The question now, as I’m sure you know, is what can we expect from Perdomo in 2026? How much of his breakout was sustainable? His placement ahead of Betts and De La Cruz on this list should tell you that we’re pretty confident he tapped into something real. However, it will take another year of star-caliber performance for him to earn a spot in the top five.

5. Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies

Average Ranking: 5.375

2025 Stats: 141 G, .304/.355/.457, 15 HR, 36 SB, 69 RBI, 125 wRC+, 6.7 fWAR

Trea Turner won the NL batting title in 2025, for the second time in his career. Unlike the player who won the NL’s batting title the two years prior, Turner is so much more than his batting average.

Now in his mid-thirties, Turner remains one of the fastest players in the sport, a skill that complements his contact skills nicely. He’s also got some pop in his bat, and while he only hit 15 home runs last year (his lowest total ever in a full season), he supplemented those homers with 31 doubles and seven triples. He also used his wheels to turn plenty of his singles into RISP situations.

Even by the most conservative metric, Turner’s defense improved in 2025. It seems unlikely he can maintain that trend as he enters his mid-thirties, but if nothing else, it’s a good indication that he’s not going to need to move off shortstop in the near future. That’s great for Turner and the Phillies, because a player who can post a 125 wRC+ and steal 30 bases while handling himself at shortstop is a very valuable player indeed.

Average Ranking: 3.75

2025 Stats: 102 G, .271/.373/.487, 21 HR, 50 RBI, 138 wRC+, 4.0 fWAR

If only Corey Seager could stay on the field. Over the last three years, he has a 152 wRC+, 25 DRS, and 7 OAA. That’s been good for 15.0 fWAR, fourth among primary shortstops.

Unfortunately, he’s only played 344 out of a possible 486 games. His average of 6.5 fWAR per 150 games in that span is elite, and it’s just such a shame that injuries have prevented him from showing off the full extent of his greatness.

One could easily make a case for Turner over Seager, especially after the year Turner just had. But the thought of the numbers Seager could put up in a full, healthy season is just too tantalizing. It may not be pragmatic to rank such an injury-prone player this high, but it’s a lot more fun to rank players on pure talent.

Average Ranking: 3.25

2025 Stats: 154 G, .274/.349/.438, 17 HR, 30 SB, 68 RBI, 120 wRC+, 4.8 fWAR

Gunnar Henderson is already a Rookie of the Year, a Silver Slugger, an All-Star, and a top-five MVP finisher, and somehow, I’m not fully convinced we’ve seen him put it all together yet.