Best MLB Shortstops 2026: 10 Best Shortstops in MLB Right Now

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Best MLB Shortstops 2026: 10 Best Shortstops in MLB Right Now

Best MLB Shortstops 2026: 10 Best Shortstops in MLB Right Now — William Purnell-Imagn Images

Matt Johnson · Sportsnaut

Fri, Feb 20, 2026 ·

8 min read

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Who is the best shortstop in MLB? The 2026 Major League Baseball season is right around the corner, with Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr . emerging as one of the best players in the sport. Behind Witt Jr., the best shortstops in baseball are made up of World Series champions, perennial All-Stars and emerging household names.

Let's dive into our list of the best MLB shortstops right now.

1. Bobby Witt Jr, Kansas City Royals

Best MLB Shortstops 2026 — William Purnell-Imagn Images

Bobby Witt Jr. is the best shortstop in baseball. The Kansas City Royals' perennial AL MVP candidate's been one of the best hitters in baseball since 2023, leading the league in hits (395) over the past two seasons. In 2025, Witt (8.0) trailed only Aaron Judge (11.0) and Cal Raleigh (9.1) in FanGraphs' Wins Above Replacement while tying for the second-most steals (38). Strengthening the case, per Baseball Savant , he ranked in the 99th percentile for Fielding Run Value (20), the 98th percentile for Baserunning Run Value (7), and the 93rd percentile for Batting Run Value (28). Witt's still just 25 years old, and his 20.6 bWAR over the last three seasons (6.9 per year) puts him in rare territory this early in his major-league career.

Related: Best MLB Catchers 2026

2. Francisco Lindor , New York Mets

Francisco Lindor should go down as one of the best and most consistent shortstops of this era. He posted an .835 OPS as a rookie and made his first All-Star Game as a 22-year-old, maintaining that excellence for the next decade. From 2016–25, he's averaged nearly 590 at-bats and 149 games played per season, all with a .270/.341/.474 triple-slash line, an .815 OPS, 1,664 hits, 279 home runs, and 216 steals. Even this past season, he led the league in plate appearances (732) while playing through a broken pinky toe. When he returned to full health in 2025, Lindor put up a 1.021 OPS with 27 RBI, 10 doubles, 13 steals, and 10 home runs with a .335/.433/.588 line from August through September. Baseball fans must hope he can stay healthy, because he's on a Hall of Fame trajectory and his personality matches his production and longevity.

Related: Best MLB Pitchers 2026

3. Corey Seager , Texas Rangers

If only Corey Seager could stay healthy. He hasn't reached 125 games played in any of his last three seasons, and he's averaged just 444 at-bats per year since 2021. The number of games the Texas Rangers shortstop misses each season makes it that much more absurd that he's responsible for the third-highest fWAR (17.7) among shortstops over the last three years. Even with all that time missed, he's still tied for third in Defensive Runs Saved (20) during that span. Another way to capture his remarkable production: Seager has the sixth-highest OPS (.911) in baseball over the last three years with a .294 batting average. He's one of the best players in MLB when healthy; sadly, his body simply hasn't been able to hold up for a full season.

4. Trea Turner , Philadelphia Phillies

It sounds absurd to say a three-time All-Star and two-time NL batting champion's underrated, but it certainly feels like Trea Turner's production flies under the radar. Among shortstops in 2025, he finished third in OPS (.812) and steals (36) and ranked among the elite in fWAR (6.7). Even in his age-32 campaign, Turner still ranked in the 100th percentile for Sprint Speed (30.3) and the 99th percentile for Baserunning Run Value (7), all with 99th percentile Outs Above Average (17). All the Philadelphia Phillies could ask for at this point's for Turner to play 150-plus games, but another 5-plus WAR season should be coming.

