MLB · 1 year ago

Ranking the Top 10 MLB Shortstops 25 and Under

Sportsgrid Staff

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10) Brayan Rocchio - Cleveland Guardians
Age: 23
2024 Stats: 124 PA, .215/.309/.290, .277 wOBA, 0 HR, 6 SB, 80 wRC+, 0.2 fWAR, 4 DRS, -1 OAA

Ranked as Just Baseball's No. 80 prospect to close out 2023, Cleveland has handed Brayan Rocchio the shortstop position for 2024. After trading Amed Rosario last July and avoiding the thin free-agent market, the Guardians put their faith in the switch-hitting Venezuelan.

While Rocchio was never projected as a power hitter, he has demonstrated his contact skills, maintaining respectable strikeout and walk rates while playing adequate defense at shortstop. His defense and base running were expected to be standout attributes, but neither has truly excelled as we near the quarter-mark of the season. Though he has six stolen bases, he's also been caught twice. Defensively, his DRS is strong, but for a glove-first player with limited offensive impact, he needs to establish himself as one of MLB's top shortstops without question.

The post by Zach Worden appeared first on Just Baseball.

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1) Bobby Witt Jr. - Kansas City Royals
Age: 23
2024 Stats: 170 PA, .318/.388/.556, .405 wOBA, 5 HR, 13 SB, 160 wRC+, 2.7 fWAR, 7 DRS, 7 OAA

After receiving some down-ballot MVP votes in 2023, it's likely to be a while before Bobby Witt Jr. isn’t seriously considered for the award.

As the second-overall pick of the 2019 draft, Witt currently leads the American League in fWAR, ranks second in DRS and stolen bases, and is tied for sixth in wRC+. His Baseball Savant page highlights his excellence across nearly every aspect of the game. The Royals secured Witt with an 11-year, $288.8-million extension over the winter, ensuring his long-term presence in Kansas City. This move was part of a promising off-season that has sparked a strong start to the season. Witt has been instrumental in shifting the Royals from a bottom-feeder to a playoff contender.

His remarkable performance across all aspects of the game has made Witt a driving force behind the Royals' turnaround. At just 23 years old, he's not only lifted the team’s win-loss record but also emerged as one of baseball's rising stars.

The post by Zach Worden appeared first on Just Baseball.

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2) Gunnar Henderson - Baltimore Orioles
Age: 22
2024 Stats: 163 PA, .271/.344/.563, .389 wOBA, 11 HR, 6 SB, 155 wRC+, 2.1 fWAR, 4 DRS, 2 OAA

There aren't many lists where Gunnar Henderson would finish second given his strong start to the season. Coming in second to a player who would be the AL MVP front-runner if the season ended today is no slight against him.

As the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, Henderson has only gotten better for the Orioles in 2024. In just 36 games, he's improved his barrel rate, average exit velocity, and hard-hit rate. While he's drawing fewer walks, he's also chasing fewer pitches than he did last season. Henderson, who split time between third base and shortstop in 2023, has now taken full control at shortstop for the Orioles. He ranks fourth among MLB shortstops in DRS, is tied for fourth in OAA, and tied for sixth in defensive WAR.

Demonstrating his status as one of the league's top all-around players, Henderson is fifth among all shortstops in BsR, which measures a player's base running value.
3) Elly De La Cruz - Cincinnati Reds
Age: 22
2024 Stats: 150 PA, .264/.367/.519, .387 wOBA, 8 HR, 23 SB, 147 wRC+, 1.6 fWAR, -2 DRS, -3 OAA

Elly De La Cruz has undeniably solidified himself as one of baseball's most electrifying players. He hits with incredible power, runs faster than anyone, and plays with an intensity that surpasses most.

