MLB’s Top Players at every Position in 2022: Shortstop
We wrap up the infield for our top players at every position with shortstop. This position usually is home to some of the most athletic players, and the 2022 list displays an excellent variety of that.
1. Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox
While Bogaerts and his future in Boston remains in question, we shouldn’t let it distract us from the season he had. He’s been a model of consistency over the last five years boasting an OPS+ between 128 and 139 every year. This year, it was 131, and Bogaerts batted .307/.377/.456 with a 5.7 WAR. His 134 wRC+ was second-best in all of baseball among shortstops, and he’s proven to deserve a bag from either the Red Sox or elsewhere.
2. Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
It seems like Lindor has found his groove after being in a slump from 2020-21. In his second year with the Mets, Lindor hit a career-high 107 RBIs playing in every game except one. The defense remains just as elite, as he was in the 98 percentile of Outs Above Average (OAA,) having 13 which also ranked second best among shortstops. Mr. Smile is still only 28, and he’s regaining his prime form for a Mets team that should win a ring in the next couple years.
3. Trea Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers
Another elite shortstop to hit the free agent market, Turner gave Dodger fans an amazing 2022, which could be his last with the team. Only getting his second All-Star selection, Turner reached 100 RBIs for the first time in his career. The stolen bases were still present with 27, and he hit just barely under .300 with a .298 batting average. His WAR also reached 4.9, which happens to be the highest of his career as well. His Dodger tenure may be short, but in the one-and-a-half years he played for them he made an impact.
4. Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins
The Houston Astros proved they don’t need Correa to win. At the same time, Correa proved he doesn’t need the Astros to succeed. Even though Correa plans to opt out after only one season with the Twins, he performed like we’re used to seeing. The shortstop hit .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs. He also hit 64 RBIs, the second lowest in his career. But being on a team that finished 78-84 isn’t likely to give you many opportunities to bring runs in. Despite a negative three OAA, Correa will look to win back-to-back Gold Gloves in 2022.
5. Dansby Swanson, Atlanta Braves
Swanson has usually been known as a defense first, offense second. He seems to have found a balance of both and put together a great season for the Braves. Swanson played all 162 games, hitting 25 home runs and a career-high 96 RBIs. 18 stolen bases were also a career-high for Swanson. It’s surprising that Swanson hasn’t won a Gold Glove yet, but that should end in 2022, as he led all shortstops with 20 OAA and had nine defensive runs saved.
6. Willy Adames, Milwaukee Brewers
It was a down year in the batting average department for Adames, but the power and defense stood their ground. A career-high in home runs (31) RBIs (98) and WAR (4.4) was plenty enough to cover up his .238 batting average. On the defensive side, he had 9 DRS with 10 OAA. The 26-year-old continues to be a steal for the Brewers, who acquired him from the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021.
7. Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs
The 25-year-old defensive wizard finally had a full, healthy season. For a retooling Cubs team, he hit .281/.327/.410 with 22 doubles and 20 stolen bases. He kept the strikeouts low like usual, with only 57 of them in 135 games. As I said, those 11 DRS he collected has made him a defensive wizard and he’s bound to win a Gold Glove in his career. That career-high 4.5 WAR will sit nicely for Hoerner over the offseason.
8. Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays
Bichette and his AL-leading 189 hits made him a standout on this Jays team. He hit 24 homers with 93 RBIs and boy does he hit them hard. Baseball Savant ranked Bichette with a 94-hard-hit percentage and an average exit velocity of 91. His defense is shaky, especially in 2022, where he had an awful -16 DRS. Bichette is young, and his big-time bat keeps him in a lineup of a talented Blue Jays team.
9. Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
It was a disappointing 2022 for the Rangers, but it wasn’t for Seager. The former Dodger star didn’t have a great batting average but had a career year in terms of home runs. 33 home runs and 83 RBIs were both career-highs for Seager. Despite hitting only .245, his OPS+ was 119. It’ll be a couple of years before the Rangers start winning, but their middle infield is set with Seager and Marcus Semien.
10. Jeremy Peña, Houston Astros
Trying to replace Correa wasn’t going to be easy, but Peña seems to have it figured out. He was looking like an easy lock for AL Rookie of the Year, but he quickly died down after starting the season hot. Nonetheless, Peña still had an amazing rookie season with 20 doubles, 22 homers, and 63 RBIs in 136 games. A sub-.300 OBP isn’t pretty, but Peña still managed to put up a 4.8 WAR. On the defensive side, he is tied for first among shortstops in DRS with 15, better than Bogaerts, Swanson, and Correa.
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