The Foodie’s Guide: Ranking the Top Shortstops in 2026

Words by Malik Chambers (IG: Buttamane.Baseball)

Don’t you hate it when there are too many good options on the menu? There has never been an era of baseball where the standard for shortstops has been this high. The demands of this position have never been higher, as shortstops blend athleticism, sharp baseball IQ, strong leadership, and undeniable charisma. These attributes not only elevate them above their peers but also make their role crucial on the field—many would argue it’s on par with the catcher, a position often overlooked despite its importance.

This view is widely shared among fans and experts alike, and it certainly shows in the dynamics of amateur drafts and the impressive salaries of free-agent shortstops in recent years. While I might be revealing my age a bit, I can still vividly remember my first trip to Ranger Stadium back in 2001. As a second grader, it was magical to witness the sheer prowess of a 25-year-old Alex Rodriguez smashing 50 home runs while racking up back-to-back 8-WAR seasons—all from the shortstop position! A-Rod set the bar incredibly high, and it’s fascinating how expectations for shortstops have transformed since then.

If we rewind to the era of Cal Ripken in the 1980s and then move through the 90s and 2000s with stars like Derek Jeter, Barry Larkin, Nomar Garciaparra, and Miguel Tejada, we see a clear trend. Historically, shortstops were primarily valued for their defensive prowess, and teams frequently accepted lower offensive outputs as long as they could smoothly cover the challenging territory between second and third base. Players like Ozzie Smith truly embodied this, showcasing breathtaking defensive skills, while power-hitting anomalies like Ernie Banks were viewed as exciting bonuses.

That said, advancements in the game mean it’s hard to imagine many shortstops today retaining their positions with a career OPS of just .660, right? (Be patient, Yankees fans.)

Today? Shortstops are expected not only to be the best defensive infielders on the team but also to be a cornerstone bat in the lineup. At the MLB level, at least one shortstop placed in the top 10 in MVP votes. These players carry such diverse offensive profiles, from high-k homerun sluggers to contact-oriented on-base machines. Some shortstops encompass all of the above. The rare cases where we find defensive one-trick-pony shortstops are on teams that have a glut of better bats surrounding them, or on rebuilding squads that need a warm body that can do the job at a pro-level.

Let’s Cook

Describe this shortstop as a food, drink, or cuisine. Why? Because, looking at the current list of shortstop options for a top ten list is like going to Cheesecake Factory - too many options, but there are flavors for every taste bud. I’ve enlisted a diehard baseball fan and private chef (Chef Keith, aka @latenitefeatures) to assist me, along with several subscribers from the BBM podcast, to help me differentiate among the players. You’ll likely balk at many of these descriptions, but hear me out, and I think you’ll be inclined to agree the more you digest what we’re cooking here.

Playing GM: My Shortstop

In our previous article ranking the top ten second basemen, we found it to be much less challenging than this one. The shortstop position is deeper and more complex as we enter 2026. I value shortstops who not only excel defensively—either at an above-average or elite level—but also provide consistent offensive contributions. As with my previous blog, I will use both traditional and advanced statistics to support my arguments. Additionally, I consider the intangible qualities of shortstops, such as their charisma and leadership, and how these traits manifest on the field. While no fan can fully assess these qualities, I will rely on the good old eye test, along with any insights gathered from interviews, media reports, and publications.

Note on Errors and Defense

Errors are a semi-important defensive stat. We love to see clean defense, especially from our shortstops. However, please keep in mind that errors do not tell the full story about player defense. Errors do not factor in play difficulty, range, or a player’s ability to get to balls that others can’t. Therefore, we will use Outs Above Average, Ultimate Zone Rating, Defensive Runs Saved, and Fielding Run Value to support our rankings. If I were to say that the offense-to-defense importance ratio was 60/40 for second, it would be more 50/50 for shortstop in this blog.

