One of the best strategies a fantasy manager can take into drafts is to have a contingency plan. Everyone has a game plan going in, but inevitably plans will have to change. To help deal with those situations, here are my favorite early, mid, and late-round targets at shortstop. I am using NFBC ADP over the last week for reference.
Early Round Shortstop Target
Francisco Lindor – NYM
Assuming most fantasy managers will miss out on Bobby Witt Jr., Elly De La Cruz, and Gunnar Henderson in the first 10 picks, Francisco Lindor is a great choice at the position.
Aside from his first season with the Mets in 2021, Lindor has been a model of consistency. Since 2017, he has reached at least 30 home runs five times. In four of those seasons, he stole at least 20 bases, including one season of 31 steals. Lindor also has at least 100 runs or 100 RBI in five of the last seven seasons (not counting 2020). He has also reached a .270 AVG in five of those seasons as well.
Lindor has arguably gotten better with age and is a spry 31 years old this season. Since 2021, his barrel rate has increased each season to a career-high 13% last season. The same goes for his career-high 47% HardHit rate last year too. Lindor’s strikeout rate has never reached 20%, and his plate discipline has given him a career average 81% contact rate.
All this is to say that Lindor is an incredibly safe bet as an early-round target at shortstop.
Mid-Round Shortstop Target
Masyn Winn – STL
As far as mid-round targets at shortstop, Masyn Winn makes for a great pick. Last season, his first full season with the Cardinals, he posted 15 homers, 85 runs, 57 RBI, 11 steals, and a .267 AVG. If that is his floor, I would be happy to take him around pick 150.
Winn improved significantly from his 37-game stint in 2023 to a 150-game season last year. He decreased his K% and upped his barrel rate. Winn also drove and pulled the ball better than in 2023, which bodes well for his ability to pick up hits this season if he can continue to improve his pull rate. He also cut his groundball rate by 6% and added to his overall contact rate.
His projections reflect continued growth in these areas. Most of his projections have him surpassing 15 homers and 15 steals, while also improving his run and RBI numbers. If that turns out to be the case, he would be a steal as a mid-round shortstop.
Late Round Shortstop Target
Orlando Arcia – ATL
The market seems to be too low on Orlando Arcia this season after a drop in AVG in 2024. In 2023, Arcia hit 17 home runs and had 66 runs, 65 RBI, and a .264 AVG. Last year, he hit the same number of homers but saw decreases in all of the other stats. Despite that, fantasy baseball managers should consider drafting him as a late-round target.
Arcia has a career .281 BABIP, so his .249 BABIP last season is a clear indicator that something went wrong last season. Many of his down metrics had to do with discipline. His hard contact and line drive/pull rates were either better or the same for his career. So as a career .242 hitter, it does not make sense why he would bat .218 unless he just encountered some bad luck.
It looks like a bounce-back could be in order for the veteran, who also should not face much competition for playing time at short.
For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.
