 line since the start of June. A big second-half performance isn't out of the question.
19. Trevor Story, Colorado Rockies (Preseason Rank: 11)
12 of 30
2017 Offense: .223 BA, .701 OPS, 55 H, 21 XBH (11 HR), 33 RBI, 33 R
2017 Defense: 1 DRS, -5.1 UZR/150, 0.2 DEF
WAR: 0.7
Player Summary
Trevor Story put on one of the most impressive power displays we've ever seen from a rookie shortstop last season.
He made his MLB debut on Opening Day with a two-homer performance and wound up launching six home runs in his first four games.
Obviously, he wasn't able to maintain that torrid pace, but he still finished with a .909 OPS and 27 home runs in 415 plate appearances before his season ended in August when he suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb.
He's hitting just .223 and striking out at a 34.6 percent clip so far this season, so he'll need to find a way to make more consistent contact in support of his impressive power.
18. Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants (Preseason Rank: 4)
13 of 30
2017 Offense: .223 BA, .625 OPS, 58 H, 21 XBH (7 HR), 40 RBI, 25 R
2017 Defense: 1 DRS, 10.5 UZR/150, 7.4 DEF
WAR: 0.1
Player Summary
Just like the San Francisco Giants as a whole, it's been a rough season for Brandon Crawford.
He finished 12th in NL MVP voting last season, posting a .772 OPS while tallying 51 extra-base hits and a team-high 84 RBI to go along with brilliant defense (19 DRS, 22.1 UZR/150) that earned him a second straight Gold Glove.
The 30-year-old still grades out as one of the league's best defensive players at the position, but his offensive game has bottomed out as his batting average has dropped 52 points and his OPS is down 147 points.
After he signed a six-year, $75 million extension prior to last season, the Giants will be counting on him to right the ship and help them through a transition period of sorts.
17. Jordy Mercer, Pittsburgh Pirates (Preseason Rank: 27)
14 of 30
2017 Offense: .266 BA, .761 OPS, 76 H, 24 XBH (8 HR), 32 RBI, 31 R
2017 Defense: 0 DRS, 1.4 UZR/150, 4.1 DEF
WAR: 1.1
Player Summary
Jordy Mercer has been the Pittsburgh Pirates' primary shortstop since taking over for veteran Clint Barmes midway through the 2013 season, and he's been a steady contributor on both sides of the ball.
His .761 OPS so far this season would represent a new career high, and his previous bests in home runs (12) and RBI (59) could go down as well if he keeps producing at his current level.
He's also already surpassed the 0.9 WAR he posted a year ago. In what has been a disappointing all-around season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he's been one of the few positives.
The 30-year-old is arbitration-eligible for the final time next season, and he'll remain a fairly cost-effective option even with another raise over the $4.325 million he's making this year.
16. Jose Iglesias, Detroit Tigers (Preseason Rank: 22)
15 of 30
2017 Offense: .241 BA, .613 OPS, 60 H, 19 XBH (2 HR), 23 RBI, 31 R
2017 Defense: 9 DRS, 17.2 UZR/150, 10.7 DEF
WAR: 1.1
Player Summary
FanGraphs uses an all-encompassing defensive metric known as DEF to quantify a player's total defensive value in a way that can be compared across positions.
With a 10.7 DEF on the year, Jose Iglesias has been the most valuable defender at the shortstop position and trails only outfielders Ender Inciarte (12.7) and Mookie Betts (11.8) among all position players.
His offensive game remains a negative, though.
The 27-year-old was an All-Star as recently as 2015 when he hit .300 with 22 extra-base hits and 11 stolen bases, but he's hitting just .241 with a .276 on-base percentage this year.
His value comes exclusively from his glove at this point, and it's been good enough for him to rank in the middle of the pack.
15. Freddy Galvis, Philadelphia Phillies (Preseason Rank: 24)
16 of 30
2017 Offense: .252 BA, .715 OPS, 77 H, 29 XBH (8 HR), 33 RBI, 29 R
2017 Defense: -1 DRS, 5.5 UZR/150, 8.1 DEF
WAR: 1.0
Player Summary
Freddy Galvis entered 2016 expected to be overtaken by prospect J.P. Crawford.
Instead, Crawford spent the entirety of the year in the minors, and Galvis turned in a breakout offensive performance with 26 doubles and 20 home runs.
That said, those solid power numbers came with a .274 on-base percentage, and his defensive contributions (5 DRS, 14.6 UZR/150) were the driving force behind his 1.3 WAR.