Just Missed the Restaurant Week List

CJ Abrams

Wings with Mumbo Sauce. If you’re in the DMV, you’ll love him. - Malik

One of the star prospects to return in the Juan Soto trade is continuing to make some noise in Washington. He’s spicy and bold, with flavor flares. He has some attractive qualities to his offensive game, being a speed demon on the basepaths while also a leadoff home-run threat, eclipsing 18 homers and 30 stolen bases over the past 3 seasons. The falloff for him has been back-to-back subpar defensive seasons at shortstop. While some evaluators believe he has the tools to stick to the position, others doubt his long-term makeup and would prefer he play a less important position on the dirt, or even on the grass. Everyone loves wings, but I think everyone in DC loves some Mumbo sauce even more. His production, while lagging defensively, is a welcome flavor in a wins-starved Washington, but his environment constrains that flavor. On other teams, he’s their second baseman or centerfielder.

Colson Montgomery

Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich. The filling soaks the entire sandwich. It’s big, to the point, and takes up a lot of space. - Flobo Boyce, BBM Senior Contributor, Worldwide

The latest addition of big-body shortstops, Colson Montgomery, surprised scouts and evaluators alike with his insistence and ability to stick at the shortstop position. Standing at 6’3” and a flattering but misleading 230lbs, he graded out as an above-average defensive shortstop while hitting over 20 homers in less than half a season of play. The strikeout ball still plagues him, and he’s atypical for the position, offense-wise. You typically see low on-base/high slug guys playing the corners, but his instincts at short will net him a few more percentage points in the WAR category. I see a bright future for Colson in Chicago, regardless of his future on defense.

Jacob Wilson

Louisiana-Style Crawfish. Each tail morsel is rich in flavor, but it takes a lot of volume to feel full. Addictive qualities and has the potential to get better with each bite. - Malik

The son of Jack did something that shocked the whole baseball world in 2025 - starting the All-Star game at shortstop over AL 2024 MVP runner-up Bobby Witt Jr. How did he do this - by hitting! Jacob Wilson has an outlier bat, producing some of the highest contact rates from a right-handed hitter. He hardly ever walks, but he also never strikes out (7% k rate), matching his contact skill and whiff anemia to Luis Arraez. What separates him from his Bay Area second-base counterpart is that J Willy has slightly better contact quality and plays solid-to-average defense at shortstop. He’s also not a slouch in the power department. Jacob Willson’s hits are like individual bites of Louisiana Crawfish tails. Most will be consistent, but there’s the potential to have one of those outlier jumbo-shrimp-sized mudbugs in the mix. In other words, he can sneak in a few pull-side home runs within that bucket of grass-hit singles.

Jacob Wilson’s bat is probably the most unique amongst all shortstops on this list. He would be in the top ten if his profile didn’t hinge upon his hitting above .300 every year to extrapolate value. Nonetheless, his floor looks to fringe upon Tim Anderson’s batting title season, albeit with a less extreme walk-to-strikeout gap. That’s excellent company to be in, and Athletics were smart to pay him those 70 million dollars before it turned 100.

Masyn Winn

Steakhouse Bone-In NY Strip. You can’t go wrong with a juicy steak. It sets the standard for high-class dining and hardly lets you down. - Khalif Stevenson, BBM Contributor, Bay Area

In the current state, Masynn Winn would check all the boxes of the old-school, defense-heavy shortstops. We need players like this in the game because they uphold the integrity of the game and maintain a high standard of defense for the position. All 30 teams could not go wrong with Masyn Winn. His floor is a proven, reliable product on the defensive side, and he’s smooth like garlic butter at the position. The swagger necessary for the position is something he carries without necessarily being the flashiest player amongst his peers.

But like any steak, there’s always a morsel of meat left on the bone. Masyn Winn’s offense is still in development, and I would argue that playing through a knee injury flattened his impact on the plate. Fortunately, the seasonings are present on this juicy steak. He’s having an above-average eye at the plate with encouraging whiff rates, indicating that he’s not striking out a ton and putting the ball in play. With the knee surgery behind him for the upcoming season, I expect him to take another leap forward in his development - no A1 sauce needed. The biggest challenge will be how he improves on a team without veteran uncs.

