Five Bold Shortstop Predictions for 2019

This position, potentially more than any other, has really risen up the ranks the last three years. While it typically held a handful of 10/20 players, a few have really separated themselves as elite, providing 25+ Home Runs and 20 + Steals.

1 . At-bats for the total MLB is led by two shortstops.

Justification: So it happened last year (Francisco Lindor and Trea Turner) but you have to go back to 2013 to find a shortstop who was in the top two. I can see it being Lindor, Turner, Machado, Peraza, Amed Rosario even Story or Galvis under crazy circumstances. Shortstops are becoming an increasingly consistent and important player in the lineup and it is showing in this statistic.

2. Five of the Top 15 players in steals are shortstops.

Justification: Again, this one happened last year and it was the first time in a LONG time. Candidates include Francisco Lindor, Trea Turner, Adalberto Mondesi, Trevor Story and Tim Anderson but Jose Peraza, Amed Rosario and Jean Segura could sneak in there too.

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

3. Amed Rosario is a Top 10 shortstop (currently ranked in the 15-20 range)

Justification: Looking at how he progressed over his first full season showed me exactly what I would like to see from a blossoming player. He came out swinging, hit some struggles when pitchers adjusted, and then countered his approach and came out better for it. This isn’t an elite player, but I think he has a chance to make quite a few owners proud this year.

March – 7 AB, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, .286 avg, 0 SB
April – 73 AB, 9 runs, 6 RBIs, .233 avg, 0 SB
May – 94 AB, 11 runs, 10 RBIs, .277 avg, 3 SBs
June – 74 AB, 7 runs, 3 RBIs, .216 avg, 1 SB
July – 81 AB, 10 runs, 6 RBIs, .210 avg, 5 SBs
August – 112 AB, 21 runs, 16 RBIs, .286 avg, 7 SBs
September – 113 AB, 16 runs, 8 RBIs, .283 avg, 8 SBs

4. Francisco Lindor will not eclipse 100 runs OR 100 RBIs this season.

Justification: Cleveland was good and they still are, but a lot was clicking between Jose Ramirez, Lindor, and Michael Brantley. They were feeding off each other being so close in the lineup. Expect a bit of regression from that group, especially with Brantley gone this year.

5. No shortstop lands in the Top 10 in home runs this year.

Justification: As I mentioned, Lindor will regress a bit. But I also think Manny Machado went for power over base hitting last year, and I think Trevor Story comes down a bit as well (he tends to ebb and flow with his all or nothing swinging mentality).