Ranking Every MLB Team's Starting Shortstop for the 2025 Season
Welcome to Bleacher Report's 2025 MLB preseason position rankings!
With the beginning of a new baseball season right around the corner, we'll be ranking each team's starter at every position in the coming weeks to provide a full position-by-position preview for the 2025 campaign.
Bobby Witt Jr. (KC) and Gunnar Henderson (BAL) announced themselves as elite all-around players in 2024, and they join Francisco Lindor (NYM), Corey Seager (TEX) and outfielder-turned-shortstop Mookie Betts (LAD) as the cream of the crop at the position.
Elly De La Cruz (CIN), Masyn Winn (STL), Zach Neto (LAA), Ezequiel Tovar (COL) and Anthony Volpe (NYY) are all young shortstops on the rise, while rookies Jacob Wilson (OAK) and Colson Montgomery (CWS) look poised to break camp with a starting job for the first time.
Players were ranked based on expectations for the 2025 season. Offensive and defensive contributions were both considered, and past track records played a major role in determining each player's outlook.
Included on each slide is also a look at the next man up at shortstop. This is who would take over as the starter if the current starter were to miss significant time. In some cases, it's a minor leaguer or bench player, and in others, it's a starter moving over from a different position.
Nos. 30-26
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30. Trey Sweeney, Detroit Tigers
Next Man Up: Javier Báez
The Tigers acquired Sweeney in the deal that sent Jack Flaherty to the Dodgers at the trade deadline, and by season's end he was the team's everyday shortstop, providing a reliable glove with some power potential. Javier Báez still has three years and $73 million left on his contract, but he will need to play his way back into the lineup after a dismal 2024 season.
29. Orlando Arcia, Atlanta Braves
Next Man Up: Nick Allen
Arcia posted decent counting numbers last season with 24 doubles, 17 home runs and 46 RBI in 157 games, but his .218/.271/.354 line left him with a 72 wRC+ that ranked 128th out of 129 qualified hitters. The 30-year-old is entering the final season of a three-year, $7.3 million deal, and he could pass the torch to Nacho Alvarez Jr. before 2025 is over.
28. Brayan Rocchio, Cleveland Guardians
Next Man Up: Gabriel Arias
Rocchio did not provide much offensively as a rookie, hitting .206/.298/.316 with 26 extra-base hits in 442 plate appearances, but he was a Gold Glove finalist and started 121 of 162 games at shortstop. His minor league track record suggests he is capable of more at the plate, and he is still only 24 years old.
27. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Pittsburgh Pirates
Next Man Up: Liover Peguero
The Pirates acquired Kiner-Falefa at the deadline last year with an eye on him being the team's primary shortstop in 2025, following the decision to shift Oneil Cruz to the outfield. The veteran quietly racked up 2.1 WAR in 133 games last season, and he is entering the second season of a two-year, $15 million deal.
26. Colson Montgomery, Chicago White Sox
Next Man Up: Brooks Baldwin
Montgomery has yet to make his MLB debut, but he has a real shot at winning the White Sox starting shortstop job out of camp. The 22-year-old hit a lackluster .214/.329/.381 with 21 doubles, 18 home runs and 63 RBI in 130 games at Triple-A last year, but he finished strong with an .815 OPS in September, followed by a terrific run in the Arizona Fall League.
Nos. 25-21
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25. Jacob Wilson, Athletics
Next Man Up: Max Schuemann
Wilson hit .433/.474/.668 in 226 plate appearances across three minor league levels last year in his first full professional season after going No. 6 overall in the 2023 draft. The 22-year-old made his MLB debut on July 19, but suffered a hamstring strain shortly after which limited him to 28 games. He still holds rookie eligibility and should open the year among the early AL Rookie of the Year favorites.
