B/R's MLB 30 in '30 Predicting the Best Shortstops in 2030
Welcome to the Bleacher Report MLB 30 in '30 series, where we look ahead five years to the 2030 season and predict who will be the 30 best players at each position.
Up first, shortstops.
Tons of players begin their pro career as shortstops before shifting elsewhere on the diamond, so the first step was deciding which rising prospects have the best chance of sticking at the position long-term.
With that in mind, if you don't see a high-profile shortstop on this list, there's a good chance it's because they are being projected to shift to another position. Kevin McGonigle (2B), Colt Emerson (3B), Marcelo Mayer (3B), Aidan Miller (3B) and Sebastian Walcott (3B) are among the notable prospects who fall into that category, while Mookie Betts (OF) and Bo Bichette (2B) are also expected to shift elsewhere.
Offensive and defensive tools were both considered when assessing a player's outlook five years down the line, but this was ultimately a largely subjective exercise based on projection.
Before we dive into the 30 in '30, a nod to some current stars who are expected to age out of stardom before the 2030 season arrives, as well as a projection of the top 10 shortstop prospects five years down the road.
Notable Veteran Omissions
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The following veterans were excluded from the rankings under the assumption that age regression will have removed them from the Top 30 at the position:
Xander Bogaerts, SD (37)
Carlos Correa, MIN (35)
J.P. Crawford, SEA (35)
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, PIT (35)
Francisco Lindor, NYM (36)
Corey Seager, TEX (36)
Trevor Story, BOS (37)
Dansby Swanson, CHC (36)
Trea Turner, PHI (37)
Projected Top 10 Shortstop Prospects in 2030
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Top 10 Shortstop Prospects in 2030
(2030 age in parenthesis)
1. Eli Willits, 2025 MLB Draft (22): Consensus top prep shortstop in the 2025 draft and still in the conversation to go No. 1 overall. A 60-grade hit tool, plus speed and smooth actions at shortstop give him All-Star upside, and he has baseball bloodlines to boot.
2. Franklin Arias, Boston Red Sox (24): Hit .309/.409/.487 with 36 extra-base hits in 87 games between rookie ball and Single-A in his stateside debut, and he earned a quick promotion to High-A this year with a red-hot start back at Single-A. Best defensive shortstop prospect in the Red Sox system.
3. Grady Emerson, 2026 MLB Draft (22): Getting some early buzz at the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft thanks to an extremely advanced hit tool and budding raw power as his 6'2", 180-pound frame starts to fill out. Smooth actions defensively should allow him to stick at shortstop.
4. Justin Lombard, 2026 MLB Draft (22): The younger brother of Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr. and boasts a higher offensive ceiling than his sibling with some of the best raw power potential in the 2026 prep class. Will be mentioned alongside Emerson throughout the 2026 pre-draft process.
5. Bryce Rainer, Detroit Tigers (24): The No. 11 overall pick in the 2024 draft and first high school shortstop off the board, assuming Konnor Griffin winds up in the outfield for the Pirates. A 55-hit, 60-power offensive profile and rocket arm give him one of the highest ceilings among current shortstop prospects.
6. Elian Peña, New York Mets (22): Signed the second-largest bonus in the 2025 international class behind Roki Sasaki at $5 million. His 65-grade hit tool is one of the most polished to come out of the international pipeline in a few years and will drive his value, though he offers a well-rounded overall game.
7. Billy Carlson, 2025 MLB Draft (23): A two-way standout who has become a clear future shortstop this spring. Has five-tool upside and should be a top-10 pick this summer. Has an intriguing offensive ceiling and might end up being the best defensive shortstop in the entire 2025 draft class.
8. Welbyn Francisca, Cleveland Guardians (24): Hit .327/.411/.474 with 27 extra-base hits and 19 steals in 74 games between rookie ball and Single-A in his age-18 season last year. Landed in a great spot with a Cleveland organization that knows how to develop switch-hitting middle infield talent.
