Shortstop isn’t as loaded at the top as outfield, but it’s arguably fantasy’s 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’s ADP has fallen as he enters 2026, carrying some risk coming off hamate surgery.
Mookie Betts, CJ Abrams and Geraldo Perdomo go in Rounds 5-7, while Jeremy Peña (barring health), 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’s aggregate projections through Fangraphs’ auction calculator, 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.
Moreover, a deep position is about to get even deeper with three of the game’s 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’ll frequently find SS as the most viable target round-to-round, so it’s best not to worry about locking down your MI spot early.
Value targets Mookie Betts, LAD
Betts’ 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’s fully capable of bouncing back at age 33.
Betts was the No. 4 overall fantasy player in 2023, and he’ll bat third in baseball’s best lineup. Dodger Stadium has been the third-most favorable hitter’s park for righties over the past three seasons, including boosting homers an MLB-high 35%. Betts looks like a gift in Rounds 4-5.
Corey Seager, TEX
Seager is one of the league’s 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 — Lindor is the only shortstop with more homers (just four), and he’s played in 138 more games (637 more plate appearances!) over that span. Seager’s Statcast page is elite. He could miss 30 games and still be well worth a pick around No. 100, and he’s a potential “steal of the draft” should he somehow stay healthy.
SleepersEzequiel Tovar, COL
Tovar was a fantasy bust last year, when he suffered hip and oblique injuries as well as a dramatic drop in performance. However, he’s 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’s elite defense helps solidify his role in Colorado’s lineup, where he’s 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.
ATC’s aggregate projections value Tovar as fantasy’s No. 15 shortstop entering 2026, and he’d be the No. 4 second baseman — this highlights both the extreme depth of shortstop and Tovar’s egregiously low composite ADP that somehow sits outside pick No. 225.
Carlos Correa, HOU
Correa remains a heightened injury risk, but that’s 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’s 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’s best hitting shortstops, and he’s a bargain in fantasy drafts.
OvervaluedGeraldo Perdomo, ARI
Perdomo was arguably the biggest surprise of 2025, going from undrafted to finishing as fantasy’s No. 11 overall player. However, he hit just .235/.326/.328 over 1,384 plate appearances from 2022-24 before last season’s breakout, which required 720 plate appearances to reach 20 homers. Perdomo’s 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’s 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’t likely to be a true bust in 2026, but he’s risky given his limited track record and new top-60 ADP at a loaded position.
THE BAT X projects Perdomo to finish as fantasy’s No. 18 shortstop, behind Otto Lopez.
Prospects to watch Konnor Griffin, PIT
Griffin has quickly become one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory. In fact, he’s considered one of the best prospects over the past decade. 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 “would be a tough ask” 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’s home park is one other minor concern, as PNC has decreased HR for RHB by an MLB-high 32% over the past three seasons.
“[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.” https://t.co/LVA7s37HtB
— Dan Zangrilli (@DanZangrilli) February 16, 2026
However, Pittsburgh has already approached Griffin about a long-term contract extension that would seemingly speed up his timeline — he also blasted three homers over his first 14 at-bats this spring, so he may be up immediately. 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’s elite SB potential gives him massive fantasy upside even as a young rookie.
JJ Wetherholt, STL
Wetherholt is the favorite to act as the Cardinals’ 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’s 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.
Kevin McGonigle, DET
McGonigle is another top prospect who might be more ready to contribute than Griffin, who is one year younger. McGonigle is arguably the best hitter in the minors, although he doesn’t possess the same kind of power/speed fantasy potential. Still, McGonigle projects slightly better than Griffin on a per-at-bat basis this season outside of steals, where the latter holds the clear edge. It’s unclear if the rookie opens the year in Detroit, but McGonigle figures to spend the majority of 2026 in the majors either way. It may require a little patience, but McGonigle shouldn’t go later than Wetherholt in fantasy drafts.
Konnor Griffin at AA last year (19yo)
98 PA
.333/.415/.527
7.1% BB, 21.7% K
.205 ISO
.404 BABIP
Kevin McGonigle at AA last year (20yo)
206 PA
.254/.369/.550
16% BB, 12.6% K
.296 ISO
.230 BABIP
McGonigle much more likely to make an impact in 2026 than Griffin (& maybe beyond)
— kev mahserejian (@RotoSurgeon) February 18, 2026
Bold prediction Griffin hits 15 homers and steals 40 bases
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, where Griffin’s 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’s ultimate value depends on how hyped his ADP becomes in your specific league, but there’s undeniable fantasy upside as soon as he gets the opportunity.
ZiPS is the only projection system giving Griffin more than 400 plate appearances, and the rookie’s line is .261/101/14/76/32 over just 128 games.