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Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Prospects Watch – Shortstop

April 23, 2018 By Rick Leave a Comment

Fernando Tatis Jr.

Shortstops, get your shortstops here! Rick gives us a thorough list of fantasy baseball dynasty prospects at the shortstop position. San Diego Padres Fernando Tatis Jr. tops the list as a future difference maker.

A decade ago, you had three choices at shortstop for your fantasy baseball team – Troy Tulowitzki, Hanley Ramirez or some slick-fielding, no-hitting guy who was just filling out your roster. Today, we find ourselves with a ton of elite, young talent at short, including Elvis Andrus, Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa, Didi Gregorious, Francisco Lindor, Manny Machado, Cory Seager, Jean Segura, Trevor Story, Trea Turner…. You get the idea.

How deep your league is and whether you also have to fill a middle infield position will impact how good of a chance you have to land one of the stud shortstops. In my 20-team dynasty league, the run on elite shortstops started early and I found myself on the outside looking in. I decided to look to the prospects to fill the position long term, and use a stopgap for the short term. These are the top fantasy baseball dynasty prospects to consider when looking for a shortstop of the future.

Difference Makers

Fernando Tatis Jr., SD

This guy is a future stud. There is not much more to say other than grab him if he is somehow still on your waiver wire. The only drawbacks about him are that he’s still a year away from playing in the San Diego Padres lineup, and there is a chance he will grow out of shortstop, but his bat will still be huge as a third baseman. His dad was good, but Junior will be much better. ETA: 2019

Bo Bichette, TOR

Toronto Blue Jays prospect Bichette is the son of Dante Bichette and like Fernando Tatis Jr., he will easily eclipse his father’s feats. Bo’s swing is very long but it is also very fast. Second base may end up being his position of the future, but the bat plays anywhere. He’s got 30 home run power and will get you double digit steals. Look for Bichette to debut next summer. ETA: 2019

Future Stars

Gleyber Torres, NYY

Torres would have been up last summer if not for an elbow injury and the Tommy John surgery that followed. New York Yankees called up Torres on Sunday and he will mostly handle second base duties. He has a good hit tool and is solid all around, but he isn’t exceptional in any category. He swings and misses too much, which keeps him from joining Tatis and Bichette in the top tier. ETA: now

Brendan Rodgers, COL

I’m not as high on Rodgers as others unless he can improve his approach at the plate. The Colorado Rockies prospect is too anxious and needs to take more walks. He also swings and misses too much, which will keep him from becoming elite, but the power is unquestionable. ETA: 2018

Willy Adames, TB

Adames is good all around, but doesn’t have enough of anything to become a superstar. He is Torres-lite in his game, but has a little better contact rate. Adames will be a better real life shortstop than a fantasy player due to his elite defensive skills. Already in triple-A, and given the state of the Tampa Bay Rays, we should get a look at Adames in the Majors this season. ETA: 2018

Ryan Mountcastle, BAL

Mountcastle can fill out the stat sheet with a lot of power and a little speed. His plate discipline must improve or he will be exposed in The Show. He will likely grow out of the position and is destined for a corner, which could be in the infield or outfield. ETA: 2019

Jorge Mateo, OAK

Mateo is a decent contact hitter with a little pop and a lot of speed. He seems to be headed to the outfield and will likely be a leadoff hitter for the Oakland Athletics. He will need to improve his approach at the plate to become elite. ETA: 2018

Franklin Barreto, OAK

The power/speed combo is there for Barreto, but so is the swing and miss. He is probably going to be a utility player since he doesn’t have good hands or footwork to be a full time shortstop and he will struggle to make consistent contact, but his bat will play most anywhere. ETA: 2018

Nick Gordon, MIN

Gordon is the son of Tom “Flash” Gordon and has good all-around offensive skills as a line drive hitter. He is likely destined for second base due to the lack of range and since Royce Lewis is the better defender. He doesn’t have the speed of his brother, Dee Gordon, but he will still get you double digit steals each year. ETA: 2019

Too Far Away

Royce Lewis, MIN

Lewis has a big time bat and a strong defensive skillset. The plus speed will make him an asset to go along with double digit home run power. ETA: 2020

Kevin Maitan

Former Atlanta Braves, now Los Angeles Angels prospect Kevin Maitan

Kevin Maitan, LAA

Maitan was caught up in the Atlanta Braves violations on the bonus rules signing international prospects, and the Los Angeles Angels signed Maitan in early December. The bat will deliver a lot of homeruns, but probably as a third baseman. Great bat speed and huge power will make him worth the wait if you have room on you bench to wait until 2021.