9. JoJo Parker, 2025 MLB Draft (23): One of the best hit tools in the 2025 prep class should steadily push Parker up draft boards in the build to this year's draft. His 60-hit, 50-power offensive profile and strong 6'2", 200-pound frame make him more of a finished product than most high school shortstop prospects.
10. Yairo Padilla, St. Louis Cardinals (23): One of the early standouts from the 2024 international class and a potential steal after signing for $760,000. Hit .287/.391/.404 over 162 plate appearances in the Dominican Summer League. Has the glove to be a standout at shortstop and showed enough hit tool to think he can develop into an everyday starter.
Nos. 30-26
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30. Angel Genao, Cleveland Guardians
2030 Age: 26
The Guardians have frequently targeted switch-hitting middle infielders with plus hit tools in the draft and on the international market in recent years, and Genao looks like their latest success story following a breakout 2024 campaign. He hit .330/.379/.499 with 38 doubles, 10 home runs, 71 RBI and 25 steals in 110 games between Single-A and High-A, and while he saw some action at second base and third base for the sake of versatility, he checks all the boxes to be an everyday shortstop if he keeps hitting.
29. Nacho Alvarez Jr., Atlanta Braves
2030 Age: 27
A breakout 2023 season sent Alvarez flying up Atlanta's organizational prospect list, and with Drake Baldwin moving on to the majors, he again stands as the best position-player prospect in the Braves system. He hit .284/.391/.401 with 15 doubles, 10 home runs, 57 RBI and 26 steals as one of the younger prospects in the upper levels of the minors last year. And while he might fit best at second base, the lack of a long-term answer at shortstop in Atlanta could keep him at the position.
28. Arjun Nimmala, Toronto Blue Jays
2030 Age: 24
Nimmala went No. 20 overall in the 2023 draft on the strength of one of the highest offensive ceilings in the prep class, and he started to turn potential into production last year. He hit .232/.325/.482 with 20 doubles, 17 home runs and 47 RBI in 91 games between rookie ball and Single-A, though a 30.7 percent strikeout rate did give some reason for pause. Will he make enough consistent contact to be an everyday shortstop?
27. Wehiwa Aloy, University of Arkansas (2025 MLB Draft)
2030 Age: 26
After a productive freshman season at Sacramento State, Aloy held his own in the SEC last year following a transfer to Arkansas. He has taken his game to another level this spring, hitting .376/.464/.718 with 16 doubles, 17 home runs and 52 RBI in 49 games for the Razorbacks. There is some swing-and-miss to his game, and he might end up being a better fit at third base, but his bat will drive his value.
26. Willy Adames, San Francisco Giants
2030 Age: 34
Shortstops tend to experience a significant decline at some point around their age-35 or age-36 season, so Adames is just short of that hypothetical cut line in what will be the penultimate season of the seven-year, $182 million deal he signed this past offseason. After a glacial start to his Giants career, he is hitting .310/.412/.571 with three home runs in his last 12 games.
Nos. 25-21
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25. Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona Diamondbacks
2030 Age: 30
The D-backs signed Perdomo to a four-year, $45 million extension in February that includes a club option for the 2030 season, so it will be interesting to see where he is playing five years from now, especially with top prospect Jordan Lawlar knocking on the door. His reasonable contract could end up making him an attractive trade chip in the coming years, and his contact skills and plus defensive game should age well.
24. Colson Montgomery, Chicago White Sox
2030 Age: 28
Montgomery hit just .214/.329/.381 with 164 strikeouts in 130 games at Triple-A last season, but he put together a strong run in the Arizona Fall League and the White Sox gave him a long look for the starting shortstop job during spring training. He is hitting just .149 with a .479 OPS through his first 23 games back at Triple-A, but the potential to be an impact part of the South Siders rebuild is still very much present.
23. Edwin Arroyo, Cincinnati Reds
2030 Age: 26
Arroyo has a strong case for the title of best defensive shortstop in the minors, and while he missed the entire 2024 season after suffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder, he is still ahead of the developmental curve. His glove will likely always carry his value, but he has enough offensive potential to be an everyday player, and he is hitting .351/.431/.421 over 65 plate appearances at Double-A. Could he eventually push Elly De La Cruz to third base?
