Shortstops are usually the most athletic players on the field and rightfully so because the position requires a lot of versatility. Shortstops have the responsibility of managing the infield. They have to have a high IQ and great arm strength and are essential to your ability to make double plays.
Below is a list of the top 10 shortstops in MLB The Show 22. Just like any team sport, make sure that you get the player that is the right fit. However, for the most part, shortstops do so many things that the elite ones will fit into any team. You won’t go wrong picking anyone on this list.
10. Xander Bogaerts (OVR 82)
Team: Boston Red Sox
Age: 29
Total Salary: $20,000,000
Years on Contract: 4 yrs
Secondary Position(s): 2B, 3B
Best Attributes: 88 Durability, 87 Batting Clutch, 87 Contact vs RHP
Xander Bogaerts is a 3x all-star and 2x World Series champion. He is an above-average offensive player outside of bunting. Although he rates high enough to be lethal as a power hitter, his contact attributes are exceptionally high. Bogaerts has an 87 contact rating against right-hand pitchers and falls only slightly lower against lefties with a 71 rating. Clutch hitting isn’t a problem as he boasts an elite level 87 in that category to go along with well above average plate vision and discipline.
Bogaerts isn’t the best fielding shortstop but he rates slightly above average in all fielding categories. He has a 76 throw accuracy attribute which makes him great as a playmaker. Bogaerts is also an extremely reliable everyday type of shortstop with an 88 durability rating. It’s best to use him when you already have a strong infield group and are in search of a strong bat or if you already have a strong shortstop and you need a third baseman that can hit well. During the 2021 season, he hit 23 home runs, 79 RBIs, and a .295 batting average.
9. Brandon Crawford (OVR 82)
Team: San Francisco Giants
Age: 35
Total Salary: $16,000,000
Years on Contract: 2
Secondary Position(s): 2B, 3B
Best Attributes: 90 Reaction Time, 87 Arm Strength, 85 Fielding Ability
Brandon Crawford was an all-star and Gold Glove winner in 2021. It is easy to see by looking at his player card that he is a monster shortstop. He has an 80+ rating in every defensive category. Crawford has a 92 reaction time rating which is amazing. With his arm strength of 87 and a fielding ability rating of 85, he leaves nothing to desire in the infield.
Crawford isn’t’ a terrible at-bat by any stretch of the imagination. He just jumps off the page as a fielder, so, by contrast, you may underestimate him. He rates above average in every category as well as having great plate vision and discipline. Crawford’s best attribute on offense is a 77 contact rating vs right-hand pitchers. All around, he is a pretty solid baseball player, but if you need to strengthen your infield and have a strong batting lineup already, Crawford is perfect for you. He hit 24 home runs and 90 RBIs and had a .298 batting average during the 2021 season.
8. Nicky Lopez (OVR 83)
Team: Kansas City Royals
Age: 27
Total Salary: $2,000,000
Years on Contract: Arbitration
Secondary Position(s): 2B, 3B
Best Attributes: 92 Durability, 87 Reaction Time, 85 Accuracy
Nicky Lopez is definitely not a power hitter but has a 67 contact rating against right-handed pitchers and a 62 contact rating against left-hand pitchers. His power ratings are under 40 versus righties and lefties. He makes up for the power with exceptional base running skills. Lopez rates 69 for speed, 74 for steal attribute, and 75 for baserunning aggressiveness. Don’t worry about him missing games as he has a 92 durability attribute.
He is undoubtedly solid on defense. He only rates under 80 in one defensive category with a 75 arm strength attribute. Overall, he has a 92 fielding ability, 85 throw accuracy, and 87 reaction time. Lopez is an elite athlete all around. Home runs are nice but a shortstop that plays defense on an elite level and masters the art of running bases is definitely worth adding to your club. During the 2021 season, he had 78 runs, 43 RBIs, and an impressive .300 batting average.
7. Tim Anderson (OVR 83)
Team: Chicago White Sox
Age: 28
Total Salary: $7,250,000
Years on Contract: 3 yrs
Secondary Position(s): 2B, 3B
Best Attributes: 95 Contact vs LHP, 78 Contact vs RHP, 73 Fielding Ability
The first thing that pops out about Tim Anderson is that he can definitely hit the ball well.
He does rate about average when it comes to power but it’s nowhere close to his skill as a contact hitter. Anderson has excellent base running skills and has a 95 contact rating against left-hand pitchers and a 78 contact rating against righties. There can be some improvement in plate discipline but as the player, you can control when you swing.
Anderson does most things on the field on an all-star level, which he was rewarded with for the first time in 2021. His fielding ability is rated at 73 along with a 73 arm strength and 75 reaction time. He is an extremely well-rounded shortstop that would add a lot of value to your club. In 2021, Anderson hit 17 home runs, 61 RBIs and had a .309 batting average.
6. Francisco Lindor (OVR 84)
Team: New York Mets
Age: 28
Total Salary: $32,000,000
Years on Contract: 10
Secondary Position(s): 2B, 3B
Best Attributes: 99 Reaction Time, 72 Power vs RHP, 95 Fielding Ability
There is nowhere on the field that the ball can be put into play and Francisco Lindor is unaware of it. He has a mouthwatering 99 reaction time. Being in the right position to make the right play is about 60% of a shortstop’s job, so maxing out there already puts him in rare air. Not only does he react well, but he also executes well with a 95 fielding rating and 73 throw accuracy. This shortstop knows how to play and has two Gold Gloves to prove it.