His raw talent is exceptional, and after being a below-average hitter in 2023, he's made significant strides in 2024. His improved contact quality, coupled with an increased launch angle, has resulted in a higher barrel rate. Additionally, he's drawing more walks and chasing fewer pitches this season. Of course, his game still has a few rough edges. He strikes out more than ideal, but his power more than compensates for the strikeouts. Despite being one of the weakest defenders at his position since his debut, his offensive prowess is hard to overlook.
4) Anthony Volpe - New York Yankees
Age: 23
2024 Stats: 171 PA, .257/.349/.405, .339 wOBA, 5 HR, 7 SB, 121 wRC+, 1.7 fWAR, 3 DRS, 5 OAA

Anthony Volpe has arguably been the premier defensive shortstop in the American League since his MLB debut. He leads the AL in DRS, ranks third in OAA, and is third in defensive WAR.

His early offensive success was impressive, posting a 201 wRC+ in the first 15 games. If he could consistently pair his defensive value with elite offense, he'd be among the best players in MLB. However, his offensive performance has since declined, with a .183/.269/.312 slash line, 72 wRC+, and just three home runs over his last 105 plate appearances. Despite these struggles, Volpe remains a stellar defender, as evidenced by his AL Gold Glove win last season. Regardless of his offensive output, he always delivers solid defense.
5) CJ Abrams - Washington Nationals
Age: 23
2024 Stats: 152 PA, .272/.338/537, .373 wOBA, 7 HR, 8 SB, 142 wRC+, 1.3 fWAR, -3 DRS, -3 OAA

In 2024, CJ Abrams has emerged as a breakout star, showing significant offensive improvement for Washington.

A key player in the first Juan Soto trade, Abrams has made remarkable strides in his quality of contact, achieving career highs in barrel rate, average exit velocity, sweet spot percentage, hard-hit rate, and xwOBACON. Although his overall value is somewhat hindered by below-average defense, his newfound ability to hit with power without drastically increasing his strikeouts or swings-and-misses has solidified him as a foundational player for the Nationals' promising future.
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6) Oneil Cruz - Pittsburgh Pirates
Age: 25
2024 Stats: 144 PA, .252/.299/.393, .302 wOBA, 5 HR, 3 SB, 93 wRC+, 0.2 fWAR, -5 DRS, -3 OAA

Here's where things get interesting: After a fractured ankle sidelined Oneil Cruz for nearly all of 2023, he returned to start the season with the Pirates on Opening Day.

Initially, he struggled to find his rhythm and put up a stat line that didn't fully showcase the immense talent of the 6-foot-7 shortstop. However, his higher ranking over Winn is based on confidence in Cruz's process and his potential to regain the form that made him one of the league's most highly regarded prospects. In fact, he may have already turned a corner, posting a .289/.341/.500 slash line with two home runs and a 133 wRC+ over his last 12 games.

While he’s unlikely to ever be a solid defensive shortstop — or even an average one — and there are questions about his long-term fit at the position as the Pirates enter their competitive window, Cruz's bat remains his greatest asset. Despite his early struggles in 2024, he ranks in the 95th percentile for average exit velocity and the 93rd percentile for hard-hit rate, highlighting his impressive offensive potential.

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7) Masyn Winn - St. Louis Cardinals
Age: 22
2024 Stats: 117 PA, .265/.330/.353, .303 wOBA, 0 HR, 5 SB, 97 wRC+, 0.4 fWAR, 7 DRS, -1 OAA

In a season where the Cardinals have once again fallen short of expectations, Masyn Winn's emergence as a reliable, near-league-average hitter and a strong defensive presence has been a bright spot.

The 2020 second-round pick is renowned for having the strongest arm among MLB infielders, but questions lingered about his hitting ability at the major league level. This season, he's improved his hitting compared to his 37-game debut in 2023, and has earned the second-best DRS ranking among shortstops. Additionally, Winn has improved his walk rate, helping him reach base more consistently than any of the other players we've discussed so far.

Though his contact quality limits his offensive ceiling, he is poised to establish himself as one of the Cardinals' top defensive shortstops in both the short and long term.
8) Ezequiel Tovar - Colorado Rockies
Age: 22
2024 Stats: 157 PA, .269/.314/.400, .316 wOBA, 3 HR, 3 SB, 89 wRC+, 0.6 fWAR, 1 DRS, 1 OAA

The Rockies signed Ezequiel Tovar to a seven-year extension worth up to $84 million during the offseason, and in the first weeks of 2024, he appeared poised to make that deal a bargain for Colorado.

