Pedro Oliveira
Perhaps the most demanding, athletic and with most highlights infield position are the shortstops, the ones who get most of the spotlight and attention, for better or worse. And in this era of elite baseball, it is one of the positions that has taken the most 6-digit contracts so far.
4.- Brandon Crawford – San Francisco Giants
The first pick of the 2015 draft, the star prospect had his best campaign in 2021, achieving a .248/.311/.449 line accompanied by 27 homers, 88 RBIs, 78 runs scored, 33 doubles (all career highs) and 9 stolen bases in 160 games played.
Defensively, Swanson ranks as the sixth-best shortstop in MLB with a 98.2% fielding percentage, committing 10 errors, turning 64 double plays and leading the National League in assists with 376. The mature 28-year-old’s have been key to the Braves’ performance in winning the division pennant and, most recently, the World Series.
Being part of the Bay Area franchise since the beginning of his career in 2011, Crawford is one of the most important veterans within the Giants’ locker room and although his lumber had never been able to keep up with his defensive ability and team value, 2021 would be a year when everything would change for the veteran.
At 34, the shortstop would have the best offensive season of his career, posting a .298/.373/.522 line with 24 homers, 90 RBIs, 30 doubles, 11 stolen bases and 79 runs scored (all career highs). He would earn not only his third career All-Star Game appearance, but also the National League Gold Glove at shortstop.
If this performance by Crawford is a pattern to be repeated during the 2022 campaign, it is complicated to see San Francisco out of the fight for their division and for reaching the World Series.
3.- Trevor Story – Colorado Rockies (Free Agent)
In a Colorado Rockies that showed no signs of having the ability to be a competitive team beyond having one of the most hitter-friendly stadiums, Trevor Story continued at a level he is no stranger to.
However, Story would also feel the dip in performance that all of his other teammates went through offensively: having his worst season since 2017. Still, he managed to put together a .251/.329/.471 line with 24 homers, 75 RBIs, 88 runs scored, 34 doubles, 5 triples and 20 stolen bases in 26 attempts.
As one of the premium shortstops in free agents, Story’s arrival in any team will mean an upgrade in performance, and the 29-year-old veteran will try to return to his best on a roster that is much more competitive than his previous team.
2.- Francisco Lindor – New York Mets
The Puerto Rican’s worst season came at the worst possible time: during his first season with the Mets (after being traded before Spring Training to the Cleveland Guardians of the American League), he was able to get back on track with the Mets, who had traded him to the Cleveland Guardians before Spring Training.The signing of his 10-year, $341 million contract, the 28-year-old shortstop had his worst numbers in his 7-year career span: .230/.322/.412 with 20 homers, 63 RBIs, 73 runs scored, 16 doubles and 10 stolen bases in 14 attempts.
Lindor’s season was also reflected in the record of the Mets, who finished third in their division with 77 wins and 85 losses. The Puerto Rican’s track record keeps him in our ranking in second place, as we do not expect his 2021 to be repeated in the upcoming campaign. Lindor’s level is to be an MVP candidate or at the very least, an All-Star without a doubt.
1.- Fernando Tatís Jr. – San Diego Padres
The shortstop did not stop after having a devastating performance in 2020. Despite suffering two dislocations in his left shoulder during the 2021 crop year, the 23-year-old star completed 130 appearances in which he posted career-best numbers of .282/.364/.611 overall with 42 homers (led the National League), 97 RBIs, 99 runs scored, 31 doubles and 25 stolen bases in 29 attempts.
After such a campaign, Tatís earned his first All-Star Game appearance and his second Silver Slugger, in addition to finishing third for the old circuit MVP award.
2022 represents the opportunity for El Niño to not only continue to build on his legacy as an MLB superstar, but also to cement a more successful postseason breakthrough with the San Diego team.