Dansby Swanson

Creamy Chicken Miso Ramen. Enriching and perfect for a cold day, but you’ll likely be hungry again in the next hour. You’re left wanting more; however, the bowl is completely scraped clean. - Malik

Dansby Swanson has reached his highest height as a player, and I think that’s saying a lot for a World Series champ. His defense ranks within the top percentile in the league year after year, and he’s also been a relatively healthy player for the entirety of his career.

He hit the ball as hard as he’s ever hit it last season. I’m a believer in “old man” strength, just given the recent evidence we’ve seen with players entering their mid-30s. He’s never been a guy not known for power. Unfortunately, his hard-hit rate and expected stats are yielding league-average results. Dansby is going to take runs away from the other team while putting up solid at-bats. Asking anything else from him would be extra.

Xander Bogaerts

Margherita Pizza. He’s been so good for a long time that you forget how reliable the taste is - he becomes almost forgettable among other meatier and greasier pizzas. - Chef Keith.

We all love a good, simple pie with tomato sauce, cheese, and herbs. For almost 10 seasons, Xander has been one of baseball’s most consistently offensive shortstops. Particularly from 2018-2025, he maintained an OPS+ of 20 percent better than league average while providing adequate defense at shortstop. After signing with the Padres, the aging curve began to take its toll, but not in a more drastic way than we think.

Though it’s valid to point out, it would be lazy of me to chalk up Xander’s decline to his age. Xander has maintained consistent hard-hit numbers into his 30s, but some evaluators knock him for the angles at which he’s hitting the ball. His newfound environment in the San Diego Marine layer has noticeably suppressed his offense, and he’s slowly but surely adjusting to Petco Park, which is far less hitter-friendly than Fenway. His reliable play gets overlooked because he’s always been surrounded by one or two more impressive players than him, whether it’s been in Boston or in San Diego. This sentiment holds among MLB shortstops: he is a reliable regular at this point in his career, not a perennial All-Star compared to his peers.

JP Crawford

“Some good ass Fried Chicken, from the hood to be exact.” - Khalif Stevenson, Bay Area.

Why is it always the random gas station off MLK Blvd that has the best fried joint? JP Crawford might be the best 9-hole hitter in the league - reliable as ever without necessarily standing out from his peers across his offensive toolset. When he’s right, he’s getting on base at an above-average rate, and like some good ass fried chicken, he comes in the clutch when his team is hungry to score. Last season, he put up league-average offense with a down year on the defensive side of the ball. If he’s able to be an average hitter with average defense, he should provide that reliable hard-fried production.

Top Ten

T- 10. Zach Neto

Barbacoa nachos. Not the standout on the menu, but one bite will make you keep coming back for more. He’s a mixed bowl of flavors that always tastes best when they all come together. Don’t let him get too cold, though. - Chef Keith.

I came to blows with the Chef on his Zach Neto food avatar selection. Nachos, really? It’s not the most exotic item on the menu, but it hits the spot every time, and you’re going to come back for more. All 30 GMs would love to get the usual on the menu - back-to-back seasons with over 20 homers and 20-plus stolen bases. In 2025, Zach put the Halo Haters to rest by cranking 26 home runs while missing over a month’s worth of games. That’s real power, especially for a middle infielder hitting in the marine-layered Angels stadium environment.

While he is an impressive player, there are more barbacoa crumbs below that big pile of tortilla chips. His defense at shortstop has improved, and his instincts are great, but it still lags behind some of his peers. His offense is welcomed but comes with the propensity to swing and miss while walking at a below-average clip. He reminds me of Tampa Bay Rays Willy Adames, but with more baserunning savvy. That said, Neto offers a power/speed combo that scouts salivate for in July. Just like many Angel position players drafted out of college, Neto struggled through his tweaks and player development at the major league level, with minimal time spent in the minors. Any player who can perform this well with barely any time at the lower level deserves recognition. He’ll be 25 to start 2026, and he’s already been around forever.

