Shortstop isn\u2019t as loaded at the top as outfield, but it\u2019s arguably fantasy\u2019s deepest position. Outfield requires far more starting spots, and most of those available later in drafts are locked in platoons. Bobby Witt is the head of the class at shortstop and rightfully goes top three in fantasy drafts. Elly De La Cruz and Gunnar Henderson are also common first-round picks, while Trea Turner, Francisco Lindor and Zach Neto go in the top 35. Lindor\u2019s ADP has fallen as he enters 2026, carrying some risk coming off hamate surgery.<\/p>\n
Mookie Betts, CJ Abrams and Geraldo Perdomo go in Rounds 5-7, while Jeremy Pe\u00f1a (barring health<\/a>), Bo Bichette (who will move to 3B this season), Corey Seager, Trevor Story, Willy Adames and Dansby Swanson form a deep middle tier. Using ATC\u2019s aggregate projections through Fangraphs\u2019 auction calculator,<\/a> there are 35% more shortstops than second basemen projected to earn double-digit dollars. Shortstop will be used to fill middle infield (MI) far more than a thinner second base<\/a>.<\/p>\n Moreover, a deep position is about to get even deeper with three of the game\u2019s top prospects appearing ready to contribute in 2026 (and beyond). Shortstop also provides a relatively even distribution of values throughout the draft; in other words, you\u2019ll frequently find SS as the most viable target round-to-round, so it\u2019s best not to worry about locking down your MI spot early.<\/p>\n Value targets Mookie Betts, LAD<\/p>\n Betts\u2019 ADP is down after he posted the lowest wRC+ (104) of his career last season. However, he dealt with a severe illness that caused him to lose 20-30 pounds in March. He also recorded the best K% (10.3) and the worst BABIP (.258) of his career, so regression is coming in 2026. Betts is on the career downside, but he\u2019s fully capable of bouncing back at age 33.<\/p>\n Betts was the No. 4 overall fantasy player in 2023, and he\u2019ll bat third in baseball\u2019s best lineup. Dodger Stadium has been the third-most favorable hitter\u2019s park for righties over the past three seasons, including boosting homers an MLB-high 35%<\/a>. Betts looks like a gift in Rounds 4-5.<\/p>\n Corey Seager, TEX<\/p>\n Seager is one of the league\u2019s bigger injury risks, but his ADP has been overly punished for it. He performs as a top-15 hitter when healthy, without adding much on the base paths. Seager leads all shortstops with a 141 wRC+ since joining Texas in 2022 \u2014 Lindor is the only shortstop with more homers (just four), and he\u2019s played in 138 more games (637 more plate appearances!) over that span. Seager\u2019s Statcast page<\/a> is elite. He could miss 30 games and still be well worth a pick around No. 100, and he\u2019s a potential \u201csteal of the draft\u201d should he somehow stay healthy.<\/p>\n SleepersEzequiel Tovar, COL<\/p>\n Tovar was a fantasy bust last year, when he suffered hip and oblique injuries as well as a dramatic drop in performance. However, he\u2019s just one season removed from being the 11th-most valuable fantasy middle infielder as a 22-year-old. Tovar set career bests in K% (25.1) and BB% (5.4) during his down year in 2025, and his .209 BABIP on the road is sure to regress. Tovar\u2019s elite defense helps solidify his role in Colorado\u2019s lineup, where he\u2019s slated to hit second to open the season. Tovar has his warts, but Coors Field remains a cheat code that will continue to pad his stats.<\/p>\n ATC\u2019s aggregate projections value Tovar as fantasy\u2019s No. 15 shortstop entering 2026, and he\u2019d be the No. 4 second baseman \u2014 this highlights both the extreme depth of shortstop and Tovar\u2019s egregiously low composite ADP<\/a> that somehow sits outside pick No. 225.<\/p>\n Carlos Correa, HOU<\/p>\n Correa remains a heightened injury risk, but that\u2019s clearly priced into his ADP that sits outside pick No. 250. A full-time move to third base could also help keep him on the field this season. He\u2019s a zero in steals, but Correa is a plus in batting average and slated to hit cleanup in Houston. His biggest seasons came in Houston, where Correa performed far better (.785 OPS) last year after getting traded away from the Twins (.704). Correa is still one of MLB\u2019s best hitting shortstops, and he\u2019s a bargain in fantasy drafts.