24. Xavier Edwards, Miami Marlins
Next Man Up: Javier Sanoja
Edwards took over as the Marlins shortstop after Tim Anderson was released, and the former top prospect hit .328/.397/.423 for a 124 OPS+ with 31 steals in 70 games. The 25-year-old did not provide the best defensive metrics (-8 DRS, -5.8 UZR/150) at shortstop, but he is one of the few potential building blocks on the Miami roster.
23. J.P. Crawford, Seattle Mariners
Next Man Up: Cole Young
Crawford was a 5.1-WAR player in 2023 when he posted a career-high 133 OPS+ and received some down-ballot AL MVP support, and while he did not match that level of offensive production last year he was still a 2.7-WAR player. He has two years and $23 million remaining on his five-year, $51 million contract and a long list of dynamic middle infielders rising the ranks in the minors behind him.
22. Joey Ortiz, Milwaukee Brewers
Next Man Up: Brice Turang
Ortiz was the prospect centerpiece of the Corbin Burnes deal last offseason, and he put together a 3.1-WAR rookie season as the team's primary third baseman in 2024. The 26-year-old is now expected to shift back to his natural position of shortstop after Willy Adames departed in free agency, though the team could also consider shifting elite defense second baseman Brice Turang to the other side of second base.
21. Trevor Story, Boston Red Sox
Next Man Up: Ceddanne Rafaela
Story has played 163 total games over the first three seasons of his six-year, $140 million contract with the Red Sox, including a career-low 26 games in 2024 while recovering from shoulder surgery. The 32-year-old still has some of the power and speed tools that made him a three-time 20/20 player in Colorado, but he needs to stay on the field.
Nos. 20-16
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20. Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres
Next Man Up: Tyler Wade
After shifting to second base last season so Ha-Seong Kim could play shortstop, Bogaerts is back at his natural position and looking to rebound from a dismal 2024 season at the plate. The 32-year-old hit .264/.307/.381 for a 92 OPS+ in 111 games, and his 1.2 WAR was his lowest single-season total since his rookie year in 2014. The Padres still owe him another $229 million over the next nine years.
19. Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona Diamondbacks
Next Man Up: Jordan Lawlar
Perdomo was an All-Star in 2023 and a 3.5-WAR player in 2024, and the D-backs rewarded him with a four-year, $45 million extension earlier this month. The presence of top prospect Jordan Lawlar in the system is an interesting dynamic, and his long-term home could end up being at third base once he is ready for the majors.
18. CJ Abrams, Washington Nationals
Next Man Up: Paul DeJong
Abrams posted a 110 OPS+ with 29 doubles, 20 home runs, 65 RBI and 31 steals in 138 games last season while earning his first All-Star selection. The 24-year-old has the tools to be a franchise cornerstone with club control through 2028, but his late-season demotion following a late night at a Chicago casino prior to a day game has raised some red flags that he will need to prove are a non-factor.
17. Ha-Seong Kim, Tampa Bay Rays
Next Man Up: Carson Williams
Kim is now the highest-paid player on the Rays roster after signing a two-year, $29 million deal in free agency, and while he will open the year on the injured list recovering from shoulder surgery, he is expected to serve as the club's primary shortstop until top prospect Carson Williams is ready. His defensive versatility is a big part of his value, and he could also see time at second base and third base.
16. Jeremy Peña, Houston Astros
Next Man Up: Mauricio Dubón
Peña burst onto the scene in 2022 with a 5.0-WAR rookie season that was capped off by ALCS and World Series MVP honors, and while he has not taken the next step forward many were expecting after that stellar debut, he has still piled up 12.9 WAR over the last three years. His valuable mix of power, speed and defense could make him an early extension candidate with free agency fast approaching after the 2027 season.
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Nos. 15-11
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15. Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees
Next Man Up: Oswaldo Cabrera
Volpe made modest gains to his batting average (.209 to .243) and strikeout rate (27.8 to 22.6 percent) last season while continuing to play elite defense en route to a second straight 3-WAR campaign. He is good enough defensively that what he provides at the plate is icing on the cake, and despite his limited on-base skills, he has tallied 33 home runs and 52 steals over his first two seasons.