T - 10. Willy Adames

Baked Sweet Potato with Butter and Brown Sugar. On the surface, it looks simple, because it is. Best when hot with the minimum healthy ingredients for a shortstop, but the power makes him sweeter. - Malik

Do y’all remember Khris Davis for the Oakland A’s? Low batting average and strikeouts, but had kaiju-level power at the plate? Imagine having this power potential in baseball’s most unforgiving hitting environment, while playing shortstop at an elite level. Will Adames might not hit 48 home runs as a Giant, but he is bringing the power back to the Bay Area.

Adames’s career is a tale of streaky peaks and frustrating lows. He’s still improving his swing decisions at the plate, and he has improved his walk rate in the past two seasons. His traditional states look underwhelming, but 30 home runs are 30 home runs, and 13 of them came in Oracle Park. Willy Adames is tied on this list because of the volatility of his offensive profile, and he’s clearly learning how to pull the ball more in the Bay. He’s always hitting his homers to all fields with Milwaukee and Tampa Bay, so the power is by no means fake, or only proven in domed-stadium environments. If he’s not hitting for pure power, other parts of his offense can get exposed. Nonetheless, he’s been above 20% better than league average at multiple points in his career, even with a career batting average below .250.

9. Jeremy Peña

Grilled Red Snapper. Crispy and fresh with rich umami flavor, but be patient because the small bones can choke you if you’re not careful. - Malik

No athlete this swole should have any business playing baseball, but alas, it’s always nice when you see Jim Lee’s illustrated comic book superheroes on the field. Many believed that Jeremy Peña would have cemented himself as Carlos Correa’s heir apparent at shortstop after he won the 2022 World Series MVP award. Somehow, he’s the first rookie shortstop to ever homer in a World Series game. The following two seasons, from 2023-2024, brought immediate growing pains, but 2025 is the first year we’ve seen all of his tools blend.

Jeremy finished the year with a .840 OPS, slugging 17 home runs and over 20 stolen bases. Placing in the top ten in MVP voting, it was possible that JP3 could have placed higher if an errant pitch hadn’t fractured his ribs in late June 2025. The underlying numbers show that Peña uses his speed to snag extra base hits and play rangy defense at shortstop. If he chases fewer pitches, his power/speed combination can match Trea Turner or potentially Bobby Witt Jr.’s output. Another encouraging star is how much he’s improved against same-sided pitching, as opposed to the norm for righties who hit better against southpaws on an aggregate scale.

Jeremy Peña’s relative age, accolades within a short amount of time, and overall upside push him to the top ten on this list. There’s more flaky flesh on this fish to pick on, and he’s poised to show us more as he approaches free agency.

8. Elly de la Cruz

Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce. He’s not for everyone’s stomach, but he changes the entire meal whenever he’s applied. The ceiling is ridiculously high (and spicy), but he can also be unpredictable at times, and this might be too much for some people. - Chef Keith

Let me be clear: Elly belongs at shortstop, errors and all. Factoring in his age and elite range, the volatility reflects a young superstar still syncing body and skill at the major-league level. His physical ceiling remains unmatched at the position.

Hear me out. In 2024, Elly made 29 errors, most of them coming from his railgun of an arm. However, he also ranked at the top of the league in defensive runs saved, outs above average, and zone rating. The reason why I rave about his play so highly is that he gets to balls that even the best shortstops in the game cannot touch.

Elly didn’t give any excuses for his middling 2025 follow-up, which included a drop-off in defense, but I’m giving him some grace. Not only did he play all 162 games through injury this year, fighting tooth and nail with Terry Francona to stay on the field, but he also lost his older sister during the season. Say what you will about his flair and errant throws, Elly’s mental makeup is just as impressive as his physical tools on the field. He’s big, Black, and has the biggest smile in the league, and I personally believe that traditionalists hate him. Imagine going to a ballet and seeing one of the ballerinas was a Xenomorph, not a human. They stand out among their peers for the physical and athletic tools they possess, but they’re still figuring out how to optimize them at the major league level. Players like Francisco Lindor and Dansby Swanson are lauded for their defense, but there are plays they cannot get to because they lack the pure physical tools Elly has.

