Continuing with our highlights of the league’s top Shortstops, as judged by our collection of industry experts, below are the 11th through the 30th ranked players in the league.

11. FRANCISO LINDOR, NEW YORK METS (AGE: 28, PREVIOUS RANK: 3)

Man, Lindor fell hard this year. Last year we rated Lindor as the 3rd overall shortstop and here he finds himself outside the top ten. In all honesty he is completely deserving of this fall. Lindor had a terrible beginning to last season. Not only did he start off terrible but he also battled against an oblique injury that sidelined him for part of the season. I look for Lindor to bounce back this season as 2021 was his career worst season by a long shot. This isn’t to say that he will jump back to his previous rank of three. I don’t think he will ever be that high on our rankings. If you are looking to get a good amount of stolen bases from your shortstop then I would take Lindor over Seager, even though Seager is the better overall talent. (Brett Cook)

12. JAVIER BAEZ, DETROIT TIGERS, (AGE: 29, PREVIOUS RANK: 12)

Whereas Lindor fell drastically in comparing last years rankings to this years rankings, Baez stayed the same. When you look at the sabermetrics and consider where he is on our rankings, I have to give all my colleagues a pat on the back. We got this one right. Baez actually improved in the sabermetrics department when you compare 2021 and 2020. He improved in hard hit %, average exit velocity, xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, barrel %, and walk %. His improvement didn’t warrant him surpassing anyone higher on this list but he also didn’t deserve to drop in this years rankings. Baez looks to be a bright spot in a weak Tigers offense so don’t sleep on him. (Brett Cook)

13. ONEIL CRUZ, PITTSBURGH PIRATES, (AGE: 23, PREVIOUS RANK: 32)

The only thing Cruz hasn’t done is prove his ability at the biggest stage. Cruz is a physical specimen. He has a 6’7, 200 pound frame. It is no wonder that Cruz possesses 60 grade power when you see his size. He strikes out at a high clip but he also has a pretty decent walk rate to counterbalance that high strikeout rate. There is a lot to be excited about with this prospect but there is also a lot of risk attached to Cruz. Cruz has a career 134 wRC+ in the minors, which is 34% better than the league average. If Cruz is on your dynasty team then ride the ship to the championship or watch this ship sink. (Brett Cook)

14. WILLY ADAMES, MILWAUKEE BREWERS, (AGE: 26, PREVIOUS RANK: 24)

Adames in Tampa Bay? Good. Adames in Milwaukee? Great. Adames produced his biggest home run total for a season in 2021. According to sabermetrics, Adames’s highest career max exit velocity was in 2021. This isn’t the only area of improvement for Adames according to sabermetrics. He also improved in hard hit %, average exit velocity, xwOBA, barrel %, xSLG, strikeout percentage and walk percentage. You don’t have to look at the sabermetrics to be convinced of this jump in the rankings. Adames also had his career high in doubles, runs batted in, walks, OPS, and total bases. If this is the new Adames then count me in. (Brett Cook)

15. NOELVI MARTE, SEATTLE MARINERS, (AGE: 20, PREVIOUS RANK: 18)

Marte is a young prospect at only 20 years old. Marte hit 17 bombs to go along with 87 runs and 69 runs batted in. Adding to that  impressive resume, this exciting young prospect swiped 23 bags in 2021. Marte just oozes in the tools department. The only thing that Marte has against him is that he doesn’t have a huge track record, all thanks to the 2020 minor league season being cancelled. 2021 was only Marte’s second minor league season. I am not going to judge Marte for something out of his control. Marte may eventually make the move to 3B. Whether he makes that move or not his offensive profile is too enticing to let that put a damper on your ranking of him. (Brett Cook)

16. C.J. ABRAMS, SAN DIEGO PADRES, (AGE: 21, PREVIOUS RANK: 16)

Of the ten guys that I am highlighting, this is the one that I am the excited about the most. Abrams has a hit tool graded at 60. I am a sucker for hit tool. We all love power but that’s not Abram’s game. I have already mentioned the hit tool for Abrams but his best tool is his speed – graded at an 80. What do you get when you combine the both of these? One of the best prospects in the game. This time next year, this is the guy that I believe can make the biggest jump on next years rankings. When I watch Abrams play, I can’t help but think of Trea Turner and how much their game relates. The only average grade for Abrams is power. (Brett Cook)

