Who are the best shortstops in baseball right now? Well, let's just say that the list of top shortstops in 2024 is as deep and competitive as you'll find at any position. Some players in the game today can almost compete with some of the greatest shortstops in MLB history. It goes without saying that these players are also among the best players in 2024.
The best MLB shortstops ahead of the 2024 season
In a conversation about the best shortstops in 2024, who would he pick? More importantly, who deserves to be at the top? This is certainly a topic that should spark a lot of discussion. To spice up the conversation, here's our ranking of the top 10 shortstops in 2024.
10. C.J. Abrams
For full disclosure, there were plenty of good candidates for the final spot in our top ten. But 23-year-old CJ Abrams has arguably the best upside of the shortstops we considered.
His 47 stolen bases in 2023 are the most outstanding. His 18 home runs didn't hurt either. Abrams has the potential to become a dynamic player one day. He may need another year or two in the big leagues to start fulfilling his potential, but he's definitely on the radar.
9. Ha Seung Kim
The fact that the Padres moved Xander Bogaerts to second base to make Ha-Seong Kim their everyday shortstop says a lot. Defensively, he can handle himself. Offensively, there's nothing wrong with hitting 17 homers and stealing 38 bases, which is what Kim did in 2023.
Now that he's consolidated his career, there's no reason why Kim can't be better this year.
8. J.B. Crawford
The Mariners finally see the J.B. Crawford they thought they were getting when they traded for him five years ago. He finally enjoyed a breakout season in 2023, contributing 35 doubles and 19 home runs while producing an OPS of .818.
The former first-round pick has yet to put together back-to-back seasons like that, but Seattle is clearly optimistic that will be the case.
7. Eli de la Cruz
Elly De La Cruz should emerge as Cincinnati's daily stop in a crowded arena. His numbers last season didn't match the hype and declined after his hot start.
But the talent of being a Premier League shortstop is undoubtedly there. De La Cruz played just 98 games in 2023, but that was enough to collect 35 extra-base hits and 35 stolen bases. He is a dynamic talent and could be closer than we think to being a Premier League player.
6. Bo Bichette
At 26 years old, Bo Bichette appears to be developing as the Blue Jays expected. In the past three years, he has been an All-Star twice and led the American League in home runs twice.
Bichette also hit over .300 with 53 extra-base hits in 2023. Defensively, Bichette still has some issues, which hurts his standing among other shortstops in baseball. However, his offensive upside remains incredibly high heading into the 2024 season.
5. Dansby Swanson
With back-to-back All-Star selections and back-to-back Gold Gloves on his resume, Dansby Swanson certainly belongs among baseball's best players.
After signing with the Cubs last year, his numbers dipped a bit. However, there's nothing wrong with having 20-plus doubles and 20-plus homers from one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball. He still brings a lot to the table for the North Siders.
4. Trea Turner
A big contract came with high expectations for Trea Turner, and unfortunately, he fell flat a bit during his first season in Philadelphia. But let's not kid ourselves, Turner is still an elite player.
Even in a year that saw his OPS drop by .800 for the first time since 2018, Turner still hit 26 homers and stole 30 bases. He still has 30-30 ability and is solid defensively. Even if he is on the wrong side of 30, there should be no doubt that Turner is a top-tier shortstop.
3. Bobby Witt Jr
The future may now belong to Bobby Witt Jr. and the Royals. His exploits in 2023 earned him an 11-year, $288.7 million extension earlier this spring.
The 23-year-old appears to be worth it after hitting 30 home runs and stealing 49 bases last season. Witt also drove in 98 runs while leading the American League in triples. In other words, he is a talented, versatile young player who will only get better in 2024 and beyond.
2. Francisco Lindor
As far as two-way shortstops go, they don't get much better than Francisco Lindor. He was robbed of his Gold Glove in 2023, where he routinely showed off his athleticism in a post-shift world. This alone makes it a valuable commodity.
One could argue that his bat has been a bit inconsistent since joining the Mets in 2021. But he started on the right track last year with an OPS of .806. Lindor also joined the 30-30 club for the first time in 2023, which should set him up for another amazing campaign for the Mets in 2024.
1. Corey Seager
After winning his second World Series MVP award in four seasons, it would be almost disrespectful not to rank Corey Seager as the best shortstop in MLB right now. Of course, before his playoff heroics with the Rangers, Seager hit .327 with a 1.013 OPS during the 2023 regular season.
His lackluster 2022 campaign seems like an aberration compared to everything else Seager has done over the past few years. He has hit over .300 in three of the last four seasons and has hit over 30 homers in consecutive years. This combination of average and power is enough to make him the best shortstop in MLB.
