X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Dynasty Shortstops: Top MLB Prospects for Fantasy Baseball

Edward Sutelan's top 15 dynasty shortstop prospect rankings. Longer-term fantasy baseball dynasty rankings for MLB prospects to make impacts in 2017 and beyond.

Welcome back, RotoBallers. I've already looked at the top 10 prospects for each MLB team, and now I'll be breaking down impact prospects by position. Today I'm bringing you my top 15 shortstops - dynasty prospect rankings for 2017 dynasty baseball leagues.

There are only three positions in baseball that warrant an extended list. Outfield and pitcher should be obvious because there will always be three outfielders per team and at least five starting pitchers per team (including a ton of relievers). But shortstop is an incredibly deep position and continues to be littered with names that could shape dynasty rosters for years to come.

Be prepared, however. Not every player on this list is going to be a shortstop forever. There are a few likely headed for second base, some possibly moving to the outfield and a handful might even be destined for third base. Though position changes may be coming, I have taken that into account and the names of players listed on here are players who should be stud fantasy producers wherever they play.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Top 15 Shortstop Prospects for 2017 Dynasty Baseball Leagues

1. Brendan Rodgers (COL, A)
Stats: 491 PA, .281/.342/.480, 19 HR, 6 SB, 17.1% BB rate, 20.0% K rate
ETA: Late 2018
We were all treated to watch Trevor Story completely annihilate MLB pitching in just his first time around the majors. Now imagine how well someone like Rodgers, a guy with better plate discipline and arguably more power, will do against big-league pitchers. As a 19-year-old, he crushed Class-A pitching and even though it was in a hitter-friendly environment, his numbers still reflect a talented player. Giving the Coors Field bump to an already potent force at the plate should help Rodgers establish himself as a perennial All-Star and the next franchise shortstop for the Rockies.

2. Gleyber Torres (NYY, A+)
Stats: 581 PA, .268/.349/.413, 11 HR, 22 SB, 10.2% BB rate, 20.5% K rate
ETA: Early 2018
Just as soon as the Cubs dealt Torres away to the Yankees in the Aroldis Chapman deal, Torres began to be viewed as a future franchise shortstop and consensus top-five prospect. Especially when Torres went to the Arizona Fall League and put on absolute show, scouts really started to look at him as a true stud shortstop. They saw a smooth, consistent swing that generates easy line-drive power with the ability to spray the ball to all fields.

And while the home run power has not come in bunches just yet, scouts believe Torres will eventually find 20-homer pop. He is also not the fleetest of foot and his 22 stolen bases are a tad deceiving as he was thrown out 13 times, but he should still be quick enough to steal a fair share of bags. Fantasy owners are looking at a future .300 hitter with 20/15 potential, certainly productive for a future shortstop.

3. Dansby Swanson (ATL, MLB)
Stats: 145 PA, .302/.361/.442, 3 HR, 3 SB, 9.0% BB rate, 23.4% K rate
ETA: Opening Day
Looking for a shortstop with decent upside, but don’t want to take a big risk or wait forever for your guy to debut? Then Swanson is your guy. The former Vanderbilt standout shortstop is going to be the Braves’ starting shortstop in 2017 and comes with little future risk. He is an advanced hitter, with patience that compliments his line-drive, contact-first approach well.

He is neither a premier power hitter nor is he a real burner, but rather he will provide owners with a solid batting average and just a little bit of everything. In his prime, Swanson should be counted on to hit nearly .300 on an annual basis with the possibility of posting up a few 20/20 seasons (though 15/20 is far more likely). He should be an enticing fantasy option, particularly in dynasty leagues where owners can afford to wait on him to establish himself in the majors.

4. Amed Rosario (NYM, AA)
Stats: 237 PA, .341/.392/.481, 2 HR, 6 SB, 8.0% BB rate, 21.5% K rate
ETA: Late 2017/Early 2018
A season ago, Rosario looked like a boring, defensive-first .260-type shortstop who would probably not have much of a fantasy impact. But coming off his strongest professional season, Rosario now appears to be a steady presence for the Mets at the top of their lineup for years to come with the chance to have a serious impact on dynasty owners.