The 27-year-old has made some positive strides this season with a nice uptick in his walk rate (4.0 to 6.3 percent) and a downturn in his strikeout rate (21.8 to 16.0 percent) while continuing to play stellar defense.
He could still wind up being a trade chip, though.
14. Tim Beckham, Tampa Bay Rays (Preseason Rank: NR)
17 of 30
2017 Offense: .274 BA, .760 OPS, 76 H, 19 XBH (11 HR), 33 RBI, 29 R
2017 Defense: 1 DRS, -5.6 UZR/150, 1.4 DEF
WAR: 1.6
Player Summary
The Tampa Bay Rays were no doubt hoping for more out of Tim Beckham by now when they took him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft.
The 27-year-old entered the season with just 1.3 WAR for his career, and he appeared to be headed for a utility role with deadline pickup Matt Duffy expected to serve as the primary shortstop.
However, Duffy has been sidelined since spring training as he continues his recovery from heel surgery. That's opened the door for Beckham to see regular playing time at the MLB level for the first time in his career.
A marked improvement in his hard-contract rate (36.1 to 45.1 percent) has led to solid offensive numbers across the board in what is shaping up to be a solid breakout performance for the former top prospect.
13. Orlando Arcia, Milwaukee Brewers (Preseason Rank: 23)
18 of 30
2017 Offense: .291 BA, .764 OPS, 83 H, 23 XBH (8 HR), 30 RBI, 34 R
2017 Defense: 2 DRS, -0.6 UZR/150, 3.4 DEF
WAR: 1.6
Player Summary
In recent years, guys like Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor and Corey Seager have made seamless transitions from top prospect to bonafide MLB star.
The same can't be said for Orlando Arcia.
The 22-year-old checked in as the No. 8 prospect in the league heading into last season, according to Baseball America, but he hit just .219 with a .631 OPS over 216 plate appearances after making his debut Aug. 2.
Undeterred by that inauspicious start, the Brewers shifted Jonathan Villar to second base during the offseason to clear a path for Arcia to step into the everyday job, and he's well on his way to becoming a cornerstone piece.
12. Chris Owings, Arizona Diamondbacks (Preseason Rank: 25)
19 of 30
2017 Offense: .289 BA, .813 OPS, 86 H, 35 XBH (12 HR), 49 RBI, 37 R
2017 Defense: -3 DRS, -17.7 UZR/150, -3.3 DEF
WAR: 1.5
Player Summary
After playing exclusively second base in 2015 and then splitting his time between shortstop and center field last year, Chris Owings is once again filling a utility role.
So far, he's spent time at shortstop (361.0 innings), right field (192.1 innings) and second base (90.1 innings). In the process, he's put together a breakout season offensively.
After tallying just 15 long balls over his first 1,411 career plate appearances, he's launched 12 home runs in 321 plate appearances so far this year, and his 49 RBI have already tied his previous career high.
While his defense remains a work in progress, it's tough to blame him considering he doesn't have a set defensive position to call home.
11. Addison Russell, Chicago Cubs (Preseason Rank: 5)
20 of 30
2017 Offense: .232 BA, .694 OPS, 58 H, 23 XBH (7 HR), 29 RBI, 37 R
2017 Defense: 13 DRS, 9.7 UZR/150, 6.6 DEF
WAR: 1.9
Player Summary
The good: Addison Russell leads all shortstops and ranks fourth among all position players with 13 DRS this season as he remains an elite defensive player.
The bad: He's been a shell of the player we saw last season offensively when he posted a .738 OPS with 21 home runs and 95 RBI on his way to a 4.3 WAR.
A bum shoulder is at least partially to blame for his offensive swoon, and the 23-year-old has also been dealing with some off-field issues.
Would the Cubs consider flipping him for pitching help and going with a middle infield of Ian Happ and Javier Baez going forward? We shall see.
10. Franciso Lindor, Cleveland Indians (Preseason Rank: 1)
21 of 30
2017 Offense: .251 BA, .767 OPS, 84 H, 40 XBH (14 HR), 40 RBI, 46 R
2017 Defense: -2 DRS, 3.3 UZR/150, 5.2 DEF
WAR: 1.1
2017 All-Star
Player Summary
With an elite glove and an offensive game seemingly on the rise, Francisco Lindor claimed the No. 1 spot in our preseason shortstop ranking.
He's slid a bit as his offensive numbers are down from the .301 average and .794 OPS he posted a year ago, and his defense—while still strong—has not quite been at the elite level we saw a year ago when he claimed Platinum Glove honors.
However, the 23-year-old still has as bright a future as anyone at the position.