17. GAVIN LUX, LOS ANGELES DODGERS, (AGE: 24, PREVIOUS RANK: #2 AT 2B)

When I think of Gavin Lux and his future in fantasy baseball, I think his last name is the prefix to luxury. Lux will be a luxury in fantasy baseball for years to come. There are many sabermetric indicators that convince me of this. First off, let’s consider Lux’s BB% and chase rate. These are Lux’s greatest strengths according to sabermetrics (aside from his sprint speed which is in the leagues top 6%), which doesn’t matter a whole lot if you aren’t getting on base. The truth is that Lux does get on base, evidenced by the fact that he doesn’t chase a lot of pitches outside of the zone and he walks a good amount. His average exit velocity, max exit velocity, xBA, and whiff percentage are all better than league average. I foresee Lux improving in many of these areas in the 2022 season. Lux was worse than league average in hard hit %, barrel %, k%, xwOBA, and xSLG. I will not be surprised if Lux shows how luxurious he is in fantasy baseball by improving in some of his stronger and weaker areas of sabermetrics this season. (Brett Cook)

18. ANTHONY VOLPE, NEW YORK YANKEES, (AGE: 20, PREVIOUS RANK: NR)

Let’s all gulp down some Volpe. This is another guy I am extremely excited about. Volpe made two stops in the minor league circuit during the 2021 season, and he did not disappoint. When you combine the stats in Single-A and High-A for Volpe, you get 100 plus runs scored, 27 dingers, and 33 stolen bases. If you aren’t sold on Volpe just yet, then let’s go a little further. While in 54 Single-A games, Volpe walked 20% of the time and in his promotion to High-A, Volpe walked 11% of the time. While Volpe struggled in the strikeouts department in his promotion with a 23% strikout rate, when you consider his OBP combined in both stops was over .425, it is hard to get discouraged. To top it all off, Volpe boasted a 170 wRC+ for the whole season, which means Volpe is a beast. (Brett Cook)

19. LUIS URIAS, MILWAUKEE BREWERS, (AGE: 24, PREVIOUS RANK: #30 AT 2B)

I have been on the Urias train since I drafted him in my first dynasty league in 2016. I have stuck with Urias through the thick fog so it is great to see the recent success from Urias in Milwaukee. Urias’s max exit velocity was his strong point according to sabermetrics last year, as the hardest ball off Urias’s bat was among the leagues top 20% for power on a single at-bat. I know what you are probably thinking. That is just one at-bat. What about his other 569 plate appearances? Let’s add to why you can have confidence in Urias. First off, Urias had a BB% in the 78th percentile. He was also better than league average sabermetrics in chase rate, strikeout percentage, xwOBA, barrel %, xSLG and whiff %. Urias also hit 23 bombs and 25 doubles in 2021. There is a lot to get behind with Urias and I will not be surprised if Urias doubles down and has a better 2022 season. One more thing to consider is Urias’s age. He is only 24. There is plenty of room to grow. (Brett Cook)

20. DANSBY SWANSON, ATLANTA BRAVES, (AGE: 27, PREVIOUS RANK: 17)

Here is another shortstop on the list with a career year. Swanson put up his best power numbers by hitting the most doubles and home runs in the same year. He also had more hits in 2021 than in any other season, which, in no surprise, will give you your best total bases when you combine all those stats. One area that Swanson struggled in was strikeouts, which is understandable given his power numbers. Nevertheless, I can understand why my fellow colleagues and I dropped Swanson in our rankings.  Over the span of three seasons, Swanson has declined in his weaker areas of sabermetrics which include: strikeout percentage, whiff % and walk %. Selling out for Swanson’s power surge in 2021 may entice you, but the other side of the story is that Swanson’s batting average and on-base percentage was his worst since the 2018 season. Sometimes you pay a price in selling out for power. (Brett Cook)