Scouts see some power eventually developing for him, but right now he is just a guy with a good chance to bat .300 and steal 20-25 bags per season. He could eventually develop double-digit pop, but right now owners should remain plenty satisfied with the top-of-the-order presence, batting average and steals.

5. Willy Adames (TB, AA)
Stats: 568 PA, .274/.372/.430, 11 HR, 13 SB, 13.0% BB rate, 21.3% K rate
ETA: Late 2017/Early 2018
Adames, much like Rosario, built up most of his prospect stock after this past season where he dominated Double-A pitching. He dropped his strikeout rate 5.7 percent from the past season, increased his walk rate by 1.2 percent and increased both his career-high home run and stolen base totals by three.

Adames now appears to be a potential 15/15 threat, or at best a 20/20 threat in the big leagues. He has some improvements still to make, but he is on the right course to eventually becoming a very productive fantasy shortstop.

6. Franklin Barreto (OAK, AAA)
Stats: (from AA) 507 PA, .281/.340/.413, 10 HR, 30 SB, 7.1% BB rate, 17.8% K rate
ETA: Mid-2017/Late 2017
Someone with those numbers should definitely be higher up on this list, but just here me out for a second. Barreto can really hit and looks to have a major impact on fantasy rosters somewhere down the road. The only problem is his defense at short will probably force him either to second base or the outfield, two positions that are loaded with great hitters.

Nonetheless, Barreto has one of the most promising power/speed combinations in the minors and could be a future 15/25 hitter in the majors with the upside to post 20/30 seasons. His value could vary based on where he plays, but his fantasy upside will prove to have at least some value no matter where he plays.

7. Jorge Mateo (NYY, A+)
Stats: 507 PA, .254/.308/.379, 8 HR, 36 SB, 6.5% BB rate, 21.3% K rate
ETA: Late 2018/Early 2019
Mateo falls right into the same boat as Barreto where his numbers warrant a higher spot, but the position uncertainty puts his value in question. Mateo is the fastest player on this list, and quite possibly in all of Minor League Baseball. In 2015, he stole 82 bases in 117 games and has always demonstrated an ability to reach base better than a lot of other slap-hitting speedsters (though he still needs to improve his discipline).

But with Torres the likely franchise shortstop and a plethora of options at second base, Mateo could be headed to center field where his speed does not play quite as well given the depth of speedy outfielders. Mateo is still a guy worth owning, however, because as we’ve seen with Billy Hamilton, speed can help out fantasy owners regardless of position or batting average.

8. J.P. Crawford (PHI, AAA)
Stats: 385 PA, .244/.328/.318, 4 HR, 7 SB, 10.9% BB rate, 15.3% K rate
ETA: Late 2017/Early 2018
Crawford is generally loved by scouts and only moderately liked by fantasy owners. Though he may be the most disciplined prospect on this list, he lacks both explosive power and game-changing speed. He is still just a defensive-first prospect with a solid batting average. But Crawford’s discipline makes him a low-risk buy, and his frame could eventually lead to more power. Scouts believe he could eventually become a .300/10/20 hitter in the majors, which should be enough to encourage fantasy owners to buy in on him.

9. Kevin Maitan (ATL, NA)
Stats: NA
ETA: 2020
There are no numbers to work with when examining Maitan. Only the eyes of the scouts. But those scouts sure do see a ton of talent. Maitan has received a ton of lofty comparisons from all scouts who have seen him play, most frequently being compared to Chipper Jones.

Scouts see a future middle-of-the-order bat with the potential to be a .300/30/10 hitter potentially playing shortstop. Some see the hot corner as his future home, but if his bat is as good as the scouts claim it is, the position won’t matter. Maitan is risky since he has yet to play in a single MiLB game, but the upside here is tremendous and owners should absolutely take the chance on him if he is available.

10. Richard Urena (TOR, AA)
Stats: 132 PA, .266/.282/.395, 0 HR, 0 SB, 3.0% BB rate, 14.4% K rate
ETA: Late 2017/Early 2018
Most of the guys on this list are coming off particularly strong seasons in the minors. Not Urena. The Blue Jays’ shortstop put together an outstanding 2015 season with 16 home runs and eight stolen bases, and things were only looking up for him as he got off to a hot start at Class-A Advanced to begin the 2016 season. But he faltered at Double-A and was unable to replicate the same success he had previously found at other levels.