Also, I’m biased because of an in-game interview he had with Red’s Broadcaster, Jim Day. Elly can never do wrong in my eyes.

7. Mookie Betts

Omakase Sushi. He made his position change look easy, but we know it took more effort and skill to master. - Chef Keith.

Mookie makes everything look easy. A slam-dunk Hall of Fame player, his decision to move from the outfield, one of baseball’s most challenging defensive positions, solidifies his case. This isn’t like changing majors after your second year at uni - it’s a complete career pivot. Nonetheless, Mookie Betts has always expressed his desire to return to the dirt, regardless of how much success he’s had in right field, earning 6 Gold Glove awards at the position.

The professional and mental toll it took for Mookie to play shortstop was compounded by a pre-season digestive illness, causing him to lose over 20-30 pounds before opening day. Nonetheless, he posted at the position for 148 total games and was a finalist for the 2025 Gold Glove - an incomprehensible feat for a “first timer” at the position. Mookie’s confidence at shortstop did not happen overnight, however - he spent countless hours training during the offseason and consulted multiple players and coaches. Despite the learning curve, Mookie ranked first in fielding runs amongst all shortstops, and 7th amongst all position players in 2025, so much for a beginner.

The learning curve came with a price tag, but the Dodgers, Mookie, and baseball will be happy with the payoff. The offense plummeted from the sky-high standard that Mookie set throughout his entire career, dropping from a 140 WRC + (40% above league average hitter) to 104. Mookie won’t give himself any excuses, but we all know that mastering a new position while battling a potentially life-altering illness is more than a valid factor. Even while struggling with his power and contact numbers, he continued to get on base as many times as he struck out, putting up yet another season with identical strikeout to walk rates. With a full season behind him and another ring secured, Mookie now has a legitimate path to ranking among the greatest shortstops ever. If the bat rebounds anywhere near career norms while the defense holds, he jumps comfortably into the top five.

6. Geraldo Perdomo

Fried Plantains. On the surface, it looks unspectacular, but it’s the sweetest side dish you can add to every meal. He compliments the entree on the plate in the most versatile way and is an offensive Swiss Army Knife option. - Malik

“I’m leaving here with something.” That’s probably the quote in Perdomo’s mind whenever he steps to the plate. Geraldo Perdomo was one of the most valuable players from a Wins Above Replacement standard in 2025. The way that he gets the job done is a scout’s dream. Imagine a player who walks significantly more than he strikes out and can put up 20 HR/20 SB seasons while playing gold-glove defense. The jump Perdomo made in 2025 can be attributed to the front office’s belief in his abilities and physical projections, as well as his confidence.

The Arizona Diamondbacks brass signed Perdomo to a long-term extension before the 2025 season, and many fans and analysts around the game had either mixed or indifferent responses. Sure, Perdomo had intriguing plate skills. He’s flashed decent plate discipline at the plate, albeit with little to no impact. His defense was solid, but never game-altering at shortstop. However, what cannot be ignored is the swagger, confidence, and his organization’s belief in him.

The unique thing about his play is the pure versatility he brings to the lineup. His ability to hit both lefty and righty pitching well makes him platoon-prone. He’s also posted an above .300 average with a 150 WRC+ while hitting both in the 1st and 9th holes, making him an excellent leadoff threat to start high-scoring innings. In almost all cases, he’s on base while his double-play partner, Ketel Marte, is hitting behind him. When at the plate, Geraldo Perdomo rarely wastes a swing, which makes him extremely valuable when his team is behind. You won’t find a ton of oblique injuries when you have a guy that ranks in the top ten in whiff rate and chase rate, making him one of the most disciplined hitters in baseball. Only this time around, he’s doing damage on pitches in the zone. Perdomo’s unselfish approach allows him to get on base, create runs, and enables his teammates to add RBIs to their stat sheet. His team’s first attitude easily makes him baseball’s most valuable complementary player – and this is no slight to him. Every lineup with a Barry Bonds needs a Jeff Kent hitting next to them.