<\/p>\n OvervaluedGeraldo Perdomo, ARI<\/p>\n Perdomo was arguably the biggest surprise of 2025, going from undrafted to finishing as fantasy\u2019s No. 11 overall player. However, he hit just .235\/.326\/.328 over 1,384 plate appearances from 2022-24 before last season\u2019s breakout, which required 720 plate appearances to reach 20 homers. Perdomo\u2019s strong 2025 was no fluke, as he recorded more walks than strikeouts and is clearly a vastly improved hitter. Just realize everything went right last season, and Perdomo\u2019s power is limited with an average exit velocity in the 16th percentile last year. His spring speed was in the 44th percentile, so stolen bases could take a step back as well. Perdomo isn\u2019t likely to be a true bust in 2026, but he\u2019s risky given his limited track record and new top-60 ADP at a loaded position.<\/p>\n THE BAT X projects<\/a> Perdomo to finish as fantasy\u2019s No. 18 shortstop, behind Otto Lopez.<\/p>\n Prospects to watch\u00a0 Konnor Griffin, PIT<\/p>\n Griffin has quickly become one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory. In fact, he\u2019s considered one of the best prospects over the past decade<\/a>. The 19-year-old phenom hit 21 homers, stole 65 bases and recorded a 165 wRC+ over 122 games across the minors last season. Griffin has yet to face Triple-A pitching, with only 21 games of experience above A-ball, so his timeline remains in question. Manager Don Kelly has said that it \u201cwould be a tough ask<\/a>\u201d for Griffin to make the Opening Day roster, and the Pirates have a long history of making their prospects wait (see Bubba Chandler last season). Griffin\u2019s home park is one other minor concern, as PNC has decreased HR for RHB by an MLB-high 32% over the past three seasons.<\/p>\n \u201c[Konnor] Griffin is not only clearly the best prospect in baseball, but one of the top handful of prospects ever evaluated during the current era of FanGraphs scouting, which goes back a little over 10 years.\u201d https:\/\/t.co\/LVA7s37HtB<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Dan Zangrilli (@DanZangrilli) February 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n However, Pittsburgh has already approached Griffin about a long-term contract extension that would seemingly speed up his timeline \u2014 he also blasted three homers over his first 14 at-bats this spring, so he may be\u00a0up immediately<\/a>. Griffin will have to buck history to produce as a 20-year-old in the majors, but his projections are bullish when accounting for playing time. Griffin\u2019s elite SB potential gives him massive fantasy upside even as a young rookie.<\/p>\n JJ Wetherholt, STL<\/p>\n Wetherholt is the favorite to act as the Cardinals\u2019 new second baseman with Brendan Donovan traded to Seattle. Wetherholt was the No. 7 pick in the 2024 draft, and he may lose shortstop eligibility after 2026. He\u2019s far more of a lock to open the season in the majors than Griffin or Kevin McGonigle (below), but offers less fantasy upside. Wetherholt is more of an option in deep and keeper leagues.<\/p>\n Kevin McGonigle, DET<\/p>\n McGonigle is another top prospect who might be more ready to contribute<\/a> than Griffin, who is one year younger. McGonigle is arguably the best hitter in the minors, although he doesn\u2019t possess the same kind of power\/speed fantasy potential. Still, McGonigle projects slightly better<\/a> than Griffin on a per-at-bat basis this season outside of steals, where the latter holds the clear edge. It\u2019s unclear if the rookie opens the year in Detroit, but McGonigle figures to spend the majority of 2026 in the majors<\/a> either way. It may require a little patience, but McGonigle shouldn\u2019t go later than Wetherholt in fantasy drafts.<\/p>\n Konnor Griffin at AA last year (19yo)<\/p>\n 98 PA Kevin McGonigle at AA last year (20yo)<\/p>\n 206 PA McGonigle much more likely to make an impact in 2026 than Griffin (& maybe beyond)<\/p>\n \u2014 kev mahserejian (@RotoSurgeon) February 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Bold prediction Griffin hits 15 homers and steals 40 bases <\/p>\n This prediction may look silly if Pittsburgh keeps its prized rookie buried in the minors for months, but it may not even be considered bold in NFBC drafts<\/a>, where Griffin\u2019s ADP has skyrocketed into Round 11(!) over the past week. Nolan McLean has a composite ADP 100 picks higher, yet Griffin is a bigger favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year. Griffin\u2019s ultimate value depends on how hyped his ADP becomes in your specific league, but there\u2019s undeniable fantasy upside as soon as he gets the opportunity.<\/p>\n ZiPS is the only projection system giving Griffin more than 400 plate appearances, and the rookie\u2019s line is .261\/101\/14\/76\/32 over just 128 games.<\/p>\n
.333\/.415\/.527
7.1% BB, 21.7% K
.205 ISO
.404 BABIP<\/p>\n
.254\/.369\/.550
16% BB, 12.6% K
.296 ISO
.230 BABIP<\/p>\n