Early Shortstop Rankings for 2023 Fantasy Baseball

As the final free agent signings trickle down, it is time to present our early 2023 fantasy baseball shortstop rankings. Even though the new year has not dawned upon us, it is never too early to prepare for fantasy baseball.

Our staff expert rankers at RotoBaller- Nick Mariano, Jon Anderson, and Ben Rosener - have composed their early shortstop rankings. There are 60 shortstops listed on the rankings, each ranked on a particular tier. Last season, there were 74 shortstops listed on the rankings, but that won't change the number of tiers.

As always, check out all of the tools and tips for your fantasy baseball squads. Here at RotoBaller, we are constantly covering breaking news and aiding your fantasy needs, whether positional rankings, waiver wire pickups, or a classic news piece. Almost any fantasy-related topic you can think of, RotoBaller has it. With that being said, let's dive into some shortstop rankings. Is Bobby Witt Jr. truly a "wit" at heart?

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Early Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Rankings

Our very own "Big Pick Nick" Mariano was named the #1 overall most accurate industry expert ranker for the 2018 season, and Ariel Cohen was the top ranker in 2019. In addition, ATC Projections by Ariel Cohen have been the #1 most accurate projections system for the past three years. Be sure to follow their updated rankings and projections all season long!

Tier 1 - Shortstop Rankings

Yet again, the consensus first pick is Trea Turner. He's ranked second on the RotoBaller overall pool rank, Jose Ramirez, but it's quite plausible to pick him first. After agreeing to a monstrous 11-year, $300 million deal, Turner will rep the Philly colors until his hair turns white. Most notably, the high level of play that he retains is quite remarkable for an everyday player.

The number two slot was awarded to Bobby Witt Jr., which as I mentioned before, is quite "wity". Right off the bat, the logical reasoning behind Witt's employment in the two slot is his high ceiling. The argument for Bo Bichette to take precedence over Witt is certainly a conversation, yet either way, you gauge, it's a win-win situation. You either land a shortstop with more experience (Bichette) or an emerging superstar with a Fernando Tatis-esque ceiling (Witt).

Bichette's year was a slight drop-off from what he's displayed in the past. His average has regressed yearly (.290), although he did crank 24 home runs and swipe 14 bags. Witt, on the other hand, hit four fewer HRs but outdid Bichette in the base path with 30 swipes. The ADP from NFBC is quite unparallel with the Blue Jays' star owning a 102-point advantage over Witt.

Tier 2 - Shortstop Rankings

Francisco Lindor is the epitome of a Tier 2 talent. It is certainly justifiable to deem him a borderline Tier 1, but the difference is simply a few picks. He'll be joined by fellow Puerto Rican Carlos Correa just one base over. He is only 29-years-old, and after a fruitful season that placed him ninth in NL MVP voting, Lindor is poised to replicate similar numbers.

Barring any health issues or suspensions, Fernando Tatis Jr. is definitively the more compelling shortstop than Marcus Semien or Trevor Story. Considering that Tatis is only eligible to return in mid-April, I would certainly settle with Semien. Yes, Semien's productivity levels at the plate were not too shabby for his caliber (.248/.304/.429), although such talent is simply bound to bounce back. Please don't forget that he hit 26 HRs and swiped 25 bags.

In walks, Fernando Tatis Jr., who as I alluded to before, is worth the while to snatch early on, from the upside to the raw talent and versatility. With Xander Bogaerts packing in at short, Tatis will likely jog out to the outfield. The 23-year-old smacked a career-high 42 HRs in 2021 and added some hardware by winning the Silver Slugger for consecutive seasons.

Trevor Story is mostly a borderline Tier 2, but employing him in the final second-tier slot was the right call. He spent six productive seasons in Colorado and is certainly poised to rebound from a subpar season. Yes, the dimensions and altitude in Coors Field are an offensive perk, but Story's talent is certainly not a product of it. Does that concern you? Definitely not me.

Tier 3 - Shortstop Rankings

The Tier 3 group is quite a diverse bunch. We have Corey Seager whose upside is equivalent to a Tier 2 figure, and a 6'7" monster in the form of Oneil Cruz. Jazz Chisholm, Tim Anderson, and Dansby Swanson are additional members of the Tier 3 club.

Seager is the way to go if you're looking for a classic balance of raw power and contact. His 2022 ventures ended with the worst batting average in his eight-year career- .245, yet he managed to crank a career-high 33 home runs. Despite the unusually low average, I truly believe that Seager is the most talented in this group.