5. Trea Turner

Lemon Pepper Wings. He’s light, sharp, and his play is addictive. - Chef Keith.

Ol’ reliable, am I right? Trea Turner exemplifies a healthy mix of old-school and new-school in his play. He’s extremely quick, displaying his 100th percentile sprint speed on both the bat paths and on the dirt with his glove. Counting stats love this guy - he’s going to get over 150 hits, bash over 15 homers, and swipe 30 bags in any given season.

Just like lemon-pepper wings (or any wing), he’s best when he’s fresh. When Turner signed with the Phillies entering his age-30 season, there were questions about how his speed-dependent play would decline under the $300 million contract he inked with the team. The yellow flags turned orange in his first season as he battled physical and emotional injuries, joining a new team where the audience is particularly passionate about their players doing well. After a “rough” start in 2023 (albeit putting up a 4-WAR 20/30 season), he’s bounced back in encouraging ways despite the aging curve. In 2025, Trea Turner showed the physicality he had with the Dodgers and Nationals, but with a bit more control and efficiency. He was caught zero times on the basepaths, and I believe he made significant adjustments to his defensive positioning to make the harder plays easier. He also cut his strikeout rate from fringe league average (21% in 2023) to near elite status at 16%. Sure, he has the speed, range, and enough arm to get to any ball and rob any base - but now we’re seeing a guy who knows how to optimize all of the tools in his kit.

No one can say how long Trea will maintain his level of play. 2025 was his best season since his walk year with the Dodgers in 2022, and there aren’t too many 33-year-olds still manning the shortstop position. Some would also argue that Edmundo Sosa and Bryston Stott are better at the position than he is. While true, they did pay the man 300 million, and he did lead shortstops with 17 outs above average in 2025. Trea Turner is one of those “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” shortstops. It’s rare to find players this fast and athletic in their mid-thirties.

4. Corey Seager

Texas-Style Barbecue Beef Ribs. He’s the most valuable item on the menu, but he’s only available for a limited amount of time. You’d better enjoy him while you got him, because when he’s gone, you will notice.” - Chef Keith

From a hitting perspective, it’s hard to rank anyone higher than Corey Seager on this list. Described by scouts and analysts as “a hitting robot”, Seager has cemented his reputation as one of MLB’s best hitters in high-leverage situations, especially during the playoffs. His World Series heroics with both LA and Texas put him on the Hall of Fame track, and he’s more than likely to finish his career with over 2000 hits and perhaps close to 400 home runs… if he remains healthy.

As fans of the game, we’ve always had that one player we love who is prone to injury and likely to be unavailable for an extended period. I remember being genuinely shocked when Corey reached free agency at age 27, because he only played over 100 games in 3 of 6 full non-pandemic seasons with the Dodgers. He’s been relatively healthier with the Rangers - playing over 100 games in the last 4 seasons with Texas. I’m no medical professional, but I think this health kick could be due to his body maturing. It’s easy to forget that he was 21 when he debuted, and not all bodies are physically mature at the same rate. Nonetheless, when he’s on the field, he’s the best player on the team. His 151 OPS+ in 2025 suggested that he’d place in the top 5 in the MVP conversation.

Shortstops like Troy Tulowitski, Carlos Correa, and Corey Seager destroyed the traditional shortstop physical body archetype during the 21st century. In other words, scouts are less keen on fat-shaming big boys who play shortstops - you don’t have to move to 3rd base as long as you maintain good instincts at the six. He positions himself well on the field, allowing him to execute routines with relatively little effort, posting strong defensive metrics year after year. Corey would be wrestling with Bobby for the number one spot if he were more available.

3. Gunnar Henderson

Lava Cake. All of this potential is already pouring out like a volcano. It’s an early eruption, so we think we know what he has in store, but there’s potential for much more. - Chef Keith

Gunnar Henderson is a victim of his own success. He finished up an MVP placing rookie campaign with an otherworldly 2024 season. In the first half of 2024, he looked like the AL MVP, competing blow for blow with Bobby Witt Jr. in the All-Star votes while finishing the season with 37 home runs and a 154 WRC+.