22. Starlyn Caba, Miami Marlins
2030 Age: 24
A standout in the Dominican Summer League in 2023, Caba continued to impress in his stateside debut with the Phillies last year. He was shipped to the Marlins during the offseason as the prospect centerpiece of the trade to acquire Jesús Luzardo, and immediately profiles as the shortstop of the future in the Miami system. He has a 55-hit, 60-power offensive profile and all the defensive tools to be a Gold Glove shortstop.
21. Justin Lebron, University of Alabama (2026 MLB Draft)
2030 Age: 25
Lebron hit .338/.429/.546 with 12 home runs as a true freshman starter at shortstop for Alabama in 2024, and he has been even better this spring. Through his first 48 games, he is batting .302/.411/.620 with 14 doubles, 15 home runs and 61 RBI while again anchoring the infield for the Crimson Tide. His 52 strikeouts are a bit of a red flag, but plenty of high-level college performers have taken a major step forward with their contact skills between their sophomore and junior campaigns.
Nos. 20-16
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20. Cooper Pratt, Milwaukee Brewers
2030 Age: 25
The Brewers selected Pratt at No. 182 overall in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, but they gave him a $1.35 million bonus which was roughly the slot equivalent of the No. 60 overall pick. He hit .277/.362/.406 with 26 extra-base hits and 27 steals over 96 games in his first full professional season while erasing questions about whether he could stick at shortstop, and he was sent to Double-A to begin the 2025 campaign.
19. Marek Houston, Wake Forest University (2025 MLB Draft)
2030 Age: 26
Houston was a surprise winner of the starting shortstop job at Wake Forest as a true freshman in 2023 thanks to his glove, and he pushed his name into the first-round conversation of the 2025 draft with a breakout offensive season last year. The junior standout has continued to climb draft boards this spring, hitting .346/.457/.575 with 13 doubles, 10 home runs, 50 RBI and more walks (37) than strikeouts (34) while continuing to play stellar defense.
18. Alex Freeland, Los Angeles Dodgers
2030 Age: 28
For all their spending power, the Dodgers also do a fantastic job identifying and developing talent outside of the opening rounds of the draft, and Freeland is the latest example as a sixth-round selection in 2022. The UCF product hit .260/.387/.442 with 53 extra-base hits and 31 steals in 137 games across three minor league levels during a breakout 2024 season, and he is off to a similarly impressive start at Triple-A this year.
17. Roch Cholowsky, UCLA (2026 MLB Draft)
2030 Age: 25
A top-50 prospect in the 2023 draft class, Cholowsky ended up honoring his commitment to UCLA where he has continued to showcase elite defensive tools and a budding offensive game. He is hitting .366/.511/.744 with 15 doubles, 16 home runs and 52 RBI in 46 games for the Bruins this spring, and he should enter the 2026 season as one of the top college bats in the country with a sure-fire shortstop profile defensively.
16. George Lombard Jr., New York Yankees
2030 Age: 25
With Jasson Dominguez moving on to the majors, Lombard is now the top prospect in the Yankees system. A popular pick to break out this season after showing more potential than production in 2023, he hit .329/.496/.488 over 111 plate appearances at High-A to earn a quick promotion to Double-A. He has the tools to be a standout defender at shortstop, but with Anthony Volpe blocking his path, he could end up at second base or as a trade chip.
Nos. 15-11
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15. Jeremy Peña, Houston Astros
2030 Age: 32
Peña burst onto the scene with a 5-WAR rookie season in 2022 that he capped off by winning ALCS and World Series MVP honors. His development has plateaued in the years since, leaving him short of stardom, but he is a solid everyday shortstop and a great homegrown piece for the Astros. With a 120 OPS+ through his first 138 plate appearances this season, he might finally be taking that next step forward.