Carter Kieboom, WSH

Kieboom is a great name for a guy who has major power. He’ll probably grow out of the position and head to the hot corner. He has a few holes in his swing, but the power you get will pay off in the batting average loss you give up. Younger brother of catcher prospect Spencer Kieboom, also of the Nationals, Carter’s anticipated arrival is 2020.

Wander Javier, MIN

Javier is another Minnesota Twins prospect on this list and maybe the one who will eventually push all the others to other positions. He’s athletic and produces hard contact at the plate, but he won’t be ready for The Show until 2022.

Wander Franco, SF

Franco has the tools to be elite, but is too far away to declare him for the top tier. He has the skillset to stay at shortstop and is an excellent hitter from both sides of the plate. At the time of signing last July, Franco was ranked number one on MLBPipeline.com’s Top 30 International Prospects list. He won’t be playing for Tampa Bay’s top team until 2022.

Tip of the Week

Jorge Polanco is in the middle of his 80-day PED suspension and won’t be back until late June. I thought this was going to be his breakout season, but the suspension may push that breakout to next season. He is solid at the least and will reward your patience if you can afford to give up a bench spot waiting for his return.

Filed Under: Dynasty Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball

Fantasy Baseball Second Base and Shortstop Rankings

March 8, 2011 By Rick 3 Comments

Cheatsheet Compiler & Draft Buddy BaseballWe kicked off our big rankings week yesterday with the corner infield, first and third base. Now let’s turn our attention to the typically weaker overall infield spots for fantasy output, down the middle at second base and shortstop. Of course with the likes of Hanley Ramirez and Robinson Cano, there is no saying you can’t build your team around one of these stud hitters. You’ll earn a big position advantage over your league mates if you do.

 
Tier 1

1. Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA – Han-Ram is the total fantasy package. He plays at a premium position, has power and speed, scores runs and hits for average. He’s the only player to possibly consider for the number one overall pick other than Albert Pujols.

 
Tier 2

2. Robinson Cano, 2B, NYY – Cano finally lived up to the hype that New York built for him. His breakthrough season in 2010 has put him in the top tier of fantasy second basemen. He is probably going to be available through the middle of the first round, but will get snapped up quickly after that. For a mid-to-late first round pick, you should get .320/27/97 from the keystone position for your troubles.

3. Jose Reyes, SS, NYM – Reyes will try to get back into the group of elite middle infielders after a less than Reyes-like prior two seasons. Reyes has pop in his bat and speed in his legs. Unfortunately, that speed might not be as good as it was a few years ago as Reyes missed considerable time in 2009 and 2010 with a variety of injuries, including a hamstring injury that never seemed to heal. Since this is a contract season expect big things as he auditions for other teams. Perhaps he’ll even play through nagging injuries.

4. Ian Kinsler, 2B, TEX – Kinsler stumbled in 2010 as the injury bug bit two months out of his season, but this came as no surprise since he’s played more than 130 games only once in his five Major League seasons. He is always going to be a risk to miss time, but when healthy Kinsler is a fantasy stud.

5. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COL – Tulowitzki is my most controversial ranking this season, and it isn’t that I don’t like the guy but based on his history he appears to be an ongoing injury risk. He’s only had one 600+ at-bat season in his career. If he can stay healthy, he could be ready for elite fantasy baseball status. A .289/22/83/9 season is realistic at about 500 AB but if he can go for 600, which are very long odds, he could hit about 26 bombs and drive in around 100. A player who can do that from the ultra-thin shortstop position is a real find. Just make sure you back him up with a solid player for when the first injury hits.
 