Urena is talented enough, however, that he deserves a second chance. Scouts love his power/speed potential and could foresee him becoming a 15/15 shortstop in the majors. He will need to start to show more success in 2017 if he wants to keep that upside and maintain value, but this could be a solid time for dynasty owners to buy low and get a guy with decent upside.

11. Delvin Perez (STL, ROK)
Stats: 180 PA, .294/.352/.393, 0 HR, 12 SB, 6.7% BB rate, 15.6% K rate
ETA: 2020
Like many of the guys on this list, Perez is right now more valuable for his upside than what he has done so far. He was only just drafted last season and is still only 18 years old (and will be for all of 2017). But scouts see a player with speed, a good eye at the plate and potentially some raw power in the 6-foot-3 frame as he starts to bulk up. Perez is also sure-handed defensively and a position change is likely not in the cards for him.

Right now, he is probably a .290 hitter with 30 stolen bases, but with time, he could turn that into a .300 hitter with 10-15 home runs and 30 stolen bases. Dynasty owners will just have to wait a little while before they can claim their prize.

12. Kevin Newman (PIT, AA)
Stats: 268 PA, .288/.361/.378, 2 HR, 6 SB, 9.7% BB rate, 9.0% K rate
ETA: Late 2017/Early 2018
Newman is a solid, albeit boring shortstop prospect. You know you’re going to get a .280+ batting average and he will steal 10-15 bases per season with five home runs. Those numbers aren’t inspiring, but he has a high floor and should be in the majors soon. Dynasty owners shouldn’t break the bank for him, but he is a decent depth player to own.

13. Nick Gordon (MIN, A+)
Stats: 493 PA, .291/.335/.385, 3 HR, 19 SB, 4.7% BB rate, 17.6% K rate
ETA: Early 2018
Gordon is basically the same player as Newman, but with more speed and strikeouts. His discipline is not quite as solid and thus his average could be in a bit more danger than Newman at the big-league level, but he is going to be a 20-stolen base threat in Minnesota. Like Newman, he is best utilized as depth, but he could be a potential solid starting shortstop if he can hit .290 in the majors given his speed.

14. Ryan Mountcastle (BAL, A)
Stats: 489 PA, .281/.319/.426, 10 HR, 5 SB, 5.1% BB rate, 19.4% K rate
ETA: 2019
To round out this list, we’ve got two more high risk/high reward shortstops. Starting things off is 20-year-old Ryan Mountcastle who is coming off a strong season at Class-A. He has a potentially explosive bat with plenty of raw power, while proving he is not just a pull hitter, but can spray the ball around the field. His two issues right now are defense and plate discipline, both of which could hold him back. If he shifts to the outfield or first base, his value could really go down. But if he stays at shortstop, he could be one of the biggest sleeper shortstops in the game.

15. Carter Kieboom (WAS, ROK)
Stats: 155 PA, .244/.323/.452, 4 HR, 1 SB, 7.7% BB rate, 27.7% K rate
ETA: 2020
Staying in the mid-Atlantic area, the Nationals have a young, projectable shortstop of their own. Kieboom was taken 28th overall in 2016 and though he struggled to get things going after being drafted, scouts still see a potent bat that could be a consistent producer of batting average. He still has a ways to go with proving his power is more than raw potential and he will need to shore up his defensive ability, but he is another guy on this list with a high ceiling who could payoff in the end if all goes his way.

 

More Top MLB Prospects & Rookies




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Chandler Simpson22 mins ago

Batting Leadoff In MLB Debut
John Brebbia30 mins ago

Placed On 15-Day Injured List
Julio Rodríguez37 mins ago

Julio Rodriguez Sitting On Saturday
Irv Smith40 mins ago

Houston Re-Signs Irv Smith Jr.
George Soriano48 mins ago

Patrick Monteverde Promoted To Major Leagues, George Soriano Optioned
MJ Melendez55 mins ago

