For the following weeks I will be ranking players for the upcoming season. I will be looking at previous seasons, their 2016 season and projectability.
Shortstops
5. Red Sox Shortstop:
Xander Bogaerts won the silver slugger for all American league shortstops by batting .294 with 21 home runs. Why Bogaerts is lower on this list compared to an other American League shortstop is because of his huge slump after the All-Star break where he found himself batting .253 after the break. Bogaerts also had a better lineup surrounding him and under preformed in the second half. Bogaerts still had a terrific season for a 23 year old and thats why he found himself on this list.
4. Mariners Shortstop:
Jean Segura got traded to the Mariners offseason for having a very good offensive season with the Diamondbacks. Segura went under the radar with his 203 league leading hits along with 33 stolen bases and 20 home runs. Even though he played most of his games at second this year moving to the Mariners he is expected to move back to shortstop.
3. Brewers Shortstop:
Jonathan Villar had also a great year that went under the radar. What is great about Villar is his combination of power and speed at the shortstop position. Villar had 19 home runs and 62 stolen bases, which led the national league. He provides an elite level of speed along with about average to above average power for a shortstop. Villar also batted .285 with an On Base percentage of .369. Villar had a breakout 25 age season, and hopefully continues on this upward trend.
2. Indians Shortstop:
Fransisco Lindor who truly broke out onto the national stage this world series. Lindor does not have the speed of Villar or Segura, or the power of the other three shortstops, but what he has proven is that he can not only be consistent through a 162 game season he can shine in the postseason. Lindor played phenomenal during his first postseason trip. He batted .301 for the season, which does not seem absurd, but the fact that he played the entire year at the age of 22 speaks volumes about his potential moving forward. Plus he is a premium defender, and was awarded the gold glove this year.
1. Dodgers Shortstop:
The best shortstop right now is Corey Seager. The 22 year old played his first full season this past year and did not disappoint by hitting 26 home runs, and batting .308. Like Lindor Seager has shown great talent, but with being so young there still is the expectation that they will get a lot better. Seager in his first full year has already won Rookie of the year, a silver slugger, and finished third in the MVP voting in the National League.