Tier 3

6. Dustin Pedroia, 2B, BOS – Pedroia is good at a lot of things, but not great at any one particular area. If he can stay healthy this season, look for a .313/14/68/13 line with 106 runs scored in the potent Red Sox lineup.

7. Dan Uggla, 2B, ATL – Uggla will struggle with the glove but not with the bat for his new team. Uggla has put up five straight seasons of 27 or more homers. This year will be no different and he’ll add close to 100 ribbies to go with it. The batting average will hurt a little but you can live with that when this kind of power comes from a second baseman that you can draft in the fourth round.

8. Chase Utley, 2B, PHI – Utley was the elite second baseman in fantasy baseball, but ongoing injury concerns drop him down the ranks. He still hits for power and average and can steal bases. He is struggling with injuries for a second consecutive season and his bothersome knee is reason to let him be someone else’s headache this year. He’s not worth the high draft pick it will cost to acquire him, so stay away.

9. Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI – Rollins is another speedy middle infielder trying to come back from an injury that derailed his 2010 season. He should make you proud with a .262/16/68/39 line, as he is playing for his next contract. You can probably get Rollins in the late third round or maybe early fourth as many have lost faith in his ability to play when dinged up.

10. Brandon Phillips, 2B, CIN – Phillips seems to be showing a little age, but a .276/17/79/14 season is a positive contribution for your fantasy squad. Don’t reach too high for him as there are others who can provide similar numbers available a few rounds later.

 
Tier 4

11. Derek Jeter, SS, NYY – For all the love Yankee fans give him and all the hate showered on him by the anti-Yankee fans, this guy just keeps on plugging along. He’s 37 this season, but should still provide you with .274/12/67/18 and 102 runs scored. If he finds the newest meddling Steinbrenner to be a motivating factor, a better season is quite possible. Unfortunately, his reputation will cost you a fourth round draft pick to acquire him.

12. Rickie Weeks, 2B, MIL – Weeks finally had a breakthrough season and looks to improve upon it. He will put up similar stats this season, but probably not quite as good as last season because his BABIP is a little higher than it seems he can sustain. He’s being drafted in the third round, which is a round or two above his worth, so wait him out a bit.

13. Aaron Hill, 2B, TOR – Hill is yet another middle infielder coming off an injury plagued 2010 season. He put things together in the famed, “age 27 season” in 2009, and looks to return to that glory with something around .256/31/88. Due to his porous season last year, many have lost faith in Hill and he is being drafted in the twelfth round. Grab him a round or two early and enjoy that power.

14. Howie Kendrick, 2B, LAA – Kendrick is still looking for the long-awaited break out season. This is the famed “age 27 season” for him but this won’t be the year he puts it all together. He will put a nice batting average together with some ribbies, but the power may never be more than it is. Look for a .295/11/80/16 season for a guy who can be had in the early-to-mid teens in your draft.

15. Kelly Johnson, 2B, ARI – Johnson’s power broke through in 2010 with 26 taters. That was quite a season for a guy who never showed that kind of power before. Johnson is more like a .283/18/69/11 guy. Since he’s going in rounds eight to ten on average, he might not be worth that price.

 
Tier 5

16. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS, CLE
17. Stephen Drew, SS, ARZ
18. Alexei Ramirez, SS, CWS
19. Elvis Andrus, SS, TEX
20. Brian Roberts, 2B, BAL
21. Rafael Furcal, SS, LAD
22. Tsuyoshi Nishioka, 2B, MIN
23. Neil Walker, 2B, PIT
24. Chone Figgins, 2B/3B, SEA
25. Jhonny Peralta, 3B/SS DET
26. Gordon Beckham, 2B, CWS
27. Ian Desmond, SS, WAS
28. Ryan Theriot, 2B/SS, STL
29. Danny Espinosa, 2B, WAS
30. Omar Infante, 2B/3B, FLA
31. Orlando Hudson, 2B, SD
32. Starlin Castro, SS, CHC
33. Jason Bartlett, SS, SD

Filed Under: Fantasy Baseball

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