WELCOME BACK!!! Despite a scorching hot stove (I can’t believe the player you’re thinking of did or did not sign with the team you thought they would!), January and February can be some of the darkest months of the year (figuratively and literally). But fear not, restless readers. The Dynasty Guru is here to the rescue.

While you were celebrating the holidays and ushering in the New Year, our brave group of writers has been ranking, debating, re-ranking, re-debating, and re-re-ranking over 600 players for dynasty leagues. The fruits of our efforts will be filling January and February with the deepest, most thoroughly and painstakingly selected dynasty baseball rankings on the internet. We have top-50s, top-125s, top-200s, top-500s (of course!), and even ultra-deep prospect rankings. PLUS, this season we’re including a “Where They’d Rank” section, that outlines where we would put multi-positional guys if we ranked them at their secondary positions.

The Dynasty Guru’s hard-working staff has spent countless hours crafting these rankings, and we hope you enjoy and continue to support our efforts.

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Without further ado, it’s time to continue our 2019 consensus rankings by looking at our 21-50 dynasty shortstops.

Jordan’s Notes: Bolded words are puns (ouch). All references to expected statistics, derived from exit velocities and launch angles, taken from xstats.org.

*Clay Davenport translates minor league statistics to peak MLB performance, adjusting minor league statistics downward for league difficulty and upward for aging (these are known as peak Davenport translations).

21) Chris Taylor, Los Angeles Dodgers, (Age: 28, Previous Rank: NR at SS)

Two seasons after emerging as a chris-tayl, or diamond in the rough [ Ed. Note- Good God], Taylor enters 2019 penciled in as the Dodgers starting second baseman, though he’ll presumably continue to see plenty of starts in the outfield and at shortstop. Under contract through 2021, he should continue to be a steady contributor in a very strong Dodgers offense. He put up a .254/.331/.441 triple slash in 2018, with 17 home runs and 9 stolen bases, pretty aligned with career norms and his 2018 expected statistics (derived from exit velocities and launch angles). Count on him for around a .250/.330/.420 triple slash moving forward, with 10-15 stolen bases and 15-20 home runs. (Jordan Rosenblum)

22) Carter Kieboom, Washington Nationals, (Age: 21, Previous Rank: 38)

Kieboom made it to Double-A as a 20-year-old this year, a rare feat reserved for blue-chip prospects. He impressively held his own, with a league average wRC+ after destroying High-A to the tune of a 149 wRC+. His major league equivalency* for 2018, on the whole, is .270/.354/.437, with 21 home runs and 11 stolen bases in almost 600 at-bats. He was even stronger in 2017, especially power-wise, so I’d expect more like 25 home runs in his peak seasons. He’s a strong candidate to keep moving up this list in 2019—to go Kieboom! (Jordan Rosenblum)

23) Paul DeJong, St. Louis Cardinals, (Age: 25, Previous Rank: 19 )

Only 25, De Jong Cardinal is one of the more underrated shortstops in baseball. He’s an elite defender and above average hitter, putting up three-plus WAR in both of his MLB seasons. Further, he’ll only be 26 in 2019—we likely haven’t seen the best of him yet. The BAT projects him for a .250/.308/.458 slash and 27 home runs in a full season. This is right in line with his 2018 expected statistics (derived from exit velocities and launch angles) and career norms—he was a bit unlucky in 2018 and a bit lucky in 2017. His excellent defense should ensure him playing time if he ever slumps. He’s a very solid 2019 option at shortstop, with the potential to crack the top 12 in the future with typical age-related growth patterns. (Jordan Rosenblum)

24) Andrelton Simmons, Los Angeles Angels, (Age: 29, Previous Rank: 25)

Billy Joel and/or Elton John is to piano rock as Simmons is to shortstop defense—a legend. He’s been one of the most valuable overall shortstops in real life over the past two seasons, and the best defensive shortstop in baseball, putting up five-plus WAR each year. He’s no offensive slouch, either, however. He slashed .292/.337/.417 with 11 home runs and 10 stolen bases in 2018, his best offensive season. His 2018 expect statistics (derived from exit velocities and launch angles) were even stronger: .313/.356/.441. There are few safer bets at the back-end of the shortstop position for the next couple seasons: Simmons’ defense all but guarantees him a full season’s plate appearances. I’d bet on a 2018 repeat offensively too: somewhere around .290/.335/.420 with 10-15 home runs and stolen bases a piece. (Jordan Rosenblum)

25) Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers, (Age: 30, Previous Rank: 8)

Andrus, another shortstop assured playing time thanks to his defensive abilities, regressed at the plate in 2018 after above average offensive performances in 2016 and 2017. His isolated power dropped from .174 in 2017 to .111 in 2018, his homers from 20 to six, and his stolen bases from 25 to five. It’s hard to say how much his decline stemmed from a fractured right elbow sustained in April, but his exit velocities were at least aligned with 2016 and 2017. Further, his expected wOBA (derived from exit velocities and launch angles) was .307 in 2018 and .317 in 2017 – basically the same. The available evidence suggests Andrus was quite lucky in 2017 and quite unlucky in 2018. Moving forward, you can trust him for a .275/.325/.405 slash, with 10-15 home runs. His sprint speed has dropped off a bit so I wouldn’t expect more than 15 stolen bases anymore. (Jordan Rosenblum)

26) Andres Gimenez, New York Mets, (Age: 20, Previous Rank: NR)

Gimenez is part of an elite group of prospects to crack Double-A at 19 years-young. He’s easily the most exciting Mets shortstop prospect since Jose Reyes—sorry Ruben Tejada and Gavin Cecchini fans (do you exist?). His major league equivalency* for 2018, on the whole, is .261/.337/.422 with 15 home runs and 30 stolen bases in 500 at-bats. He has a good defensive reputation and should stick at shortstop long-term. He’s already begun cracking the top 50 in prospect lists released this off-season and ranked 7^th overall among shortstop prospects in resident prospect expert, Jesse Roche’s prospect rankings. Gimenez held his own in Double-A at 19; the group of players who have done this in the past 20 years is filled with stars. I’d take the (significantly) over on his 2018 major league equivalency. Stop reading now and race to add him in your dynasty leagues. (Jordan Rosenblum)

27) Jorge Polanco, Minnesota Twins, (Age: 25, Previous Rank: 23)

A popular pre-2018 sleeper, Polanco lost some of his shine when he was suspended for using a banned substance—the MLB told him he did not belong, oh no he did not, at least not for the first 80 games. He did not disappoint when he finally did return, slashing .288/.345/.427 in a half season, with 6 home runs and 7 stolen bases, and a 110 wRC+. These are the kind of numbers people hoped for going into 2018. His expected statistics (derived from exit velocities and launch angles) fully supported his performance. Pencil him in for a .280/.330/.430 triple slash in 2019, with around 15 home runs and stolen bases apiece. He’s only 25 and should remain a solid back-end shortstop option for years. If his power takes a step forward in 2019, he’ll really bust out. I’ve apparently fallen for him as a sleeper for the second year in a row. (Jordan Rosenblum)

28) Marcus Semien, Oakland Athletics, (Age: 28, Previous Rank: 33)

“Some men just want to watch the world burn,” Alfred told Bruce in The Dark Knight. What he did not tell Bruce, but could have had Bruce been interested in fantasy baseball, is that some men work hard to establish themselves as good-not-great back-end dynasty shortstops. Semien is one of these men, ensuring himself playing time with consistent, league average offense and strong defense. Semien’s expected statistics (derived from exit velocities and launch angles) suggest he was a bit unlucky in the power department the past two seasons, and projection systems agree he should approach 20 home runs in 2019. Overall, I’d expect a .255/.320/.410 triple slash, with 15-20 home runs and around 15 stolen bases in 2019. He’s a trusty option at the back-end of the top 30. (Jordan Rosenblum)

29) Scott Kingery, Philadelphia Phillies, (Age: 24, Previous Rank: NR at SS)