Optioned To Triple-A
Mark Canha1 hour ago

Activated Off Injured List
Jake Cronenworth5 hours ago

Targeting Earlier Return
Liam Hendriks5 hours ago

Set To Return On Saturday
Jackson Merrill5 hours ago

Not Expected To Return Next Week
Martín Pérez5 hours ago

Martin Perez Will Undergo MRI On Saturday
Casey Schmitt5 hours ago

Expected To Hit Injured List
Brock Stewart5 hours ago

Expected To Return On Sunday
Luke Keaschall6 hours ago

Busy In MLB Debut
Jose Fleury6 hours ago

Continues Strong Start On Friday
AJ Smith-Shawver6 hours ago

Strikes Out Eight In Defeat
Marcelo Mayer6 hours ago

Tallies Seven RBI On Friday
Zyhir Hope6 hours ago

Hits Two Home Runs On Friday
Andrew Painter6 hours ago

Sharp In Second Rehab Outing
Tyler Anderson12 hours ago

Keeps Hot Streak Rolling Friday
Logan Webb12 hours ago

Fans 12 In Tough-Luck Loss
Carlos Rodón12 hours ago

Carlos Rodon Goes Six Scoreless To Snap Personal Losing Streak
Ja Morant16 hours ago

Cleared To Play Friday
Brandon Williams16 hours ago

Available Against Grizzlies
Anthony Davis16 hours ago

Will Play Friday Night
Gary Trent Jr.17 hours ago

Available For Game 1 Against Pacers
Taurean Prince17 hours ago

Returns To Bucks Lineup Saturday
NFL17 hours ago

Justin Hardee Sr. Waived With Non-Football Injury
Isaiah Stewart17 hours ago

To Return For Game 1
Ausar Thompson17 hours ago

Available For Game 1
Rui Hachimura17 hours ago

On Track To Play Saturday
Austin Reaves17 hours ago

Ready To Go For Game 1
NFL17 hours ago

Bills Release Armani Rogers, Branson Deen
Luka Dončić17 hours ago

Luka Doncic Removed From Injury Report
LeBron James17 hours ago

Listed As Probable For Game 1
Ben Sheppard17 hours ago

Probable For Saturday's Game 1
NFL17 hours ago

Kolton Miller Absent From Raiders' Voluntary Offseason Program
Kevin Durant17 hours ago

To Houston Already Losing Steam
Lauri Markkanen18 hours ago

Wants To Stay With The Jazz
NFL18 hours ago

Ross Blacklock Let Go By New York
Bennedict Mathurin18 hours ago

Expected To Play In Game 1 Saturday
Pascal Siakam18 hours ago

Available For Playoff Opener
Tyrese Haliburton18 hours ago

Returning From Two-Game Absence Saturday
Cade Cunningham18 hours ago

Available For Game 1 Against Knicks
Josh Hart18 hours ago

Back In Knicks Lineup Saturday
OG Anunoby19 hours ago

Good To Go For Game 1
Jalen Brunson19 hours ago

Available For Saturday's Game 1
NFL19 hours ago

Raiders Considering Drafting A Quarterback
Irv Smith19 hours ago

Sticking With Texans
Ryan Lindgren20 hours ago

Set To Return Saturday
NFL20 hours ago

Texans Expected To Draft Wide Receivers
Greg Dortch20 hours ago

Returning To Cardinals
Josh Manson20 hours ago

Available For Game 1
Mark Andrews20 hours ago

Could Be Traded Soon
Ondrej Palat20 hours ago

To Return For Start Of Playoffs
David Savard20 hours ago

Will Retire After Playoffs
NFL20 hours ago

Raiders, Falcons Could Have Interest In Jalen Ramsey
Robert Thomas20 hours ago

Good To Go Saturday
Matthew Tkachuk20 hours ago

Expected To Return For Game 1
20 hours ago

Raiders Are High On Ashton Jeanty
Jason Robertson20 hours ago

Considered Week-To-Week
Rome Odunze21 hours ago

To Hopefully Get More Involved
NFL21 hours ago

Dolphins Could Draft A Quarterback
James Cook21 hours ago

Could Stay Away From Voluntary Workouts
Leon Draisaitl1 day ago

Wins First Rocket Richard Trophy
Nikita Kucherov1 day ago

Bags Third Art Ross Trophy
Bryan Rust1 day ago

Scores Twice In Season-Ending Win
Igor Shesterkin1 day ago

Shuts Out Lightning With 27 Saves
Dylan Cozens1 day ago

Picks Up Three Points In Regular-Season Finale
Matvei Michkov1 day ago

Caps Off Rookie Campaign With Three-Point Effort
Brady Tkachuk1 day ago

Makes Early Exit For Precautionary Reasons
Jake Tonges2 days ago

Signs Exclusive-Rights Tender
Denver Broncos2 days ago

Broncos To Focus On RB Position In Next Week's Draft
Drew Lock2 days ago

Sam Howell, Drew Lock Expected To Compete For Backup Job
New York Giants2 days ago