21. MARCO LUCIANO, SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (AGE: 20, PREVIOUS RANK: 13)

Marco Luciano possesses one of the best power bats in the minors. Known for already being able to harness his double-plus power in games, he also has the potential to hit for average as he develops. Looking back at his 2021 season, it’s tough to say what result was more unexpected: His 37.2% K rate at High-A or the ISO of .078 at the same level? He was almost 4 years younger than the average player last year during his High-A stint, so we can cut him some slack. Earlier in the season, while at the (slightly) more age-appropriate Single-A, Luciano produced a wRC+ 138. Even after starting last season a bit slow, he ended his time at the lower level with a 12.3% BB rate, 22.1% K rate, and 18 homers in only 308 at-bats. Entering 2022, Luciano’s shine has lost the slightest bit of luster but it is not going to continue to fade. (Chris Knock)

22. BRAYAN ROCCHIO, CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (AGE: 21, PREVIOUS RANK: 40)

I wanted to summarize Brayan Rocchio’s 2021 season in a single fire emoji. I’ve been told that you the reader, deserve more. I agree, so understand that Rocchio owned 2021 minor league baseball. He spent the entire season as a 20-year-old and dominated both High A and Double A levels. The best part is, he was even more impressive in Double-A than the lower level. His walk and strike-out rates improved as he advanced, as did his isolated power and batting average. Rocchio’s BA may have been buoyed by a .350 BABIP, but the fact he stole 7 bases in AA shows he does have enough speed to support a higher average for balls in play. (Chris Knock)

23. GLEYBER TORRES, NEW YORK YANKEES (AGE: 25, PREVIOUS RANK: 9)

What a fall in the rankings for a previous top 10 dynasty shortstop. It’s widely known that over the course of the last two seasons, Gleyber Torres has not been the same fantasy bat he was for his first two years. Since the start of 2020, he has put hit a total of 12 homers, scoring 67 runs and knocking in 67 RBI while playing in 169 total games. These are a far cry from the 38 homers with 96 runs and 90 RBI Torres hit in 2019 alone. 

The bright side is that in the second half of 2021, Torres looked much better on offense comparatively. Despite missing much of August with a thumb sprain, he hit 6 of his 9 home runs after July 1st. During the same time frame, he improved his K rate to an above-average 19.9% and stole 9 bases. Both of these outcomes are improvements over the first stage of Torres’s young career. The downside to the changes is that he ended up being a league leader in MediumHit % and therefore resulting in a low HardHit % and middling Barrel %. Hopefully, the 2022 season will be one where the positive approach changes continue while Torres also finds that power stroke that made him so desirable early on. (Chris Knock)

24. MARCELO MAYER, BOSTON RED SOX (AGE: 19, PREVIOUS RANK: NR)

The fourth overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft, Marcelo Mayer is a hit-first, jack of many trades prospect. Drafted out of high school, he was known as a left-handed, hit-over-power type with enough speed and defensive prowess to stick at short. His first appearance in pro ball did nothing to deviate from that scouting profile. In 26 games at complex ball, Mayer hit 3 home runs and stole 7 bags. His excellent plate approach was evident with his 14% walk rate in the small sampling. While he struck out over a quarter of his at-bats, his hit tool should continue to improve as he gets more reps. The biggest concerns with Mayer’s future are twofold. First is that his power doesn’t develop enough to overcome Fenway’s appetite for doubles and secondly, that his speed is average at best. Setting those aside, there’s a great floor here with a strong chance for more as he progresses. Mayer is a good choice for #1 pick in your FYPD. (Chris Knock)

25. AMED ROSARIO, CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (AGE: 26, PREVIOUS RANK: 25)

I need to be careful what I write, there’s some strong love for Amed Rosario within the TDG team. And I can understand it. As a prospect, he was known for strong bat-to-ball skills and plus speed, both are qualities we all love. But (there’s always a but…) 2021 was his fourth full season in the majors and his fourth season of being a league-average offensive contributor. Each year, Rosario has hit for average and most years he has stolen double-digit bases. While that’s great as a MI or bench player, I want more from him and there’s definitely still time for it to show as he enters his age 26 season. 

