The Top 10 Shortstops for 2025

The former top-prospect, Tovar starts our list at number 10. On the surface, this doesn't look like an elite shortstop season, nor a top 10 placement. But, this is who I think will be IN the top 10 SS for 2025, and Tovar has a great outlook. through his 3 MLB seasons, his offensive output gets better, and better, as he becomes the focal point of the Rockies offense. Offense isn't the only thing he offers, as he won the Gold Glove at Shortstop in the NL, and has a percentile ranking of 98 in DRS. If he cuts down on some of the swing and miss in his game and lower the K%, he will statistically be a sure-fire top 10 SS in 2025 statistically.

Another former top prospect, Winn blossomed on a struggling Cardinals team in 2024. Initially thought to be a plus defender with a so-so bat, became the whole package and one of the most efficient leadoff hitters in the sport. Also like Tovar, on the surface it doesn't seem like he was that great of a hitter. However, his underlying data is very impressive for a 22 year-old in his rookie season. Obviously the defense was elite, with one of the best arms in the league, he was also one of the best baserunners in the league, being in the 97th percentile in baserunnung value. There is also not much whiff or strikeouts in his game, meaning he puts the ball in play a lot, and works good at bats. This is important, because not much young players have good eyes, where as Winn has a headstart. You could ask for more power in his game, but I think the lineup for the Cardinals won't require him to.

I have Trea Turner slotting in at my number 8 spot for the 2025 season. Turner's 2024 was certainly solid, earning an all-star nod and a nice OPS+ on the year, but some sensed some decline in Turner. It was most likely the injuries that riddled his 2024 that hurt his stock the most. Turner as he has gotten older has dealt with more and more injuries, which can be concerning playing a demanding position like shortstop for his longevity. His underlying data tells a similar story to years past for Turner: solid, but nothing crazy in the way of barrels and overall hitting, but with elite speed. It's not so much that I think Turner has regressed, I think he has a smidge, but it is more so that I believe that there is an abundant amount of shortstops that have broken out and have surpassed him in overall quality.

It's shocking, isn't it? But look at his numbers for 2024, he was on pace to have potentially the best season in his entire career. Seriously, click on that link for baseballsavant, and see all the red circles. Another thing that has stood out to me when reevaluating Correa, was two things: His age, and his defense. He isn't even in his 30's yet, we could genuinely be entering another prime for Correa. His defense, is also holding up quite well, not wavering in either way. The big issue for Correa is if he can play a full season, something he hasn't done since 2021. If he can play even 110 games, I think he is a top 10 shortstop.

Adames is a guy who puts up numbers year in and year out that looks like he plays corner outfield. However, he is one of the most productive shortstops year in and year out. Currently a free agent, so difficult to determine how he would adjust to a new team, or potentially a new position like 3B. I am ranking him as a SS, as I believe he will be until proven otherwise. What you get with Adames is an above average glove, above average baserunning, and an almost guaranteed 30 home run season. The consistency is why he gets placed so high for me.

Elly De La Cruz may be the face of saber metrics at the shortstop position. If you had no knowledge of advanced metrics, you would assume that Cruz is a slightly above average shortstop. However, his tools are some of the best in the game, giving him a higher ceiling than 99% of the league. You could look at the errors, but you could also look at the +15 defensive runs saved. He also has insane barrel rates and bat speed, giving him a ton of raw power that he hasn't even fully tapped into yet. Now, the big thing that plagues De La Cruz, is his strikeouts and lack of walks. Now he is only 22, which means he has time to grow out of these issues, and at the very least not lead the league in strikeouts. If he can slim down the strikeouts, then he can be the best SS in the NL easily. Until then, number 5 feels like a good spot.

My 4 and 3 selections are likely my most controversial on this list. Lindor is coming off a season in which he was runner-up in MVP voting, and potentially the best year in his career. Now, it is no diss to Lindor not putting him at 3 or 2. There is sort of an inconsistency with Lindor however. He has down years, which there is inherently nothing wrong with, I just find that as my hold up. I think he is elite, and easily one of the best defenders in the game, but I want to see another season of equivalent value. Like I stated before, this isn't anything against Lindor, it is more praise to my number 3 Shortstop.

I am an absolute sucker for Corey Seager. This man is one of the best pure hitters on the planet. Let me put it this way: 2024 was a down season for Seager. He had 30 homers and a 145 OPS+, while battling injury. That is the key thing with Seager, will he be healthy? I don't have any reason as to why he wouldn't bounce back and instantly be that top-end hitter again. He would also benefit from an improved Rangers lineup, much like Lindor did last season. If you have any suggestions that Seager isn't one of the best pure hitters in the league, I urge you to click the baseballsavant page for him. He is currently* the best power hitting shortstop in the league, while also can hit .300. If we can get a 162 game season from Seager, I think it will just edge out Lindor.

Gunnar Henderson is a younger Corey Seager, only faster and stronger. You could look at his 2024 numbers, and you could assume that he was an MVP, but he wasn't even the best Shortstop in the AL. This feels like an easy number 2 spot, but is there a case for Henderson to be the number 1 shortstop in the MLB? Certainly. Henderson has more raw power than Witt, and a better bat speed and barrel rate. Henderson is easily a top 10 player in the MLB, and has become the face of the Orioles.

When you are practically the most well-rounded player in the entire MLB, it is no shock that you are also the best at your position, even if that position may be shortstop. Let's frame it this way: Is he the best defender in baseball? advanced metrics and a gold glove would tell us he is at the very least the best defensive shortstop, if not a top 3 defender in all of baseball. What about baserunning? Well, he's the fastest player in the MLB, being in the 100th percentile in sprint speed. Oh, and hitting? His baseballsavsant page looks like Aaron Judge's. He is top 3 at every aspect of the game, so he is easily the most valuable, and the flat out best shortstop in all of baseball.