5. Mookie Betts , Los Angeles Dodgers

It says a lot about the depth at shortstop right now that Mookie Betts ranking fifth on this list feels disrespectful, while it's just as remarkable that the former outfielder's this good at short. Heading into his age-33 season, the resume's historic. Betts's a four-time World Series champion with six Gold Glove Awards and seven Silver Slugger Awards, along with an AL MVP and AL batting title. Equally impressive is the fact that Betts tied for the most Defensive Runs Saved (17) among shortstops, even in a season where his production at the plate plummeted after losing nearly 20 pounds last spring due to a virus. Betts finished September with 6 home runs, an .899 OPS, and a .299/.343/.557 line, but then had a .648 OPS in the postseason. If he can return to his 2024 form (.863 OPS), he's a top-three shortstop. That's just far from a given at 33 years old.

6. Gunnar Henderson , Baltimore Orioles

We certainly understand the argument that Gunnar Henderson's one of the five best MLB shortstops right now. Since the 2023 season, he ranks 21st among qualified hitters in OPS (.831) and fourth in fWAR (18.1) over that span while having a modest 10 Defensive Runs Saved. However, in 2025, Henderson had the eighth-lowest DRS (-3) at his position, placed in the 20th percentile for Outs Above Average (-3), and he had a career-low in OPS (.787). If he recaptures his form from the first four months (.818 OPS, 43 RBI, and 12 home runs) and the fielding improves, he's a top-five shortstop.

7. Geraldo Perdomo , Arizona Diamondbacks

If you only take Geraldo Perdomo's 2025 campaign, the new Arizona Diamondbacks ' fan-favorite should rank much higher among the best MLB shortstops right now. In terms of the metrics, he ranked in the 97th percentile for Batting Run Value (38) and the 94th percentile for Baserunning Run Value (5) thanks to an elite approach at the plate with rare discipline and contact ability. That's reflected in his run production—.851 OPS, 173 hits, 100 RBI, 27 steals, and 20 home runs with more walks (94) than strikeouts (83)—and he's solid defensively. A 7 WAR season warrants ranking higher; we just need to see it replicated since he had a .715 OPS with a combined 5.5 bWAR from 2023–24.

8. Jeremy Pena , Houston Astros

The Houston Astros would be wise to figure out a contract extension with Jeremy Pena, because he'll cash in after 2027 in MLB free agency if the two sides can't agree to a deal. Since 2022, Pena boasts a .271/.320/.417 line with a .737 OPS, and he's delivered 28-plus doubles, 20-plus steals, and 15-plus home runs in consecutive years. This past year, he ranked fifth among shortstops in fWAR (5.6) with the third-best OBP (.363) among shortstops with 400-plus plate appearances. The bat's the carrying tool, but Pena's glove (5 Defensive Runs Saved and 94th percentile Outs Above Average ) with above-average speed make him an exceptional player.

9. Zach Neto , Los Angeles Angels

Selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the 13th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Zach Neto made his major-league debut just a year later. It was a rough rookie campaign, but he's been excellent since his age-23 season. From 2024–25, Neto put up a .776 OPS and has registered a 5.1 bWAR each year. Part of his value comes from his fielding, captured by the fourth-most Defensive Runs Saved (13) in 2025 and the second-most DRS (24) over the last two seasons among all shortstops. If Neto can maintain the run production he delivered before September of last season (.807 OPS), the 25-year-old can be even higher on this list next season.

10. Elly De La Cruz , Cincinnati Reds

The ceiling's absurdly high with Elly De La Cruz. In 2025, the Cincinnati Reds shortstop ranked in the 93rd percentile for Arm Strength (92.2 mph), the 91st percentile for Sprint Speed (29.1 mph), and he's consistently produced some of the highest Max Exit Velocities since entering the majors. There've been stretches where he looks like an All-MLB caliber player, as he did before the 2025 All-Star break with 63 RBI, 18 home runs, and an .854 OPS. However, he struggled in the second half, posting just a .666 OPS with 23 RBI and 4 home runs. De La Cruz also has one of the lowest Defensive Runs Saved totals (-7) over the last two years and finished in the 23rd percentile for Outs Above Average in 2025. He's got the tools to be so much better; it just hasn't all come together yet for the 24-year-old.

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