One area he has improved this season is his power output. His slugging percentage is up from .436 to .461 despite his dip in batting average, and he could surpass his previous bests in doubles (30 vs. 25) and home runs (15 vs. 14) before August.
9. Trea Turner, Washington Nationals (Preseason Rank: 6)
22 of 30
2017 Offense: .279 BA, .746 OPS, 82 H, 24 XBH (7 HR), 32 RBI, 53 R
2017 Defense: 1 DRS, 4.7 UZR/150, 5.3 DEF
WAR: 2.0
Player Summary
Just how big of a menace is Trea Turner on the basepaths?
Eddie Matz of ESPN.com wrote: "He leads the majors in steals and has swiped more bags in June (22) than any player has swiped in any month this millennium with the exception of Jose Reyes (he had 23 SBs in August 2007)."
Despite being sidelined since June 30 with a broken right wrist, his 35 thefts still hold up as the MLB lead, one ahead of Cincinnati Reds speedster Billy Hamilton.
He's as dynamic a leadoff hitter as we have in the game today, and he's also made a seamless transition from playing center field last season to replacing Danny Espinosa as the everyday shortstop. The Washington Nationals have a comfortable lead in the NL East, so the injury hasn't been quite as big a blow as it might have been to other teams, but he still can't return soon enough.
8. Jean Segura, Seattle Mariners (Preseason Rank: 10)
23 of 30
2017 Offense: .354 BA, .882 OPS, 86 H, 20 XBH (6 HR), 28 RBI, 39 R
2017 Defense: -1 DRS, -9.1 UZR/150, 0.2 DEF
WAR: 2.1
Player Summary
An All-Star in 2013, Jean Segura struggled through a pair of trying seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2014 and 2015 before getting a fresh start with the Arizona Diamondbacks last year.
That change of scenery worked wonders as he hit .319 with an .867 OPS that included 41 doubles, 20 home runs and an NL-high 203 hits to go along with 33 stolen bases.
With an abundance of middle infielders and a need for pitching help, the D-backs decided to sell high, flipping him to the Seattle Mariners for right-hander Taijuan Walker during the offseason.
Segura has thus far proved his offensive breakout last year was far from a fluke, and he's done his job as table-setter for the Seattle lineup.
7. Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox (Preseason Rank: 7)
24 of 30
2017 Offense: .308 BA, .818 OPS, 96 H, 30 XBH (6 HR), 41 RBI, 50 R
2017 Defense: -6 DRS, 2.9 UZR/150, 4.6 DEF
WAR: 2.1
Player Summary
Xander Bogaerts has taken home back-to-back Silver Slugger Awards for the Boston Red Sox, and he's once again been among the league's most productive offensive shortstops.
The 24-year-old established career highs in OPS (.802), home runs (21), RBI (89) and runs scored (115) last season. While he's not on the same power pace this season, his slugging percentage (.446 to .455) and OPS (.802 to .818) are both up.
Defensive metrics didn't love his work with the glove last season (-10 DRS, -2.8 UZR/150), but he's shown improved range this year, and the questions about whether he'll stick at the position long-term are a thing of the past.
6. Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees (Preseason Rank: 15)
25 of 30
2017 Offense: .301 BA, .806 OPS, 72 H, 22 XBH (10 HR), 38 RBI, 30 R
2017 Defense: 2 DRS, 11.8 UZR/150, 7.9 DEF
WAR: 1.8
Player Summary
Traded twice before his 25th birthday, Didi Gregorius has seen his production steadily improve since joining the New York Yankees prior to the 2015 season.
- 2015 (final): .265 BA, .688 OPS, 9 HR, 56 RBI, 57 R
- 2016 (final): .276 BA, .741 OPS, 20 HR, 70 RBI, 68 R
- 2017 (pace): .301 BA, .806 OPS, 20 HR, 74 RBI, 59 R
The team's infield alignment may change once top prospect Gleyber Torres arrives on the scene, but that was delayed for the time being after Torres underwent Tommy John surgery.
For now, Gregorius is the man at shortstop, and he's developed into one of the best two-way players at the position.
5. Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers (Preseason Rank: 14)
26 of 30
2017 Offense: .301 BA, .820 OPS, 100 H, 33 XBH (11 HR), 50 RBI, 51 R
2017 Defense: 1 DRS, -3.5 UZR/150, 0.9 DEF
WAR: 2.6
Player Summary
Elvis Andrus signed an eight-year, $120 million extension on April 4, 2013, and then promptly hit an uninspired .264/.317/.340 over the next three seasons.