Giants Leaning Toward Taking Best Player Available At No. 3
New Orleans Saints2 days ago

Ryan Ramczyk Announces His Retirement
Buffalo Bills2 days ago

Tre'Davious White Reunites With Buffalo
Jakob Chychrun2 days ago

Returns Against Penguins
Rasmus Andersson2 days ago

Out Against Kings
Jonathan Huberdeau2 days ago

Sits Out Regular-Season Finale
Ryan Pulock2 days ago

Out On Thursday
Jake Sanderson2 days ago

Back In Action Thursday
Thomas Chabot2 days ago

To Be Rested Against Hurricanes
Claude Giroux2 days ago

Active On Thursday
Lucas Glover3 days ago

Looks To Rebound After Poor Performance
Daniel Berger3 days ago

Looking To Continue Solid Play At RBC
Sepp Straka3 days ago

Looking To Bounce Back At RBC
Justin Thomas3 days ago

Looking To Shake Off Poor Masters At RBC Heritage
Xander Schauffele3 days ago

Still Looking For Year's First Win At RBC Heritage
Maverick McNealy3 days ago

Is An Intriguing Play At RBC Heritage
Shane Lowry3 days ago

Looks To Shake Off Poor Masters Sunday At RBC Heritage
Will Zalatoris3 days ago

Eyes A Bounce-Back At RBC Heritage
Gary Woodland3 days ago

Could Add Some Surprise At Hilton Head
Sam Burns3 days ago

Hoping For Better Times At RBC Heritage
Sahith Theegala3 days ago

Still Trying To Put It All Together
Aaron Rai3 days ago

Might Be That Guy For Hilton Head
Robert MacIntyre3 days ago

All Or Nothing At RBC Heritage
Tom Hoge3 days ago

Still Playing Solid Heading To Hilton Head
Nick Dunlap3 days ago

Continues To Have Rough Stretch
Keegan Bradley3 days ago

Looks To Move On From Masters Performance
Matt Fitzpatrick3 days ago

A Boom-Or-Bust Option At RBC Heritage
Patrick Cantlay3 days ago

A Strong Play At RBC Heritage
Jordan Spieth4 days ago

Targets Another Strong RBC Heritage Showing
Collin Morikawa4 days ago

Eyeing Victory At RBC Heritage
Max Homa4 days ago

Breaks Through At The Masters
Alexander Volkanovski4 days ago

Reclaims Featherweight Title
Diego Lopes4 days ago

Drops Decision At UFC 314
Paddy Pimblett4 days ago

Remains Undefeated In The UFC
Michael Chandler4 days ago

Suffers TKO Loss
MMA4 days ago

Patricio Freire Gets Dominated In His UFC Debut
Yair Rodriguez4 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Bryce Mitchell4 days ago

Gets Submitted At UFC 314
Jean Silva4 days ago

Gets Submission Win At UFC 314
Dominick Reyes4 days ago

Wins Third Fight In A Row
5 days ago

Austin Dillon Nabs His First Top-10 Finish Of The 2025 Season At Bristol
5 days ago

Ryan Blaney's Bold Strategies Fall Flat, Still Musters A Top-Five Finish At Bristol
5 days ago

Christopher Bell Finishes In The Top 10 After Falling Back Midway At Bristol
5 days ago

Ty Gibbs Earns His First Top-Five Finish Of The 2025 Season At Bristol
5 days ago

Chase Briscoe Quietly Scores First Career Top-Five Finish At Bristol
5 days ago

Denny Hamlin Cuts Into William Byron's Points Lead
5 days ago

William Byron Makes Best Of His Mediocre Qualifying Run With Sixth-Place Finish
5 days ago

Despite Engine Failure, Alex Bowman's Improved Speed Looks Promising
NASCAR5 days ago

A.J. Allmendinger Enters Playoff Picture With Surprise Bristol Top-10 Finish
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF