It’s only logical, as some players move up our rankings, others must move down. To help make sense of all this, our writers are taking a deeper look at some of the players climbing the ladder and some who have slipped a few rungs.

Risers

Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona Diamondbacks, current rank 24, previous rank 68

Jacob Wilson, Amtrak Athletics, current rank 24, previous rank 35

Colson Montgomery, Chicago White Sox, current rank 21, previous rank 43

Leading the way up the escalator of ranks is Arizona Diamondback Geraldo Perdomo. Last year, when the D-Backs extended Perdomo, I thought they’d rather go forward with an average shortstop (102 wRC+ in 2024) than make room for Jordan Lawlar. In 2025, Perdomo was anything but average. In fact, for shortstops with at least 250 plate appearances, he had the highest wRC+, 138. He posted a .290/389/.462 slash line with 20 home runs and 27 stolen bases. And if you’re wondering how he did that, the answer is more line drives (5% increase over 2024) and a significant increase in hard hit rate (25% to 32%). His 2025 swing and contact rates are virtually identical to those of 2024; he’s just hitting the ball harder. That, dear reader, is sustainable, and the more I read into this, the more I think the highest jump in our rankings was still not as much as his performance deserves.

Slightly ahead of Perdomo in our composite rankings, although six spots behind in my personal rankings, sits Jacob Wilson, who moved from 35 last year to 19 this year. In 2025, Wilson posted a wRC+ of 121 (9th highest shortstop) on the basis of his consistency at the plate. He posted a .311 average, only Aaron Judge hit for a higher average among qualified hitters. Alas, Wilson falls short of Judge in power categories, far short. Wilson’s calling card is his contact skills and very low K-rate (7.5%). Unlike Perdomo, Wilson will likely plateau going forward. There’s little doubt that the average and on-base percentage will continue to be elite, but he will not produce at above-average levels in other categories.

Nestled between Wison and Perdomo is Colson Montgomery, who moved up 22 places in our rankings. Over the years, Montgomery has ridden both the up and down escalators. He was a highly regarded prospect when drafted in the first round of the 2021 draft. His contact skills through the minors were good to very good, but the power was negligible. In fact, beginning in his first full season of 2022, his annual home run totals for the next three years were 11, 8, and 18. Then, in 2025, 11 home runs at Triple-A Charlotte were followed by 21 home runs in just 71 games in Chicago. He’s always been a pull hitter, but last year he had a significant increase in fly balls (37% to 47%) and home runs per fly ball (15% to 26%). His high strikeout rate will hamper his average and on-base percentage, but that power will continue to be very enticing to fantasy managers.

Fallers

Willy Adames, San Francisco Giants, current rank 18, previous rank 9

Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals, current rank 29, previous rank 15

A fantasy manager could do worse than having Willy Adames as their top shortstop, but it is becoming increasingly easier to do much better as well. Adames did hit over 30 home runs each of the past two years, but at the cost of very low batting averages and on-base percentages. Batting second in the Giants lineup will limit RBI opportunities, and at 30 years old, the stolen base numbers are less likely to hit double digits for much longer, if at all. The .263 BABIP indicates that there was some bad luck last year but a .250 average and .330 OBP is the ceiling going forward.

Masyn Winn is also slipping down our rankings. Winn has always been a glove-first shortstop, and his 2024 season provided some hope that he’d provide double-digit home runs and steals. In 2025, he settled back down to a .253 average and 9 home runs. It’s difficult to say exactly which profile will be typical for him going forward. On one hand, he’s only 23 years old, and in 2022 he put up minor league numbers similar to what he did in 2024. On the other hand, prior to 2022 his numbers look like last year’s production. Add to that the St. Louis rebuild, it will be a few years before the lineup produces opportunities for Winn to amass counting stats. He’ll be fun to watch in the field and an asset to the Cardinals, but won’t provide top-level fantasy value for the near future.

(Drew Klein)