14. Cole Young, Seattle Mariners
2030 Age: 26
The Mariners system is loaded with potential "shortstop of the future" candidates, and you'll see Colt Emerson (third base) and Felnin Celesten (second base) included in future editions of this series, but Young has emerged as the best defender of the team's top-tier middle infielders. He might end up breaking into the majors as a second baseman as a means of getting his 60-grade hit tool into the lineup, but with J.P. Crawford headed for free agency after the 2026 season, a path will be opening at shortstop.
13. Aiva Arquette, Oregon State University (2025 MLB Draft)
2030 Age: 26
Arquette is the clear No. 1 prospect in this year's college middle infielder class, and after playing mostly second base at the University of Washington, he showed in the Cape Cod League last summer and this spring after transferring to Oregon State that he can play a capable shortstop. He is hitting .351/.473/.701 with 16 home runs and 55 RBI in 46 games, and should be a top-five pick with the potential to fly through the minors.
12. CJ Abrams, Washington Nationals
2030 Age: 29
Abrams was a first-time All-Star last season, posting a 109 OPS+ with 29 doubles, 20 home runs, 65 RBI and 31 steals in 138 games. One of the prospect centerpieces of the deal that sent Juan Soto to the Padres, he has developed into one of the best young shortstops in baseball and a foundational piece of the Nationals' rebuilding efforts. Will he sign a long-term deal before hitting the open market after the 2028 season?
11. Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees
2030 Age: 29
Volpe has kicked off his MLB career with back-to-back 3-WAR seasons, winning a Gold Glove in 2023 and posting an .818 OPS with two doubles and one home run in last year's World Series. A rock-solid glove and nice mix of power and speed gives him an extremely high value floor, and he raised his batting average from .209 to .243 last season while cutting his strikeout rate from 27.8 to 22.6 percent.
Nos. 10-6
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10. Jacob Wilson, Las Vegas Athletics
2030 Age: 28
Wilson hit .412/.461/.635 with just nine strikeouts in 217 plate appearances during his junior season at Grand Canyon University, and his elite hit tool made him the No. 6 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He flew through the minors to make his MLB debut last summer, and he has a .333/.358/.450 for a 129 OPS+ as one of the AL Rookie of the Year favorites so far this year.
9. Leo De Vries, San Diego Padres
2030 Age: 23
A year after signing hyped catching prospect Ethan Salas, the Padres again landed the consensus top international prospect when De Vries was signed for $4.2 million in January 2024. He was sent straight to Single-A for his pro debut where he logged an .803 OPS over 360 plate appearances, and then he was the youngest player in the 2024 Arizona Fall League. This ranking could end up being too conservative if everything clicks.
8. Ezequiel Tovar, Colorado Rockies
2030 Age: 28
Tovar flashed plenty of potential as the Rockies' everyday shortstop during his age-20 season in 2023, then he broke through with a 102 OPS+ and 75 extra-base hits while also taking home NL Gold Glove honors in 2024. His .295 on-base percentage and 200 strikeouts highlighted the work he still needs to do refining his approach at the plate, but his age, extra-base pop and defensive prowess make it easy to bet on his future.
7. Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels
2030 Age: 29
In his first full season in the majors, Neto led the Angels with 5.1 WAR while posting a 112 OPS+ with 34 doubles, 23 home runs, 77 RBI and 30 steals in 155 games. The No. 13 overall pick in the 2022 draft played just 48 games in the minors before taking over as the Angels everyday shortstop, so it's reasonable to believe he still has room to improve in the coming years as he settles in as a big leaguer.
6. Jordan Lawlar, Arizona Diamondbacks
2030 Age: 27
Injuries have limited Lawlar to 275 career games since going No. 6 overall in the 2021 draft, but he has established himself as a top-tier prospect when healthy. He played in the Dominican Winter League to make up for lost time this past winter, and he is hitting .357/.441/.643 with 22 extra-base hits and 12 steals in 31 games at Triple-A to open 2025. With Geraldo Perdomo manning shortstop, he could start his MLB career at second base or third base, but the tools are there for him to be a terrific two-way shortstop.
5. Carson Williams, Tampa Bay Rays
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2030 Age: 27
Carson Williams is a future Gold Glove winner with the quick-twitch instincts, soft hands, polished footwork and top-of-the-scale arm to make every play at the premium position.
