RotoGraphs Consensus Rankings – May Update: Shortstops

We’re making our way around the diamond with our updated rankings and today we are onto shortstops. Here are the positions we’ve done so far and you can also access them via the Positional Rankings in the right sidebar:

• Catchers
• First Basemen
• Second Basemen

If you feel we missed someone, please let us know in the comments.

This was a really tough position for me because it’s just so messed up. The studs aren’t studding leaving it wide open at the top. There has been some nice risers, but it’s still a remarkably thin position and easily the thinnest on the diamond.

FYI: the table is sortable!

Num	Player	Team	League	Paul	Zach	Mike	AVG
1	Troy Tulowitzki	Rockies	NL	1	4	3	2.7
2	Ian Desmond	Nationals	NL	3	3	2	2.7
3	Hanley Ramirez	Red Sox	AL	8	1	1	3.3
4	Starlin Castro	Cubs	NL	6	2	7	5.0
5	Jose Reyes	Blue Jays	AL	9	7	4	6.7
6	Jhonny Peralta	Cardinals	NL	4	5	12	7.0
7	Marcus Semien	Athletics	AL	2	6	14	7.3
8	Ben Zobrist	Athletics	AL	13	12	8	11.0
9	Jung-ho Kang	Pirates	NL	7	11	16	11.3
10	Alexei Ramirez	White Sox	AL	16	8	10	11.3
11	Jimmy Rollins	Dodgers	NL	17	13	9	13.0
12	Elvis Andrus	Rangers	AL	15	20	6	13.7
13	Alcides Escobar	Royals	AL	18	18	5	13.7
14	Xander Bogaerts	Red Sox	AL	12	10	21	14.3
15	Brandon Crawford	Giants	NL	5	16	24	15.0
16	Jean Segura	Brewers	NL	14	19	13	15.3
17	Brad Miller	Mariners	AL	10	9	28	15.7
18	Wilmer Flores	Mets	NL	11	23	15	16.3
19	Chris Owings	Diamondbacks	NL	21	21	17	19.7
20	Erick Aybar	Angels	AL	25	24	11	20.0
21	Zack Cozart	Reds	NL	19	14	32	21.7
22	Jed Lowrie	Astros	AL	27	15	23	21.7
23	Addison Russell	Cubs	NL	23	28	18	23.0
24	Jose Iglesias	Tigers	AL	22	17	31	23.3
25	Asdrubal Cabrera	Rays	AL	29	31	19	26.3
26	Andrelton Simmons	Braves	NL	28	27	25	26.7
27	Danny Santana	Twins	AL	31	33	20	28.0
28	Yunel Escobar	Nationals	NL	30	26	30	28.7
29	J.J. Hardy	Orioles	AL	36	29	22	29.0
30	Freddy Galvis	Phillies	NL	30	22	37	29.7
31	Carlos Correa	Astros	AL	20	36	39	31.7
32	Adeiny Hechavarria	Marlins	NL	33	25	38	32.0
33	Odubel Herrera	Phillies	NL	32	39	27	32.7
34	Jose Ramirez	Indians	AL	37	32	29	32.7
35	Chris Taylor	Mariners	AL	38	35	26	33.0
36	Mike Aviles	Indians	AL	35	30	42	35.7
37	Javier Baez	Cubs	NL	26	39	43	36.0
38	Didi Gregorius	Yankees	AL	43	34	34	37.0
39	Stephen Drew	Yankees	AL	39	37	36	37.3
40	Matt Duffy	Giants	NL	34	39	40	37.7
41	Everth Cabrera	Orioles	AL	44	39	33	38.7
42	Alexi Amarista	Padres	NL	45	39	35	39.7
43	Tim Beckham	Rays	AL	41	39	41	40.3
44	Enrique Hernandez	Dodgers	NL	40	39	45	41.3
45	Ruben Tejada	Mets	NL	42	38	44	41.3

Some notes:

• I stuck with Tulo at the top under the idea that this skills decline isn’t permanent. I think his situation with Colorado will be resolved soon and he’ll get back to being the Tulo we know and expect. There’s just no legitimate explanation for the skills drop that doesn’t include mental off-the-field stuff related to constantly losing with the Rockies.

 

• I guess the other guys had as many issues with SS as I did. The position has the most dissent so far. Looking at the biggest splits between highest and lowest rank, we have 24 SS who are split by 10+ spots between two rankers. We saw a high of 19 at 2B with Rougned Odor. SS has three different 19-spot splits: Crawford, Miller, and Correa.

 

• Like first base, shortstop doesn’t have a single consensus rank. Only one was close: Desmond.

 

• I’m very concerned about Ramirez’s health, hence the much lower ranking. He’s been awful in May since smashing into the wall. The HR yesterday is somewhat encouraging, but not enough to make me believe he’s all of a sudden better. Since hitting the wall: .227/.275/.320 w/1 HR, 2 RBIs, and 0 SBs (1 CS).

 

• I’m expecting Kang to become a full-time starter in the very near future, assuming it hasn’t been formally announced somewhere already. After a 70-to-29 PA advantage for Jordy Mercer in April, it’s shifted to 87/64 in favor of Kang in May so far. And Mercer is doing nothing to suggest he deserves more playing time with a 25 wRC+ (Kang 134). Edit to add: after discussing in the comments, I realize he essentially already is a full-timer thanks to the 3B time v. LH. It doesn’t have any bearing on my ranking, just makes me more confident in him, but I knew it’d happen sooner or later anyway.

 

• Galvis and Hechavarria are slotted fifth and sixth, respectively, on the ESPN Player Rater at SS so far and yet I feel they are very appropriately ranked here at 30 and 32. Both are remarabkly empty batting averages.

 

• I obviously believe in Crawford, but part of it is definitely the strength of the position (or lack thereof). He’s been improving year over year, his playing time is guaranteed because of his defense, and that offense has been surprisingly good which improves his R/RBI potential. His 14% HR/FB rate is a career-high by double, but he is also smashing the ball with a 37% Hard%, easily his career-high and third-best at the position (Tulo 44%, Peralta 38%).