Paul Sporer’s 2022 Shortstop Rankings with Comments
by Paul Sporer
March 21, 2022
The difference being cited is from my first run of rankings. These are for standard league setups that include SS, MI, and UT with 20-game eligibility. While I play mostly in 15-team mixers, these wouldn’t change much in 12- or 10-teamers. In the latter formats, I’d elevate appealing injury concerns (short-term more so, but yes, also Tatis*) and small sample guys because the replacement level is much higher. The double- and triple-eligible guys also take a little hit in the shallower formats for that same reason.
*My Tatis ranking would probably be closer to 20 in leagues with multiple IL spots, but the NFBC doesn’t have any and that’s the focus of my rankings hence the colossal drop.
2022 SS Rankings with Comments
| RK | SHORTSTOP | TM | POS | LAST RK | DIFF. | NOTE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trea Turner | LAD | 2B/SS | 1 | 0 | Feels like a strong bet to set a new high in runs scored (107, 2021) |
| 2 | Bo Bichette | TOR | SS | 2 | 0 | Showed it all in 2021 and it’s hard to find any real flaws that set him up for major regression |
| 3 | Xander Bogaerts | BOS | SS | 5 | 2 | 3rd in AVG, 6th in HR, 5th in R, 2nd in RBI, & 24th in SB among SS since 2018 |
| 4 | Marcus Semien | TEX | 2B/SS | 6 | 2 | Had 18 pt OPS adv. at home w/OAK at a park that plays similar to TEX |
| 5 | Francisco Lindor | NYM | SS | 4 | -1 | Even if the pwr doesn’t fully return, he’s not a .230 hitter; I see a rebound in ’22 |
| 6 | Tim Anderson | CWS | SS | 11 | 5 | Double-double stud w/premium AVG & tons of R; only needed 123 G to get there in ’19 & ’21 |
| 7 | Trevor Story | BOS | SS | 8 | 1 | Yes the .972 home OPS will come down out of Coors, but the .752 road OPS will rise, too |
| 8 | Javier Báez | DET | 2B/SS | 9 | 1 | Plate skills make him super volatile, but pwr & spd remain enticing |
| 9 | Jorge Polanco | MIN | 2B/SS | 12 | 3 | Modest 65% SB% says be careful betting on another 11; solid bet for .260/25 |
| 10 | Wander Franco | TBR | SS | 10 | 0 | I don’t see a major HR or SB output just yet and think ’23 could be the uber-breakout |
| 11 | Willy Adames | MIL | SS | 14 | 3 | I’m buying the anti-Trop breakout: .616/.864 home/road OPS split w/TB |
| 12 | Bobby Witt Jr. | KCR | SS | 29 | 17 | New PPI rule could lead to Opening Day bid so I jumped him given his insane skills |
| 13 | Corey Seager | TEX | SS | 13 | 0 | Health has come to the fore as an issue w/>100 G once in last 3 full seasons |
| 14 | Chris Taylor | LAD | 2B/SS/OF | 18 | 4 | Played 11+ G at 5 pos. as today’s Zobrist; K% could bring AVG into .240s |
| 15 | Jake Cronenworth | SDP | 1B/2B/SS | 16 | 1 | No single stat is excellent, but finished 14-14-16 at his elig. positions last yr |
| 16 | Jazz Chisholm Jr. | MIA | 2B/SS | 15 | -1 | .681 OPS, 14 HR/SB from May on; has upside, but plate skills breed volatility |
| 17 | Dansby Swanson | ATL | SS | 19 | 2 | Has continued to build up his pwr, ISOs since 2017: .092, .157, .172, .190, and .201 |
| 18 | Carlos Correa | MIN | SS | 7 | -11 | Surprise sign in MIN and that lineup is looking stout after a flurry of moves |
| 19 | Luis Urías | MIL | 2B/3B/SS | 21 | 2 | Under the hood backs pwr surge as LA surge drove much better contact results; no change off quad inj. yet |
| 20 | Gleyber Torres | NYY | SS | 17 | -3 | Is his PT at risk w/IKF and DJLM at SS/2B? Had a .651 OPS vR in ’21 |
| 21 | Brendan Rodgers | COL | 2B/SS | 20 | -1 | Former #3 overall hit well in first big MLB sample, incl. an .873 OPS & 12 HR on the road |
| 22 | Amed Rosario | CLE | SS | 28 | 6 | Big 2H saw him hit .309/.339/.457 w/6 HR & 5 SB; ready for a leap? |
| 23 | Brandon Crawford | SFG | SS | 25 | 2 | Pwr surge started in ’20 (.209 ISO), but don’t bet on another 11 SB |
| 24 | Eugenio Suárez | SEA | 3B/SS | 27 | 3 | Move to SEA doesn’t help, but it shouldn’t crush him as his pwr plays everywhere |
| 25 | Oneil Cruz | PIT | SS | 30 | 5 | Only 8 G above AA & Steamer proj. drove hype through the roof; talent is immense, though |
| 26 | Ha-Seong Kim 김하성 | SDP | 2B/3B/SS | 33 | 7 | Buying back in despite modest debut and now has a clear path to the starting SS role |
| 27 | Jonathan Villar | CHC | 3B/SS | 32 | 5 | Versatility keeps PT coming, avg of 14 HR/27 SB per 500 PA since ’18; CHC might have 600 PA for him |
| 28 | Andrés Giménez | CLE | 2B/SS | 34 | 6 | Believers see 3 HR/7 SB upon return from AAA (125 PA) and that he’s just 23 y/o; don’t give up |