He also has 60-grade power and showed it at the Double-A level last year where he posted an .821 OPS with 20 doubles, 20 home runs, 69 RBI and 33 steals in 115 games.
The only real question is his hit tool, and even with a step forward last season, he still logged a 28.5 percent strikeout rate. Those questions remain during a slow start in his Triple-A debut, but his glove and power give him such a high floor that he could be a perennial 5-WAR player even if he never hits .250 at the next level.
4. Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals
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2030 Age: 28
Masyn Winn looked thoroughly overmatched in his first taste of the big leagues in 2023, hitting .172 with a 28 OPS+ over 137 plate appearances.
That did not stop the Cardinals from giving him every opportunity to win the starting gig last spring, and he rewarded their patience by posting a 102 OPS+ with 32 doubles, 15 home runs, 57 RBI and 4.9 WAR in 150 games.
With a rocket arm and terrific range, his offensive production stands secondary to his Gold Glove-caliber defense, and he was a finalist to take home the hardware as a rookie while leading all shortstops with 14 Defensive Runs Saved.
With a .268/.351/.427 line and 117 OPS+ through 94 plate appearances this season, his offensive production last year looks like the real deal, which coupled with his elite defense give him face of the franchise potential in St. Louis.
3. Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds
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2030 Age: 28
Elly De La Cruz has some of the most electric tools in baseball, from his top-of-the-scale speed to his light-tower power to his rocket arm, and they were all on full display during the 2024 season.
He ended up appearing in 160 games, hitting .259/.339/.471 for a 119 OPS+ with 36 doubles, 10 triples, 25 home runs, 76 RBI, 105 runs scored and 67 steals in a 5.2-WAR season while earning his first All-Star selection.
He also led the majors with 218 strikeouts, was caught stealing 16 times and posted middling defensive metrics (-2 DRS, -9.5 UZR/150), but he impacts the game in so many ways that those shortcomings have not stopped him from developing into an impact player.
His walk rate (9.9 to 10.5 percent) and strikeout rate (31.3 to 26.8 percent) are both moving in the right direction this year, and he is still young enough to plug some of the holes in his game, but he is already a bona fide star.
2. Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
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2030 Age: 29
Only Shohei Ohtani (18.0) and Aaron Judge (15.4) tallied more combined WAR during the 2023 and 2024 seasons than the 15.1 that Gunnar Henderson racked up in what was also his first two full seasons in the majors.
He hit .281/.364/.529 for a 158 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 37 home runs, 92 RBI, 118 runs scored and 21 steals in a 9.1-WAR campaign last year, and those numbers could have looked even better if he had not slumped a bit in July and August.
On top of his stellar offensive production, he also settled in as a terrific defensive shortstop (5 DRS, 2.8 UZR/150) after splitting time between shortstop and third base as a rookie, giving the Orioles an infield anchor for the foreseeable future.
The O's are off to a disappointing start to the 2025 season, but Henderson remains one of the game's brightest young stars with the potential to be one of the best homegrown players in franchise history.
1. Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
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2030 Age: 30
Bobby Witt Jr. had one of the best seasons in recent memory by a shortstop in 2024, finishing runner-up to Aaron Judge in AL MVP balloting with numbers that would have taken home the hardware most years.
He hit .332/.389/.588 for a 172 OPS+ while racking up 9.4 WAR in 161 games, winning the AL batting title and also leading the league in hits (211) while becoming the first shortstop every with two 30/30 seasons as he tallied 45 doubles, 11 triples, 32 home runs, 109 RBI, 125 runs scored and 31 steals.
Sprinkle on top of all of that his first career Gold Glove, which was well-deserved based on his defensive metrics (2 DRS, 2.3 UZR/150), and you can count on one hand the number of players across baseball who are better than the Royals shortstop.
It's still early days, but he is on a trajectory that could make him the club's best player since George Brett. And with a long-term deal in place to keep him in Kansas City, he has a chance to put together a statue-worthy career with the organization.