Scott Kingery is the shortstop prospect king—or he was, at least before 2018 happened. The hype was out of control after he destroyed Double-A and Triple-A at 23 years old. The Phillies bought into the hype, and signed him through 2026, with $24 million in guaranteed money, before he even had a single at-bat. He proceeded to break a lot of hearts, as one of the worst hitters in the league with a Hamiltonian 62 wRC+ over 484 plate appearances. There aren’t many reasons for optimism going into 2019: the Phillies traded for Jean Segura, making Kingery a backup; projection systems tend to forecast him for less than an 80 wRC+; his expected 2018 statistics (derived from exit velocities and launch angles) were just as bad as his actual performance. The one major positive is he is only 24, and one year removed from minor league excellence. A year ago, he looked like a .270 hitter and sure bet to go 20-20. A year from now, he may be gone from this list entirely. Such is life for prospects. (Jordan Rosenblum)

30) Dansby Swanson, Atlanta Braves (Age 24, Previous Rank: 27)

A consensus top-10 prospect heading into 2017 (# 3 according to Baseball America and #2 according to Baseball Prospectus) and former #1 overall pick in the 2015 draft, expectations for Swanson were set high from the beginning.  After two full major league seasons, we’re starting to get an idea of the type of player Swanson is – the bar appears to have been set too high.  There are reasons to be excited by the progress Swanson has made, however.  He more than doubled his home run output from 2017 to 2018 (from 6 to 14), in roughly the same number of at-bats.  He also marginally improved his batting average.  On the flip side, his walk rate dipped noticeably and there are not a lot of indications that a big breakout season is coming quite yet.  Still, at just 24 years old, there is plenty of time for Swanson to adjust to major league pitching.  If you’re a believer that the talent will still arrive, now might be a good chance to buy Swanson for bargain bin prices. (Ross Jensen)

31) Xavier Edwards, San Diego Padres (Age 19, Previous Rank: NR)

The Padres’ first-round pick in the 2018 draft known for his blazing, 80-grade speed, Edwards impressed in his pro debut by stealing 22 bases in less than 200 plate appearance while hitting for high average (combined .346 average across Rookie and Low-A levels).  Perhaps most impressive was the advanced plate discipline that Edwards exhibited, walking more times (31) than striking out (25) in both levels that he played in.  Edwards showed practically no power, and while he isn’t likely to ever hit many home runs, it is expected that he may develop at least a minimal power as he fills out (currently listed at 5’10 and 155 pounds).  Even without home run power, the potentially game-changing combination of on-base ability and speed means that Edwards is a prospect that should be on your radar, assuming he can find a place to play as the Padres extremely stacked farm system reaches maturity. (Ross Jensen)

32) Luis Garcia, Washington Nationals (Age 18, Previous Rank: NR)

Appearing to be another successful international signing by the Nationals, the 18-year-old Garcia has made a strong impression by excelling against much older competition; as noted by Jesse Roche, he was the youngest player in High-A Carolina, the level that he finished the season at, by nearly a year.  Garcia flashed an impressive approach at the plate, albeit slightly aggressive, along with solid power for a player still three years away from the legal drinking age.  If all goes according to his development trajectory, an investment in Garcia could give you a potential .300 hitting shortstop who can provide decent power and chip in a handful of steals as well.  Despite his youth, he is already playing at advanced levels and could move through the Nationals system quickly. (Ross Jensen)

33) Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs (Age 21, Previous Rank: NR)

Before a season-ending elbow injury, Hoerner showed signs of the polished college hitter that the Cubs were expecting when they drafted him.  Hoerner also brought some surprising power with him, reportedly the result of a change to his swing.  Hoerner profiles as a solid all-around player, with a solid plate approach and swing sprinkled with competent fielding and a dash of speed.  Hoerner may not wow you with any high-end raw tools, but he does have the makings of a solid complement to a competitive fantasy squad. (Ross Jensen)

34) Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks (Age 25, Previous Rank: 22)

