Click to see other top preseason prospect rankings:
SP | RP | OF | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | C |
Shortstop has the most talent of any position in the minor leagues, and could bring about a resurgence in All-Star shortstops that hasn’t been seen since the early 2000s with Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra, Derek Jeter, Miguel Tejada and Jimmy Rollins. Bogaerts leads the list because he’s ready to contribute at the highest level, but Correa and Baez have the most offensive upside. The list drops off quickly at the end, but the top six have elite star power and could be fighting for All-Star game appearances for the next decade.
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Xander Bogaerts | Red Sox |
| 2 | Francisco Lindor | Indians |
| 3 | Carlos Correa | Astros |
| 4 | Addison Russell | A’s |
| 5 | Raul Adalberto Mondesi | Royals |
| 6 | Javier Baez | Cubs |
| 7 | Corey Seager | Dodgers |
| 8 | Hak-Ju Lee | Rays |
| 9 | Amed Rosario | Mets |
| 10 | Jose Rondon | Angels |
| 11 | Jose Peraza | Braves |
| 12 | J.P. Crawford | Phillies |
1. Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox (Finished 2013 in Major Leagues)
Bogaerts had another great season in 2013, hitting .297/.388/.477 in AA and AAA despite not turning 21 until October. After being called up, he hit .250/.320/.364 in the regular season, but hit .296/.412/481 .in the playoffs. He projects to hit .280/.350/.450 immediately, and could hit .300/.375/.500 with 20+ home runs at his peak. This is comparable to Ben Zobrist with a better batting average. His 2014 position is unclear, but he is currently set to open the season at shortstop. He will likely move to third base within five years and will be an elite fantasy third baseman.
2. Francisco Lindor, Indians (Finished 2013 in AA, likely to return to start 2014)
He has consistently been one of the youngest players in each level, and has demonstrated consistent ability to drive balls. Francisco has a career strikeout to walk ratio of 129:111. Lindor’s major league-ready glove might get him to Cleveland before his bat is ready, and he may hit .250/.280/.300 during his first season. With more experience, he should be able to put up a consistent .300/.350/.450 line with 10-15 home runs and 30 stolen bases, similar to Jean Segura with fewer stolen bases or Michael Young with more stolen bases. He is a virtual lock to stay at shortstop, and his real world value is higher than his fantasy value due to his elite defense.
3. Carlos Correa, Astros (Finished 2013 in A, likely to open 2014 in High-A)
The first pick in the 2012 draft, Correa hit .320/.405/.467 in the Midwest League despite being the second youngest player (and youngest hitter). He projects to hit .300/.370/.450 with 20 home runs in the majors, but could hit for more power. He will not be pushed to the majors before he is ready due to Houston’s slow-burn rebuilding process. Lindor projects to be comparable to Derek Jeter, but could hit for more power with a lower batting average.
4. Addison Russell, A’s (Finished 2013 in High-A – ignore the three game appearance in AAA, likely to open 2014 in AA)
Despite a batting average below .220 at the end of May, Russell ended his first full professional season with a very impressive .275/.377/.508 line with 56 extra base hits and 21 stolen bases in 2013. While he has no truly elite skill, Russell could be the rare shortstop who produces in every category, as he projects to hit .300/.380/.450 with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases on an annual basis, making him a top 20 player in all of fantasy baseball. His fantasy comparable is Carlos Guillen at his peak.
5. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, Royals (Finished 2013 in A, likely to open 2014 in High-A)
The son of the former All-Star and younger brother of the former outfielder in the Brewers’ organization, Mondesi held his own despite being the youngest player in the South Atlantic League by nearly a full year. Though he lacks the power and cannon throwing arm for which his father was known, Mondesi has the tools to become an elite player in his own right. Though he may never develop power, he projects to become a .300/.350/.385 hitter with 5-10 home runs and 30+ stolen bases. Mondesi’s fantasy comparable is Tony Fernandez, or, more recently, Edgar Renteria.
6. Javier Baez, Cubs (Finished 2013 in AA, likely to open 2014 in AAA)
Baez put up one of the most impressive seasons at any level in the minor leagues, mashing 37 home runs as part of his 75 extra base hits that fueled his .282/.341/.578 line between High-A and AA. While he is far from a lock to remain at shortstop, the uncertainty is tied to a combination of the production and defense of Starlin Castro, as well as Baez’s range. Even if he moves to third base, Baez projects as an absolute monster in fantasy baseball with the ability to hit .280/.360/.485 with 30 home runs and 10-15 stolen bases. His fantasy comparable is Evan Longoria.
7. Corey Seager, Dodgers (Finished 2013 in High-A, likely to return for 2014)
The younger brother of Mariners’ third baseman Kyle and the Dodgers’ first round pick in 2012, Seager is a different kind of player. Specifically, Seager projects to hit for less power and a higher average while remaining at shortstop. Though it is unlikely that he will ever reach All-Star level, he projects to be a .280/.340/.425 hitter with 15-20 home runs and a handful of stolen bases. His fantasy comparable is Ben Zobrist with a little less speed.
8. Hak-Ju Lee, Rays (Missed most of 2013 with a torn ACL, expected to open 2013 back in AAA)
A defense-first shortstop that has good contact ability, gap power and speed, Lee’s fantasy value is lower than his actual value due to his already above-average defense. While he will never be more than a replacement level hitter, Lee’s defense will give him consistent playing time. Lee projects as a .280/.330/.360 hitter with a handful of home runs and 30+ steals. His fantasy comparable is Omar Vizquel at Vizquel’s offensive peak.
9. Amed Rosario, Mets (Finished 2013 in Rookie, likely to open 2014 in low-A)
The youngest player in the Appalachian League, Rosario’s .241/.279/.358 line may not be the most impressive, but he is a great athlete who projects to have some power and decent average while remaining at shortstop. While he has a long way to go to develop into a major leaguer, Rosario turned 18 in November, meaning that he will likely still be one of the youngest players in the league wherever he plays in 2013. Rosario projects as a .290/.340/.400 hitter with 10-15 home runs and 10-15 stolen bases. His fantasy comparable is late-career Derek Jeter.
10. Jose Rondon, Angels (Finished 2013 in Rookie, likely to open 2014 in A)
Rondon returned to Rookie ball in 2013, putting together a solid .293/.359/.399 season. He has a good eye at the plate with solid gap power to go with his good defense. Though he lacks the tools to be an elite player, Rondon projects as a good defensive shortstop that could provide good value at the bottom of a lineup. Though he has a long way to go, his fantasy projection is a similar line to the man he could replace, Erick Aybar. He projects as a .275/.315/.385 hitter with 15-20 stolen bases.
Bonus two: Jose Peraza, Braves; J.P. Crawford, Phillies.
