MLB The Show 23: 9 Best Shortstops, Ranked (2024)

Quality shortstops in baseball are defensive masterminds in the infield and have quick enough reflexes to complete double plays. Higher-quality shortstops might also be speedsters on the base paths or dynamic offensive hitters at the plate in addition to being competent fielders.

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With MLB The Show 23 on the market, it’s time to highlight the best players at the shortstop position. We’re in the midst of a changing of the guard with all but one player among the top players is under 30 years old. Let’s take a look at who’s the best of the best at the shortstop position.

9 Willy Adames - 84

After spending the first three seasons of his career with the Tampa Bay Rays, Willy Adames was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. Over the course of his five-year career, Adames hasn’t won any personal accolades or received any All-Star nominations, but he’s developed into a solid player.

He’s hit over 20 home runs in back-to-back seasons, feasting on right-handed pitching (82). He’s a plus fielder (84) with a strong arm (80). Adames doesn’t have as high of a potential mark (B) as other players, indicating that the 27-year-old might not get much better than how he is currently.

8 Bo Bichette - 84

Bo Bichette is one year removed from his first All-Star nomination. The Toronto Blue Jays shortstop has led the American League in hits in back-to-back seasons, quickly establishing himself as one of the best hitters in the game.

Naturally, Bichette has extremely high marks in contact hitting (87 right, 94 left), as well as high marks in clutch hitting (90) and durability (97). He excels in hitting breaking balls and driving in runs. Despite having subpar defensive ratings, Bichette’s production at the plate makes up for his inefficiencies in the field.

7 Tommy Edman - 84

The St. Louis Cardinals have always excelled in developing young talent and that trend continues with Tommy Edman. The 27-year-old has spent four seasons in the major leagues, earning himself a Gold Glove award for his defensive performance.

Edman’s value doesn’t come from the plate but from the field. He has a perfect fielding rating (99) and high marks in accuracy (81) and reaction time (88). When he is at the plate, Edman tries to take advantage of the first pitch and might utilize his speed (79) to steal bases (71).

6 Corey Seager - 85

Corey Seager is coming off an All-Star season in his debut year with the Texas Rangers. After signing Seager to a lucrative contract in the offseason, the 28-year-old responded by appearing in the second-most games of his career and having an impact on offense.

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Although Seager had the lowest batting average of his career (.245), he’s still a reliable hitter at the plate. He has average contact ratings (79 right, 72 left) with slightly higher power ratings (75 right, 85 left). Seager doesn’t have any outstanding defensive qualities but can shift elsewhere on the infield.

5 Xander Bogaerts - 86

Trying to save money in their rebuild, the Boston Red Sox elected not to re-sign four-time All-Star Xander Bogaerts. The 30-year-old signed with the San Diego Padres in hopes of finally toppling the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bogaerts is a tremendous hitter with a perfect contact rating against left-handers (99). He’s not as effective against righties but can still make solid contact (83). He’s an adequate fielder (68) with decent accuracy (74), so as long as he takes his time defensively there shouldn’t be an issue.

4 Dansby Swanson - 88

Two years removed from winning his first World Series championship, Dansby Swanson swapped teams and joined the Chicago Cubs in the offseason. Coming off his first All-Star nomination, Swanson has only missed two games in the last two seasons and back-to-back seasons of double-digit home runs.

His two missed games are a direct result of Swanson’s perfect durability rating (99), as the shortstop remains healthy. He’s an average hitter, favoring contact (73 right, 77 left) over power (67 right, 63 left). Swanson’s value for the Cubs comes from his defensive play; he’s an excellent fielder (93) with an accurate arm (83) and high reaction time (80).

3 Carlos Correa - 89

After spending the first seven years of his career with the Houston Astros, Carlos Correa joined the Minnesota Twins in 2022. He regressed a bit from his All-Star season in 2021 but still managed to be an important factor for the Twins. Correa attempted to sign with the New York Mets in the offseason but a failed physical drove him back to Minnesota.

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Although Correa has been in the league since 2015, he’s still fairly young at 28 years old. He’s mainly a contact hitter (78 right, 85 left) but routinely hits around 20 home runs per season. Correa is an outstanding fielder (83) with a strong arm (95) and high accuracy (81). His defensive prowess earned him a Gold Glove award in 2021.

2 Francisco Lindor - 89

From 2015 to 2020, Francisco Lindor was the face of Cleveland baseball. He had a dominating stretch from 2016 to 2019 where he was selected to four straight All-Star games and led the league in multiple offensive categories. In 2021, he was traded to the New York Mets where he hasn’t regained his All-Star form but he’s been a solid contributor.

As a switch hitter, Lindor tries to take advantage of the whole field at the plate. His offensive ratings are fairly equal against right-handers (70 contact, 68 power) and left-handers (75 contact, 70 power) and he excels at hitting badly thrown pitches. With two Gold Gloves in his career, Lindor is also a stout fielder (90) making him one of the top shortstops in the game.

1 Trea Turner - 92

Checking in as the best shortstop in MLB The Show 23 happens to be suiting up for a new team this season. Trea Turner agreed to a massive contract with the Philadelphia Phillies to team up with his former teammate from Washington, Bryce Harper. Turner had a brief two-year stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers before heading off to the City of Brotherly Love.

Turner is one of the best contact hitters in the game against both righties (88) and lefties (99). His power hitting is a bit more inconsistent but he can hammer one against southpaws (86). When he’s on base, Turner utilizes his incredible speed (99) and aggression (99) to put pressure on opposing defenses. He’s a slightly below-average fielder (67) in his own right but Turner’s offensive production and speed on the base paths add up to him being the best shortstop out there.

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