Lindor is also a four-time all-star and two-time silver slugger. It’s no secret that shortstops are usually the most athletic players on the field. Lindor is no exception. He has 64 speed, elite-level defense, and is respected at the plate. He has a 72 power rating against right-hand pitchers to go along with 72 plate vision and 70 plate discipline. He can know what the right ball looks like, knows how to wait for it, and knows how to knock it out of the park. In 2021, Lindor hit 20 home runs,63 RBIs and had a .230 batting average.
5. Javier Baez (87 OVR)
Team: Detroit Tigers
Age: 29
Total Salary: $20,000,000
Years on Contract: 6 yrs
Secondary Position(s): 2B, 3B, CF
Best Attributes: 87 Power vs RHP, 93 Arm Strength, 86 Reaction Time
Javier Baez is a well-above-average all-around baseball player. All of his fielding attributes are at least 70. Baez has a 75 reaction time which means he knows how to be in the right place at the right time to make the right play. He has a 90 durability rating, so you don’t have to worry about him needing a lot of rest in Franchise or Road to the Show gameplay modes.
Baez is very effective at the plate, although his 43 plate vision attribute means he will have a smaller than average plate coverage indicator. He has a 74 clutch rating and hits best against lefties with an 87 power rating and a 79 contact rating. He is an excellent baserunner with 78 speed and rates in the high 60s in the steal and baserunning aggressiveness categories. Baez hit 22 home runs and 65 RBIs and had a .248 batting average.
4. Carlos Correa (OVR 87)
Team: Minnesota Twins
Age: 27
Total Salary: $35,100,000
Years on Contract: 3 yrs
Secondary Position(s): 2B, 3B
Best Attributes: 86 Fielding Ability, 95 Arm Strength, 91 Reaction Time
Carlos Correa was a 2021 Platinum Glove winner which makes him the best of the best on defense across the entire league. All of his defensive attribute ratings are over 85. Correa can turn a potential base hit into a double play with his 95 arm strength and 86 fielding ability. He also reads balls in play well with a 91 reaction time.
Correa isn’t a slouch in the batter’s box either. He has a 78 power rating against right-hand pitchers and an 80 contact rating against left-hand pitchers. He hits about average in general but turns in up a notch at the end of games or with runners on base with a 60 clutch rating. Correa is an exceptional shortstop on both sides of the ball. He had a productive 2021 season with 26 home runs, 92 RBIs, and a .279 batting average.
3. Bo Bichette (OVR 87)
Team: Toronto Blue Jays
Age: 24
Total Salary: $723,550
Years on Contract:1
Secondary Position(s): 2B, 3B
Best Attributes: 99 Contact vs LHP, 98 Batting Clutch, 97 Durability
Bo Bichette brings a whole more to a club than just defense. He has a 99 contact rating vs LHP and a 98 batting clutch attribute. Bichette also scores high when it comes to power against right and left-hand pitchers. A batter with his ability will generate tons of RBIs.
Bichette has 66 speed, which benefits him as a baserunner and defender. His 97 durability secures him in your lineup day in and day out. Bichette would be a substantial upgrade to any defense. He hit 29 home runs,102 RBIs and had a batting average of .298 in the 2021 season.
2. Trea Turner (OVR 94)
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Age: 28
Total Salary: $21,000,000
Years on Contract: 1
Secondary Position(s): 2B, 3B, CF
Best Attributes: 99 Speed, 99 Contact vs LHP, 87 Batting Clutch
Trea Turner is one of two shortstops that have a 90+ overall rating. He is a monster athlete with 99 speed, 90 durability, and 99 baserunning aggressiveness. He has 5 categories where he rates in the 90s and 3 of them are maxed out at 99. As a fielder, he scores at least 70 in each category with his 76 overall fielding ability.
Turner has no weaknesses as a hitter. He hits very well against lefties and righties. His contact vs lefties is maxed out at 99, while against righties, he still scores an impressive 81. He is an elite baserunner with 90+ in all three of those categories with two maxing out at 90. Wrap that up with 87 batting clutch and he’s almost the perfect player unless you care about bunting.
1. Fernando Tatis Jr. (OVR 94)
Team: San Diego Padres
Age: 23
Total Salary: $5,000,000
Years on Contract: 13
Secondary Position(s): 2B, 3B, LF, CF, RF
Best Attributes: 97+ Power vs RHP/LHP, 99 Arm Strength, 99 Batting Clutch
Fernando Tatis Jr’s player card looks more like a user created player’s attributes than anyone in the real world. He has 7 categories in the 90s and 4 of them are 97+. He is an elite batter, an elite fielder, baserunner, and clutch hitter with great discipline at the plate. He led the NL in home runs last year and made the all-star team.
His hitting is outstanding. As a power hitter, he has a 97+ rating against right and left-hand pitchers. His contact attributes are at an elite level too. He is very useful with runners on base or towards the end of games with him maxing out 99 batting clutch. Last year, he hit 42 home runs, had 97 RBIs, and a .282 batting average.
These are the top shortstops in MLB The Show 22. There are some really impressive players on this list so don’t overthink it. The likelihood of regret in picking one of these guys is almost zero.