Tovar initially boasted a 159 wRC+ after 59 plate appearances, but like many fast starters, he has since cooled off over his next 93 trips to the plate. His strikeout rate has also risen this season, now exceeding 31%. Nevertheless, the Rockies extended Tovar primarily for his proven defensive abilities while banking on further offensive improvement. He finished with 13 DRS and 16 OAA and was a finalist for the NL Gold Glove at shortstop.

Choosing between Tovar and Neto this season is a close call, but Colorado's future shortstop edges out the competition due to his strong track record as one of baseball's top defensive players.
9) Zach Neto - Los Angeles Angels
Age: 23
2024 Stats: 138 PA, .248/.297/.380, .301 wOBA, 3 HR, 5 SB, 92 wRC+, 0.3 fWAR, 2 DRS, -1 OAA

Selected by Los Angeles in the first round out of Campbell in 2022, Zach Neto quickly advanced through the minors to make his MLB debut last season.

Neto adjusted well to the Angels' lineup, posting solid numbers in his first few months as a big leaguer before catching fire in June. During that month, he played 11 games, hit three home runs in 31 at-bats, and delivered a 212 wRC+. Unfortunately, a back injury sidelined him for four weeks, halting the early momentum he had built.

In 2024, he hasn't fully found his rhythm yet, as his strikeout rate has increased and his hitting has been below average. However, the right-handed Neto has maintained a decent barrel rate and continues to add value through his strong defensive play.
10) Brayan Rocchio - Cleveland Guardians
Age: 23
2024 Stats: 124 PA, .215/.309/.290, .277 wOBA, 0 HR, 6 SB, 80 wRC+, 0.2 fWAR, 4 DRS, -1 OAA

Ranked as Just Baseball's No. 80 prospect to close out 2023, Cleveland has handed Brayan Rocchio the shortstop position for 2024. After trading Amed Rosario last July and avoiding the thin free-agent market, the Guardians put their faith in the switch-hitting Venezuelan.

While Rocchio was never projected as a power hitter, he has demonstrated his contact skills, maintaining respectable strikeout and walk rates while playing adequate defense at shortstop. His defense and base running were expected to be standout attributes, but neither has truly excelled as we near the quarter-mark of the season. Though he has six stolen bases, he's also been caught twice. Defensively, his DRS is strong, but for a glove-first player with limited offensive impact, he needs to establish himself as one of MLB's top shortstops without question.

The post by Zach Worden appeared first on Just Baseball.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
1) Bobby Witt Jr. - Kansas City Royals
Age: 23
2024 Stats: 170 PA, .318/.388/.556, .405 wOBA, 5 HR, 13 SB, 160 wRC+, 2.7 fWAR, 7 DRS, 7 OAA

After receiving some down-ballot MVP votes in 2023, it's likely to be a while before Bobby Witt Jr. isn’t seriously considered for the award.

As the second-overall pick of the 2019 draft, Witt currently leads the American League in fWAR, ranks second in DRS and stolen bases, and is tied for sixth in wRC+. His Baseball Savant page highlights his excellence across nearly every aspect of the game. The Royals secured Witt with an 11-year, $288.8-million extension over the winter, ensuring his long-term presence in Kansas City. This move was part of a promising off-season that has sparked a strong start to the season. Witt has been instrumental in shifting the Royals from a bottom-feeder to a playoff contender.

His remarkable performance across all aspects of the game has made Witt a driving force behind the Royals' turnaround. At just 23 years old, he's not only lifted the team’s win-loss record but also emerged as one of baseball's rising stars.

The post by Zach Worden appeared first on Just Baseball.

Have all the intel you need? Free actionable info is one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter.

Ranking the Top 10 MLB Shortstops 25 and Under

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