The kicker? That extension didn't kick in until the start of the 2015 season, so it was shaping up to be an albatross contract for the Texas Rangers.
Instead, Andrus bounced back in a big way last season when he hit .302 with an .800 OPS that included 46 extra-base hits and 24 stolen bases for a 3.7 WAR.
The 28-year-old has been even better this season, slugging a career-high 11 home runs and stealing 20 bases while ranking fourth in the AL with 100 hits. He's no longer an elite defender, but he's still steady with the glove.
4. Zack Cozart, Cincinnati Reds (Preseason Rank: 18)
27 of 30
2017 Offense: .318 BA, .944 OPS, 76 H, 32 XBH (9 HR), 34 RBI, 40 R
2017 Defense: 5 DRS, 7.7 UZR/150, 6.7 DEF
WAR: 3.0
2017 All-Star
Player Summary
How many other players can say they've earned themselves a donkey this season?
With free agency looming, Zack Cozart has picked a fantastic time to put together a career year for the Cincinnati Reds. He could also wind up being one of the more sought-after trade chips when the non-waiver deadline rolls around.
This offensive breakout is not completely out of left field.
The 31-year-old hit .303/.332/.532 with 25 extra-base hits over his first 50 games last season before his production fell off. He's just managed to maintain his hot start further into the season this time around.
A .360 BABIP is a bit of a red flag that regression is coming, but even with a modest step back he'll still be an asset offensively and incredibly valuable overall given his terrific defense.
3. Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers (Preseason Rank: 2)
28 of 30
2017 Offense: .299 BA, .906 OPS, 87 H, 35 XBH (13 HR), 44 RBI, 57 R
2017 Defense: 2 DRS, 9.9 UZR/150, 7.6 DEF
WAR: 3.3
2017 All-Star
Player Summary
Corey Seager ran away with NL Rookie of the Year honors and finished third in NL MVP voting last season, and he's been even better this year thanks to an improved approach at the plate.
To his credit, he didn't exactly need to overhaul things after hitting .308/.365/.512 with 40 doubles, 26 home runs and 72 RBI as a rookie.
However, he's improved his walk rate from 7.9 to 13.5 percent and raised his on-base percentage from .365 to .397 in the process.
The 23-year-old has also erased any question about whether a move to third base might become a necessity down the road. His emergence as a standout defender is icing on the cake considering what he provides offensively.
2. Andrelton Simmons, Los Angeles Angels (Preseason Rank: 9)
29 of 30
2017 Offense: .286 BA, .769 OPS, 94 H, 29 XBH (9 HR), 38 RBI, 41 R
2017 Defense: 12 DRS, 11.4 UZR/150, 10.1 DEF
WAR: 3.7
Player Summary
The biggest All-Star Game snub of 2017?
You're looking at him.
Andrelton Simmons has long been one of the game's most exciting defensive players, and he's flashing Gold Glove-caliber leather once again this season for the Los Angeles Angels.
However, he's also having a career year offensively.
The 27-year-old hit a solid .281 last season, but that was a fairly hollow average accompanied by a .690 OPS and just 28 extra-base hits in 483 plate appearances.
His OPS has jumped to .769 this season, good for a 108 OPS+, and he already has 29 extra-base hits. Simmons could be on his way to personal bests in hits (94 vs. 150), doubles (19 vs. 27), home runs (9 vs. 17) and RBI (38 vs. 59).
1. Carlos Correa, Houston Astros (Preseason Rank: 3)
30 of 30
2017 Offense: .319 BA, .946 OPS, 97 H, 35 XBH (17 HR), 58 RBI, 57 R
2017 Defense: 1 DRS, -4.6 UZR/150, 1.6 DEF
WAR: 4.3
2017 All-Star
Player Summary
After claiming AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2015, Carlos Correa entered last season with an otherworldly level of hype.
Enough hype that an .811 OPS with 36 doubles, 20 home runs and 96 RBI during his age-21 season was widely considered a mild disappointment.
There's been nothing disappointing about his performance so far this season, though.
The 22-year-old leads all qualified shortstops in average (.319), on-base percentage (.397), slugging percentage (.549), OPS (.946), home runs (17) and RBI (58).
A move to third base could still come at some point in the future as his 6'4" frame continues to fill out, but for now he's a passable defender and the league's best offensive threat at the position.
Standard stats and WAR totals courtesy of Baseball Reference and current through Thursday. Other advanced stats (DRS, UZR/150, BABIP, etc.) courtesy of FanGraphs.
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