Chisholm's health would likely draw me back at first glance. He hasn't played a full season in three professional years. Although considering the low output of talent for the Marlins, Chisholm is expected to take on a large workload. He is projected to hit 15 HRs while slashing .251/.315/.448 along with 15 swipes. While his output for 2023 is volatile, who knows what a full season would look like?

Swanson, Cruz, and Anderson can all be classified as unpredictable. All three of them are capable of the unimaginable. Cruz on the one hand will commence his first full season in 2023. We all know what the 24-year-old can do. If you want an example, just take a look at his Statcast numbers at shortstop. Funny enough, Cruz has the largest disparity between RotoBaller Rank and Industry Average with a +225.3 difference (out of the top-three Tiers).

Anderson and Swanson have both established themselves as valuable components, and you would have to be insane to pass them up. Swanson recently signed with the Cubs after a career year and will be one of the most valued components in Chicago. Timmy is a hitting machine and has not regressed below the .300 mark since 2018. Although Anderson has been quite injury-prone, which tilts the scale towards a more dependable Swanson.

Tier 4 - Shortstop Rankings

Personally, I would not procrastinate on my shortstop needs, but if you waited till now, you've got some worthwhile options. Two of the three have swapped jerseys over the offseason. Xander Bogaerts and Carlos Correa headline Tier 4, while Andres Gimenez climbs the ladder.

A homegrown product of the Boston area, Bogaerts will now spend the next 11 years in San Diego. With a 34.9 career WAR, it is justifiable to crown him with the consistency label. It would be rare to see him hit 30-plus HRs, but his bat-to-ball skills put him over the top. The 30-year finished 2022 with a 131 OPS+ while retaining a .377 OPB.

I would say that Correa falls under a similar ceiling. One drawback of Correa is his health, but it hasn't affected his intangibles or productivity. He's been fairly healthy over the past two seasons and smacked 48 HRs between the two years. The Giants were clearly hesitant to move forward with Correa's physical, which gave Uncle Stevey the right to sign him. If I was San Francisco, I would do anything to lure in Correa.

What do you think of Andres Gimenez? Is a breakout season appealing in the long run?

Tiers 5, 6, 7 - Shortstop Rankings

Now we are at the stage where your last concern is the shortstop void. If you are a sincere pitching-first geek or an abysmal drafter, then this round is for you. If you are looking for the optimal solution here, then players like Wander Franco and Jeremy Pena immediately come to mind. Some alternative options are Willy Adames, hotshot Gunnar Henderson, Gleyber Torres, and Jorge Polanco.

The aforementioned players would be your best options in this case if you're beseeching an above-to-mid-level shortstop. Franco, Pena, and Henderson are the younger jocks on the rise, and can certainly play a fair game at short. Nick, Jon, and Ben speak quite highly of Adames, and I see no case to speak otherwise. Adames is a pure right-handed hitter with athletic upside on the field. He'll slap 30-plus home runs, like he did this past year, and play quite an impressive game at short.

Torres and Polanco would be classified under the "at your own risk" category. There is a valid reason for placing them as the last Tier 5 players. On one hand, they can catch fire in a jiffy. Yet, it is simultaneously difficult to roll the dice on such inconsistent players. Javier Baez and Eugenio Suarez are nice consolation prizes if you're solely hunting a heavier bat.

Amed Rosario would be my recommendation for Tier 6. He's finally settled in Cleveland and has begun to show-boat his athletic prowess. His wheels on the base path are one attribute of his game, and he displays a comforting variation of hits. Rosario produced a league-leading nine triples and even finished with a career-low 16.6 K%.

Out of the remaining bunch, Vaughn Grissom and Jake Cronenworth would be my go-to players, if you've waited this long. Cronenworth is versatile and can man almost any corner or middle spot. Offensively, he isn't the strongest bat out there, but I'm loving the versatility, although he has developed authentic power which is not to be dismissed (17 HRs in 2022). Grissom, on the other hand, is presumed to take on a substantial workload heading into a full rookie season with the Braves.

Now you've reached a new low. There is no possible way that your shortstop void is the last of picks. Either way, I dug out Christopher Morel and Gavin Lux to end your draft with a bang. Lux has been one of the unsung success stories for the Dodgers and continues to impress. He slashed .292/.369/.415 through the first half of 2022, so give him a chance if he's still around. Morel has just one year of experience in his back pocket, but those 16 home runs truly made a mark. Expect him to see an increased amount of play time in Chicago, if his production levels persist.

That's a wrap, folks! Remember to check out RotoBaller's fantasy kit and keep up with the news! Good luck this season!

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