Prior to 2018, I saw Marte as a decent professional hitter: he always manages to hit for a solid average with a respectable strikeout-to-walk ratio.  However, there just wasn’t a lot of power in his profile and not enough on-base aggressiveness to make up for it.  As a 24-year-old last season, Marte found just enough power to look like an intriguing dynasty league play.  Marte’s 14 home runs were by far the most he has hit in any season at any level, and he was able to do it while continuing to post solid ratios.  Combining his newfound power with speed also resulted in a league-leading 12 triples.  Marte looks like a good player to watch – if the power continues to develop and shows up early, he might be worth snatching up or trading for while the price tag is still low. (Ross Jensen)

35) Gavin Lux, LA Dodgers (Age 21, Previous Rank: NR)

A former first-round pick by the Dodgers, Lux experienced a breakout season in 2018 across High-A and Double-A, slashing a combined .324/.399/.514.  A promotion to Double-A later in the season did nothing to slow him down.  Known as an intense competitor, Lux is also a patient hitter who takes a consistent approach to each plate appearance, which has helped him continue to produce as he has advanced levels.  A healthy Corey Seager may ultimately push him to second base, but if he is able to match or exceed his production from last year, Lux may get a cup of coffee in the big leagues at the end of 2019 before more serious exposure in 2020. (Ross Jensen)

36) Kevin Smith, Toronto Blue Jays (Age 22, Previous Rank: NR)

After dominating the Single-A Midwest League to the tune of a .355/.407/.639 slash line, Smith was rewarded with a promotion to the Florida State League, where he finished out the season slashing a more-human-but-still-strong .274/.332/.468 line.  Smith is known for his power, but couples it with above-average speed, which led to 29 stolen bases in 2018.  In order to realize his full potential, Smith will likely need to focus on cutting down on his strikeout rate, where his free-swinging ways were more exposed after his mid-season promotion.  While he is still a work in progress, there is real 20-20 potential here when Smith reaches the big leagues, maybe even more.  If you find yourself in agony over missing out on Kyle Tucker, Smith may be a poor man’s alternative, but you will likely need to wait another year before assessing the real impact he can make. (Ross Jensen)

37) Isaac Paredes, Detroit Tigers (Age 19, Previous Rank: NR)

The 19-year-old Paredes demonstrated the ability to hit for solid average with decent power by posting a .278/.359/.456 slash line across High-A and Double-A.  Paredes was even better after his promotion to Double-A, where he posted an impressive .321/.406/.458 line, demonstrating a powerful but disciplined approach.  If Paredes continues to develop, there is potential 25 home run power in his bat along with a solid walk rate for those in OBP leagues. (Ross Jensen)

38) Addison Russell, Chicago Cubs (Age 25, Previous Rank: 18)

Russell has the trifecta. He’s a terrible person, might be a terrible player, and probably has a terrible outlook for the 2019 season. MLB suspended Russell for the first 40 games of the 2019 season after his ex-wife credibly accused him of domestic violence. While the Cubs tendered him a $3.4 million contract for the 2019 season (they won a World Series with Aroldis Chapman closing, so what the heck?), his future is still uncertain. After he serves his suspension, Russell has no guarantee of playing time. He hit just .250/.317/.340 with no power or speed in 2018, and hasn’t been a useful fantasy player since his age-22 season. That said, Russell clearly has a lot of talent for baseball, and a breakout is not out of the question. Someone will place Russell on their bench for the season in hopes of capturing a golden breakout. Let’s all hope the Cubs regret handing him millions of dollars. (E.J. Fagan)

39) Kevin Maitan, LA Angels (Age 19, Previous Rank: NR)

Remember him? In just a few short years, Kevin Maitan signed a $4.25 million bonus with the Atlanta Braves as a 16 year-old, found himself at the center of the Latin America amateur signing scandal that took down much of the Atlanta Braves front office, declared a free agent, and signed another $2.2 million bonus with the Angels. Amidst all of this drama, he played baseball. Despite hitting just .248/.306/.397 in rookie ball as an 18-year-old, some scouting reports on Maitan are still positive. He has the tools to be a plus-hit, plus-power shortstop. However, he hasn’t put those tools to work on the field. He should be owned, but Maitan is no longer the best teenage shortstop prospect in baseball. Don’t pay for him. (E.J. Fagan)

40) Yu-Cheng Chang, Cleveland Indians (Age 23, Previous Rank: 49)