| 29 | Josh Rojas | ARI | 2B/SS/OF | 35 | 6 | Intriguing bat w/pop, spd, & positional flexibility, but hasn’t hit vR in MLB: .684 OPS in 564 PA |
| 30 | Gavin Lux | LAD | 2B/SS | 24 | -6 | No longer has an obvious avenue to a full-time role after the Freeman signing |
| 31 | Fernando Tatis Jr. | SDP | SS/OF | 3 | -28 | I understand it could be a strong half season when he returns, but it’s a HUGE question mark |
| 32 | Miguel Rojas | MIA | SS | 39 | 7 | Not just empty AVG w/8 HR & 10 SB per 500 PA since 2018 w/a .270 AVG |
| 33 | Gio Urshela | MIN | 3B/SS | 22 | -11 | Hammy inj. + COVID ate up early-2H (37 PA Jul 16-Aug 31), clear PT path now: 500 PA incoming? |
| 34 | Didi Gregorius | PHI | SS | 36 | 2 | Needed multiple bone spurs removed that hampered him in ’21, could be a bounceback candidate |
| 35 | José Iglesias | COL | SS | 51 | 16 | Could get 500 PA w/COL and drop a .290 AVG w/8 HR & SB; prob best as a homestand fill-in |
| 36 | Jeremy Peña | HOU | SS | #N/A | #N/A | Has glove to hold role & all FA SS are now signed; could be a sneaky double-double |
| 37 | J.P. Crawford | SEA | SS | 31 | -6 | Pwr or Spd needs to be a major fantasy contributor, otherwise it’s a Runs/AVG volume play |
| 38 | Cole Tucker | PIT | SS | 54 | 16 | Hasn’t been good in 406 PA over 3 seasons (60 wRC+), but has 28 SB/500 PA in MiLB |
| 39 | Jose Barrero | CIN | SS | 26 | -13 | Hamate inj. hits a fave sleeper of mine; delays season by at least 1 mo.; remember him for waivers |
| 40 | Joey Wendle | MIA | 3B/SS | 37 | -3 | If FT role is there, sneaky solid in deep lgs w/.274 AVG, 8 HR, 13 SB per 500 PA since ’18 |
| 41 | Ramón Urías | BAL | 2B/SS | 38 | -3 | Could there be a pwr surge coming like baby bro Luis had last yr? I could see 15-17 HR |
| 42 | Isiah Kiner-Falefa | NYY | SS | 41 | -1 | Accumulator went 8 HR/20 SB/.271 AVG last yr in 677 PA, but just an 85 wRC+… meh |
| 43 | Nicky Lopez | KCR | SS | 23 | -20 | Profile maxed in ’21 (.300 AVG, 22 SB) and I just don’t like powerless profiles like this |
| 44 | Paul DeJong | STL | SS | 45 | 1 | Pwr was still there (19 HR, .194 ISO), but .216 BABIP tanked his AVG (.197); unlikely to play daily |
| 45 | Edmundo Sosa | STL | 2B/SS | 43 | -2 | Held his own in 326 PA (104 wRC+) & could get a larger share of PT if DeJong doesn’t rebound |
| 46 | Kyle Farmer | CIN | SS | 47 | 1 | Barrero inj. clears path, but profile is underwhelming (breakout was a 91 wRC+) |
| 47 | Alcides Escobar | WAS | SS | #N/A | #N/A | He might actually bat high in the order which would give him some Runs appeal if AVG holds |
| 48 | Luis Rengifo | LAA | SS | 49 | 1 | Has 16 HR, 22 SB, .296 AVG in 569 PA at AAA, could be interesting if a role opened up |
| 49 | Tyler Wade | LAA | 3B/SS/OF | 55 | 6 | Excelled in limited role w/17 SB in just 145 PA incl. 7 as a substitute; PT could be sporadic in LA |
| 50 | David Fletcher | LAA | 2B/SS | 42 | -8 | Hit .255 in first 48 gms, .340 in next 66, but closed w/a .150 in 44 gms; only dual elig.,too |
| 51 | Bryson Stott | PHI | SS | 40 | -11 | Breaking camp is unlikely (41 AAA PA), but could replace Didi in summer if he falters again |
| 52 | Taylor Walls | TBR | SS | 46 | -6 | Unheralded prospect, but has a great glove, solid hit tool, and some spd that would play if PT opens |
| 53 | Elvis Andrus | OAK | SS | 52 | -1 | OAK exodus clears path for another 500+ PA, but do we want ’em? Bat is outright punchless (.076 ISO) |
| 54 | Royce Lewis | MIN | SS | #N/A | #N/A | Correa move doesn’t crush path as he got 3B/OF reps in AFL; still just 23 years old |
| 55 | Kevin Newman | PIT | SS | 48 | -7 | Another potential 500 PA bat you want nothing to do with given the output |
| 56 | Thairo Estrada | SFG | SS | 44 | -12 | Just not sure where PT materializes in Platoonsville; waiver filler if he does find some time |
| 57 | Jeter Downs | BOS | SS | #N/A | #N/A | 14 HR/18 SB AAA debut came w/62 wRC+ & now Story addition curbs any hurry BOS might’ve had |
| 58 | Nick Ahmed | ARI | SS | 53 | -5 | Lost all of the punch he’d been showing w/2% Barrel & 5% HR/FB rates robbing his output |
| 59 | Geraldo Perdomo | ARI | SS | #N/A | #N/A | Prospect to watch, but will almost certainly start in AAA w/Ahmed starting |
| 60 | Willi Castro | DET | 2B/SS | 50 | -10 | Could find success in utility role, but ’20 success was built on .448 BABIP |
The David Fletcher blurb seems like it belongs to a different player, right? Those are not his AAA numbers.
Dangit, I even double checked and still missed the misalignment. Pardon me
Looks like Rengifo