He came back down to earth in 2025, but still posted a solid season, hitting 20% better than league average while playing solid defense at shortstop. Recently, his agent revealed that Gunnar played through 3/4 of the season with a nagging shoulder impingement and an injury sustained on a diving play early in the season. It showed in his underlying numbers and output, with his hard-hit rate dropping from a ridiculous 54% to 49% (which is still high, by the way), and his home run total dropping by 20 jacks. His plate discipline numbers trended slightly worse, which could be due to him swinging at outside pitches to compensate for not feeling 100% at the plate.

Gunnar is a top-five shortstop because the ceiling is already real, not theoretical. Fully healthy, his speed, offensive force, and defensive floor are MVP-caliber traits. Even through injury, 150+ games of impact production reinforce that reality.

2. Francisco Lindor

Al Pastor Tacos. The perfect balance of sweet and savory, a true switch-hitter that puts up incredible at-bats on both sides of the plate. There are multiple layers to his game, and he’s been consistent for years. - Chef Keith

There are several players in this generation of baseball who have spoiled us rotten. Francisco Lindor is one of those players. His youthful nature on and off the field makes it easy for us to forget that he’s been at this for over a decade at the highest level. After a rough first year with the Mets in 2021, he’s bounced back tremendously. The Mets penciled in 3 straight 30hr/30-sb seasons from their primary shortstop, and he’s a lock to compete for multiple awards every season.

The intangibles behind his play are shown in his consistency despite playing on one of baseball’s most publicly scrutinized teams, namely, for its inconsistency. He’s a Met through and through, and fully embraces the highs and lows that come with playing in New York City. Many may be curious about how his production will look as he enters his thirties, but the underlying offensive numbers remain encouraging. He’s hitting the ball just as hard as he did when he was a Cleveland Indian, and he’s maintaining an excellent pulled fly ball rate, which will help him in Queen’s cavernous hitting environment. He’s also still demolishing fastballs, which is a good sign for players entering their second prime, and he hit over .300 with men in scoring position in 2025. If we were ranking the top ten most consistent shortstops in 2026, Lindor would be numero uno on this list.

1. Bobby Witt Jr.

Korean Barbecue. A luxury item, but worth every single penny. It’s impossible to be dissatisfied with his game. Like KBBQ, he gets better with every bite. - Chef Keith.

Bobby is not only MLB’s number one shortstop, but he’s in the holy trinity of top 3 players in baseball right now. No player on the field creates more value than Witt Jr., and his 2025 season set him apart from not only his peers at his position but all players in the game.

It’s impossible to poke a hole in his game, especially since he’s placed top 5 in AL MVP in the last 2 seasons (top ten in the last 3). From a tools perspective, there aren’t too many shortstops on this list that do anything better than Bobby. Whenever you check his baseball savant page, there’s a whole lotta red - ranking in the top percentile in fielding, sprint speed, and batted ball quality. No shortstop crushed more balls at over 95 mph.

Bobby is a pure blend of underlying statistical excellence, backed by tangible on-field results. The Royals were keen on signing him to an 11-year contract. It was equally shrewd of Bobby’s agent to include player opt-out clauses in his contract, which kick in at the conclusion of 2030 - his age 30 season. Just like Trea Turner’s speed has sustained his play, Bobby’s skills are louder. Bobby stands alone at No. 1. And if his physical prime follows the same power curve we’ve seen from elite 30-year-olds, the best version of Witt might still be ahead of us. He has the potential to have seasons comparable to Ronald Acuña Jr.’s in 2023 while making exceptional defensive plays. At this pace, he will set himself up to be the highest-paid shortstop in major league baseball history.

Conclusion: Ranking the up-the-middle positions entering 2026 proved to be one of my most difficult articles to write. The next rankings should be a bit less of a hill for me. That said, I hope your belly is still roaring for more lists! Send me your favorite player to @buttamane.baseball via Instagram, and let me know what cuisine you believe fits their profile.