14. Ezequiel Tovar, Colorado Rockies
Next Man Up: Kyle Farmer
Tovar racked up 75 extra-base hits and won a Gold Glove in second full season in the majors, but he also posted a .295 on-base percentage and struck out 200 times against just 23 walks in 695 plate appearances. The things he does well he does extremely well, but there are still some glaring holes in his game heading into his age-23 campaign.
13. Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels
Next Man Up: Tim Anderson
Neto is not that far removed from being the No. 13 overall pick in the 2022 draft, but he already has 239 games and 6.9 WAR under his belt in the big leagues. The 24-year-old posted a 113 OPS+ with 34 doubles, 23 home runs, 77 RBI and 30 steals in 155 games last season, and his 5.1 WAR was tops on the Angels roster. He is expected to miss the start of the 2025 season after undergoing right shoulder surgery in November.
12. Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals
Next Man Up: Thomas Saggese
Winn looked overmatched in his first MLB action down the stretch in 2023 when he posted a 28 OPS+ and minus-0.6 WAR in 37 games, and the Cardinals signed Brandon Crawford last offseason as an insurance policy in case he was not ready to take over as the starting shortstop. The 22-year-old ended up putting together a terrific rookie season, hitting .267/.314/.416 for a 102 OPS+ with 32 doubles, 15 home runs, 57 RBI and 4.9 WAR in 150 games while playing elite defense.
11. Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays
Next Man Up: Ernie Clement
Bichette is coming off an injury-plagued and overall disappointing 2024 season where he hit .225/.277/.322 for a 71 OPS+ in 81 games. However, in the three years prior, he was one of the best offensive players in the game with a .298/.339/.476 line and 124 OPS+ in 453 games while earning a pair of All-Star selections and leading the AL in hits twice. The 26-year-old is now entering a contract year and looking for a bounce-back performance to maximize his market value.
Nos. 10-6
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10. Dansby Swanson, Chicago Cubs
Next Man Up: Nico Hoerner
Swanson is not the prototypical $100 million player, but he has posted back-to-back 4-WAR seasons to kick off his seven-year, $177 million deal with the Cubs. He is a safe bet for something in the neighborhood of a 100 OPS+ with 15 home runs, 75 RBI, 15 steals and Gold Glove-caliber defense. There is significant value in his consistency, even if he's not the flashiest contributor.
9. Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies
Next Man Up: Edmundo Sosa
The usually durable Turner missed 38 games last season with a strained hamstring, but he still earned his third career All-Star selection while hitting .295/.338/.469 for a 124 OPS+ with 25 doubles, 21 home runs, 62 RBI, 19 steals and 3.0 WAR in 121 games. He remains an impact offensive player, but his defensive metrics (-14 DRS, -1.1 UZR/150) are starting to become a concern.
8. Willy Adames, San Francisco Giants
Next Man Up: Tyler Fitzgerald
The Giants inked Adames to a seven-year, $182 million deal, and he now joins Matt Chapman to form what should be one of the better left sides of the infield in baseball. His offensive value is largely driven by his power production, and he set career-high marks in home runs (32) and RBI (112) last season, so it will be interesting to see how his game translates to pitcher-friendly Oracle Park.
7. Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins
Next Man Up: Brooks Lee
Correa racked up 3.7 WAR in just 87 games last season, hitting .310/.388/.517 for a 152 OPS+ while earning his first All-Star selection in a Twins uniform. The 30-year-old remains an impact player when healthy, but he has dealt with a variety of injuries throughout his career. Former top prospect Brooks Lee was developed as a shortstop and can easily slide over from second base if he misses time again in 2025.
6. Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds
Next Man Up: Matt McLain
With 160 hits, 36 doubles, 10 triples, 25 home runs, 76 RBI, 105 runs scored and 67 steals, De La Cruz absolutely stuffed the stat sheet during a 5.2-WAR season in 2024, and he is unquestionably one of the most electric players in baseball. That said, he also struck out 218 times and made 29 errors at shortstop, so there is still work to do refining his game as he enters his age-23 season.
5. Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
6 of 10
Next Man Up: Josh Smith
Over the first three seasons of his 10-year, $325 million deal with the Rangers, Corey Seager has posted a 142 OPS+ while averaging 29 doubles, 32 home runs, 84 RBI and 5.2 WAR, earning an All-Star nod each year and taking home 2023 World Series MVP honors.
It remains to be seen how the back end of that contract will play out, but it will be hard for it to be viewed as anything but a successful move when all is said and done.
The biggest question mark is whether he can stay healthy, and he was limited to 119 and 123 games the past two seasons, though he was still a 5-WAR player both years.
4. Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
7 of 10
Next Man Up: Jordan Westburg
Only Aaron Judge (10.8), Bobby Witt Jr. (9.4) and Shohei Ohtani (9.2) racked up more WAR during the 2024 season than Gunnar Henderson, who followed up his AL Rookie of the Year performance with a 9.1-WAR season.
The 23-year-old hit .281/.364/.529 for a 159 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 37 home runs, 92 RBI and 21 steals while also logging strong defensive metrics (5 DRS, 2.8 UZR/150) at shortstop.
The only reason he does not rank any higher is the massive gap between his first half (.956 OPS, 28 HR, 63 RBI) and second half (.799 OPS, 9 HR, 29 RBI) numbers. Can he maintain elite-level production over a full season, or will he end up somewhere in the middle?
3. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
8 of 10
Next Man Up: Miguel Rojas
A six-time Gold Glove winner in right field, Mookie Betts broke camp last season as the Dodgers starting shortstop after Gavin Lux dealt with some defensive issues during spring training. He eventually ended up back in the outfield after returning from a fractured left hand, but he is again penciled in as the team's starting shortstop to begin the 2025 season.
The 32-year-old remains one of the game's elite offensive players when healthy, and he posted a 145 OPS+ with 24 doubles, 19 home runs, 75 RBI and 4.8 WAR in 16 games last season.
He has the defensive chops to develop into a standout shortstop with more reps at the position, and his ability to move onto the dirt saved the Dodgers from spending big on Willy Adames or pursuing a shortstop on the trade market.
2. Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
9 of 10
Next Man Up: Luisangel Acuña
Francisco Lindor was hitting .195/.268/.362 over 194 plate appearances when he made the full-time move into the leadoff spot in the Mets lineup on May 18.
He went on to hit .304/.374/.554 with 31 doubles, 26 home runs, 70 RBI and 23 steals in 495 plate appearances the rest of the way, finishing one steal short of his second straight 30/30 season while posting a 6.9-WAR campaign overall.
The 31-year-old has racked up 21.5 WAR over his first four seasons in a Mets uniform, and he was runner-up in NL MVP voting last year. He has established himself as the face of the franchise, and that is a role he will maintain even after the offseason addition of Juan Soto.
1. Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
10 of 10
Next Man Up: Maikel Garcia
Bobby Witt Jr. made the leap from promising young shortstop to bona fide superstar last season while also becoming the first shortstop in MLB history with back-to-back 30-homer, 30-steal campaigns.
The 24-year-old hit .332/.389/.588 to win the AL batting title while adding 45 doubles, 11 triples, 32 home runs, 109 RBI, 125 runs scored and 31 steals in a 9.4-WAR season that saw him lead the Royals to an unexpected playoff appearance.
Beyond those gaudy offensive numbers, he has also made significant strides defensively, going from a defensive liability in 2022 (-18 DRS, -8.7 UZR/150) to slightly below average in 2023 (-6 DRS, 0.2 UZR/150) to a legitimate standout in 2024 (2 DRS, 2.3 UZR/150) en route to Gold Glove honors.
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