Not much to see here. As a prospect of the Cleveland Indians, Chang is unlikely to retain his shortstop eligibility for long barring an injury to Francisco Lindor. His next logical position is 3rd base, but he’s just as unlikely to displace Jose Ramirez. His .256/.330/.411 batting line at Triple-A last year isn’t going to force anyone’s hand. In very deep leagues, Chang could be a useful stash in the case that he somehow falls into playing time. In all other leagues, Chang probably shouldn’t be owned. Use your roster spot on someone lower in the minor leagues with a real ceiling. (E.J. Fagan)

41) Jorge Mateo, Oakland Athletics (Age 24, Previous Rank: 26)

Mateo is one frustrating prospect. A year ago, he looked as if he might finally cash in on his tremendous potential as a modern-day Jose Reyes, stealing 52 bases while hitting fine enough at Double-A. However, Mateo crashed and burned in 2018. He hit .230/.280/.353 with just 25 stolen bases in his first Triple-A season, and was similarly impotent in winter ball. That said, Mateo is still a physical marvel with tantalizing, league-winning potential. Even if he only puts half his talent together, Mateo could easily be a 4th round pick. He’s also sitting at Triple-A on a team that just lost Jed Lowrie, so the playing time could come soon. Don’t spend a lot on Mateo, but keep your eye on him. (E.J. Fagan)

42) Mark Vientos, New York Mets (Age 19, Previous Rank: NR)

He’s currently listed as a shortstop, but Mark Vientos is a long-term third baseman. He was effective as an 18-year old in rookie ball in his first full year after the draft, hitting .287/.389/.489 with 11 home runs in 60 games. He is a potential 30-HR player when all is said and done. Unfortunately, that could be awhile. Vientos is at least three years away from the major leagues. He’s probably valuable if he sticks at third, but could end up a mediocre fantasy third baseman. The good news is that he might be able to put up a decent batting average given his below-average strikeout rate. (E.J. Fagan)

43) Wenceel Perez, Detroit Tigers (Age 19, Previous Rank: NR)

Imagine Vientos, but without the power and as a future 2nd baseman. Perez had an impressive .312/.363/.429 season for the Tigers’ various short-season affiliates. He’s not a great defender, so he could end up getting pushed to a position where his decent-but-not-great offensive profile isn’t very useful. Luckily, the Detroit farm system is loaded with pitchers and light on top hitters. Perez will have every opportunity to claim a roster spot… in 2021. For now, watch and wait. (E.J. Fagan).

44) Jazz Chisolm, Arizona Diamondbacks (Age 21, Previous Rank: NR)

Chisolm is way down on this list, but probably the best prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks system. That tells you something about the future of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Chisolm is a lot like Vientos and Perez – a very young, very interesting hitter with lots of question marks. Unlike the previous two though, Chisolm is a good bet to remain at shortstop. He might also strikeout 30% of the time. Chisolm has real power (25 HR in 112 games between Low-A and High-A last year), but few other offensive tools. If you own Chisolm, see if you kind find a buyer. Players gain perceived value when they are at the top of a team’s prospect list. Otherwise, pass. (E.J. Fagan)

45) Jordan Groshans, Toronto Blue Jays (Age 19, Previous Rank: NR)

I’m beginning to sense a theme at the bottom half of the list. Groshans is a young, pedigreed shortstop who didn’t embarrass himself in short-season ball in 2018. Can he hit? Probably. Can he play shortstop? Maybe, but you should probably bet on 2nd or 3rd. As with any 12th overall high school draft pick, Groshans has a ton of talent. He won’t be useful to fantasy owners for a long time. (E.J. Fagan)

46) Nick Gordon, Minnesota Twins (Age 23, Previous Rank: 31)

Heading into 2018, things were looking pretty good for Gordon.  He topped out ranked as the 35th best prospect in baseball according to Baseball Prospectus and Jesse Roche tabbed him as the 10th best shortstop prospect.  His star has dimmed somewhat heading into 2019 as Nick hasn’t yet been able to demonstrate that he can consistently hit advanced pitching like his brother Dee.  However, digging into the statistics a little deeper, there was some notable progress made in 2018.  Gordon’s first taste of Double-A pitching came in 2017, where he hit a decent but unspectacular .270 as a 21-year-old.  Repeating that level in early 2018, he showed the ability to adjust by increasing that average by a whopping 53 points.  He was rewarded for that progress with a promotion to Triple-A, on the cusp of the major leagues.  He will need to learn to make another leap, as he met his match at that level as a 22-year-old, only mustering a .212 average.  For a player with limited power (albeit significantly more than his brother Dee) and on base potential, Gordon will need to show that he can consistently hit for average to make a successful transition to the big leagues. (Ross Jensen)

47) Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates, (Age: 20 , Previous Rank: NR)

In 2017, Oneil Cruz was a 19-year-old Dodger who put up an uninspiring 79 wRC+ in Low-A. He was traded to the Pirates mid-season for reliever Tony Watson. Cruz took a different tone in his second chance at Low-A with the Pirates in 2018, slashing .286/.343/.488 in over 400 plate appearances—he was one of this year’s biggest breakouts in all of the minor leagues. His age-adjusted major league equivalency* for his 2018 minor league performance is .262/.335/.466 with around 20 homers and 12 stolen bases in a full season’s playing time. He has a tools-y reputation among prospectors, with resident prospect guru Jesse Roche grading him a 60-grade future value for power and 50-grade future value for hit. Cruz serves as a reminder of the major growth that often occur for 19-year-olds. 2019 will be a big year for him as he tries to prove 2018 Cruz is the real Cruz, and 2017 Cruz was just a poser. (Jordan Rosenblum)

48) Yairo Munoz, St. Louis Cardinals (Age: 24, Previous Rank: NR)

The unheralded Munoz has made incredible strides over the last two years, catapulting himself from a largely unknown commodity to a possible young impact bat for the Cardinals.  In the low minors, Munoz failed to win many over with performance.  His outlook changed after a solid campaign across Double-A and Triple-A in 2017, where Munoz hit a combined .300 while showing decent power.  That performance has mostly translated well to the major leagues, where Munoz posted a solid slash line of .276/.350/.413 in 2018.  If Munoz can take another step forward, he can be a difference maker.  One thing to keep an eye on is Munoz’s limited range at shortstop, which has both a positive and negative impact on his fantasy value: without defensive improvement, Munoz could find playing time limited, however, he is also played at many positions to get his bat in the lineup (he saw time at second, third, and in the outfield), meaning that your fantasy team could benefit from multiple position eligibility. (Ross Jensen)

49) Greg Garcia, San Diego Padres (Age 29, Previous Rank: NR)

Do you need someone to fill a roster spot? Well, you’re in luck, because Greg Garcia is available on waivers in your league. Depending on your league settings, he can prevent an illegal roster by occupying any of 3rd base, 2nd base, and shortstop. Don’t worry about his .221 batting average, because Garcia’s typical game involves a single pinch-hit at bat. At 29, he’s not going to get any better. He becomes less valuable if a Cardinals injury forces them to play him for more than 300 PAs. So go ahead and trade your real shortstop on a rebuilding team. Greg Garcia will answer the call. (E.J. Fagan)

50) Brock Holt, Boston Red Sox (Age 31, Previous Rank: NR)

Brock Holt is like Greg Garcia, but more useful to a major league team. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make Holt useful to your fantasy team. While he can play many different positions and hit a reasonable .774 OPS, Holt can only be counted on for 350 PAs at this point in his career. He’s not (and rarely ever was) a player you can stash to fill the first hitter injury your team suffers. Unless your waivers are extremely tight, you can almost certainly find a better contributor after Plan A fails. Say no to Holt. (E.J. Fagan)

 

Where They’d Rank*

JP Crawford- 33, behind Scott Kingery
Eduardo Escobar- 37 behind Luis Garcia
Lourdes Gurriel, Jr.- 43, behind Kevin Smith
Marwin Gonzalez- 45, behind Isaac Paredes
Daniel Robertson- 46, behind Marwin Gonzalez
Jeter Downs- 53, behind Wenceel Perez

*ranked as though all were included in the list