Last year, he was in the 97th percentile in Sprint Speed and he was in the top 68% for HardHit rate. Simply put, he has the potential for more stolen bases and more home runs he just hasn’t fulfilled that potential completely. Rosario will continue to get opportunities, being that he was a big part of the return for Francisco Lindor and he provides positional flexibility as he lined up in center for multiple games last year. I’m hoping he starts creating more fantasy value before the Guardian Middle Infielder Factory starts churning out the competition. (Chris Knock)

26. KAHLIL WATSON, MIAMI MARLINS (AGE: 18, PREVIOUS RANK: NR)

Kahlil Watson is the second of three FYPD eligible shortstops all tucked near each other in our rankings. 18 years old on Opening Day, Watson has an aggressive yet beautiful left-handed swing. He only appeared in 9 games post-draft and while he didn’t hit any homers, he stole 4 bases showcasing his plus speed. In this super small sample, he showed a solid approach which was a concern of scouts coming into the MLB draft. Watson’s tantalizing bat speed will need to be kept in check as he faces more experienced pitching in professional ball, but the Marlins have done well with this profile in Jazz Chisholm. There are some concerns Watson will move off shortstop eventually; regardless he has the makings to be a top fantasy bat for years to come. (Chris Knock)

27. JORDAN LAWLAR, ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (AGE: 19, PREVIOUS RANK: NR)

Jordan Lawlar is the third prep shortstop in our rankings and went #6 overall in the real draft. Considered by many as the best 5 tool fantasy prospect in the draft class, a shoulder injury cut short his post-draft season after 6 at-bats. Lawlar is a right-handed bat with a quick, clean swing that couples nicely with his projectable frame. Some early comparisons to Bobby Witt Jr lead to dreams of a 20/20 future. The mature approach he showed as a high schooler gives Lawlar a bump up in OBP rankings, even knowing he hasn’t experienced much pro ball yet. Prior to his injury, many ranked him as the top option for FYPD. You would be wise to still consider him with that pick. (Chris Knock)

28. ORELVIS MARTINEZ, TORONTO BLUEJAYS (AGE: 20, PREVIOUS RANK: 29)

Power power power. Orelvis Martinez is loaded with it. Coming into 2021, Martinez was considered a bit risky (along with many other prospects) after the whole “No MiLB during 2020” thing. Well, haters gonna hate and mashers gonna mash and leave 2021 with the Blue Jays’ Minor League Player of the Year award. His final line on the season was .261/.345/.591 with an uber impressive 38 homers across 2 levels. We’re aware that Toronto can develop bats, so his 22.4% K rate at High A may rise as he moves up the development ladder but ultimately should be of minimal concern. If he is anywhere near as dominant with a bat next season, there’s an outside chance he gets a cup of coffee near the end of 2022, but most likely he won’t appear until 2023. It’s wonderful how deep the shortstop position is; after a strong season like Martinez’s he only moved up one spot to 28 overall. (Chris Knock)

29. OSWALD PERAZA, NEW YORK YANKEES (AGE: 21, PREVIOUS RANK: 32)

Oswald Peraza is another “jack of all, master of none” type shortstop. He is contact-oriented with average pop and good with the glove. A likely outcome for his development is everyday playing time in the middle infield. Put an accumulator-type player into the traditional Yankees offensive juggernaut, you’ll end up with good counting stats year over year. But this isn’t to say Peraza is bland. While his 2021 season was overshadowed by another SS in the organization, he still shot up 3 levels in 2021 wrapping up in Triple-A. A combined 18 home runs and 38 stolen bases do show he has the potential for tantalizing results. If he can continue to prove he’s a stolen base threat, then his profile drastically improves. It’ll be great to see what he does next year and could get a shot in the bigs by the end of next season. (Chris Knock)

30. BRANDON CRAWFORD (AGE: 35, PREVIOUS RANK: 78)

Not many baseball players have a career year as a 34-year-old. It looks like Brandon Crawford’s power really started to click in the short 2020 season when he hit 8 homers in 54 games. It continued into last season when he hit his personal best 24 home runs and threw in 11 stolen bases as well. While it may not be wise to expect him to swipe as many bags again, there’s no reason to think the power will dry up. Projection systems don’t expect him to repeat any of the offensive output, and it’s tough to blame them when he’s typically been so “league average”. All in all, he plays almost daily which makes for a great bench player or injury replacement. He also is a viable placeholder while waiting on some high-level prospects to show up and lead you to fantasy victory. (Chris Knock)