Shortstop is one of those positions that you now look to for both power and speed. Both Gunner Henderson and Zach Neto come through in both categories, and as long as they stay healthy, they’ll earn their early-round status in our AL-Only shortstop rankings. Before they come off the board, though, Bobby Witt will already have been selected as one of the top players in all of baseball.
Have no fear, though, as there are other strong options further down in the rankings. Shortstop will likely be where your middle infielder comes from as well. Let’s take a look at some intriguing options along with our rankings.
American League Only Shortstop Notes
Jacob Wilson, Athletics
As we want power and speed from the dynamic shortstop options available, it’s easy for Jacob Wilson to get lost in the shuffle. And that is simply not fair.
Yes, you aren’t going to get power or speed from Wilson. But that’s not who he is, and we can’t expect otherwise. That doesn’t mean he can’t be a valuable fantasy option, though. It also doesn’t hurt that his draft price is a lot less than that of the elite options. Not only does it allow you to focus on other areas of your team, but Wilson also provides you with some flexibility in roster construction.
We also can’t call Wilson a liability, though. In 125 games last season, he did hit 13 home runs. What might be most interesting is that Wilson’s home runs were essentially down the middle, with seven at home and six on the road. The problem, though, is that there’s nothing in his metrics (.134 ISO and 2.2% barrel rate) to suggest there’s any upside. However, if Wilson can stay healthy and increase his games played, there’s a small chance he picks up a few more home runs.
In what’s becoming a strong lineup, Wilson finished with 63 RBI and 62 runs scored. We are burying the lead, though, as Wilson hit .311. Batting average has become increasingly hard to come by, and Wilson can help erase a lot of issues in other areas as you focus on power and speed. Regardless, Wilson is one of the more dependable options.
Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
Will this be the year that Corey Seager stays healthy? Over the last three seasons, Seager has played 119, 123, and 102 games, respectively. The good news is that despite the lack of at-bats, the production has remained.
The implication that Seager is going to miss some time is already factored into his price on draft day. That’s the good news, but be prepared to tap a replacement level replacement at some point in the season. Depending on your league size, it might not be that bad.
In 102 games last season, Seager hit .271 with 21 home runs, 50 RBI, and 61 runs scored. If he continues at that level, whether it’s Seager or his replacement, you should be able to pencil in about 30-35 home runs and around 85 RBI and runs from the shortstop position.
Seager’s skills are still elite. He had a solid .216 ISO, but that’s burying the lead. Not only did he finish with a .285 xBA compared to his .271 batting average, but Seager’s .569 xSLG (.487 SLG) certainly gets our attention. When coupled with his 15.3% barrel rate and 53.6% hard hit rate, it’s hard not to think that Seager’s still in the prime of his career.
Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers
Do we think that Zack McKinstry is an everyday shortstop or a utility player? Considering the answer likely swings to the latter, that means we should be seeing a lot of Kevin McGonigle at shortstop this season for the Detroit Tigers.
Given his top prospect, it certainly makes sense. And with the Tigers in what seemingly appears to be a win-now state, it only makes sense to see McGonigle in Detroit.
Even if he doesn’t stick at shortstop, the Tigers are also giving McGonigle a chance to show what he can do across the infield. In 88 games last season, beginning in A-ball and ending at Double-A, McGonigle showed what he can do.
The shortstop hit .305 while walking (14.9%) more often than he struck out (11.6%). McGonigle also hit 19 home runs with 80 RBI while scoring 68 runs and stealing 10 bases. McGonigle’s plate skills have always been there, but expanding the power was a welcome development in 2025. We should expect to see a lot of him in Detroit in 2026.
2026 AL-Only Shortstop Rankings
| Rnk | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bobby Witt Jr. | KC |
| 2 | Gunnar Henderson | BAL |
| 3 | Zach Neto | LAA |
| 4 | Jeremy Pena | HOU |
| 5 | Trevor Story | BOS |
| 6 | Corey Seager | TEX |
| 7 | Jacob Wilson | ATH |
| 8 | Colson Montgomery | CWS |
| 9 | Jose Caballero | NYY |
| 10 | Carlos Correa | HOU |
| 11 | Kevin McGonigle | DET |
| 12 | Anthony Volpe | NYY |
| 13 | Ernie Clement | TOR |
| 14 | Chase Meidroth | CWS |
| 15 | Brooks Lee | MIN |
| 16 | J.P. Crawford | SEA |
| 17 | Zach McKinstry | DET |
| 18 | Colt Emerson | SEA |
| 19 | Josh Smith | TEX |
| 20 | Javier Baez | DET |
| 21 | Brayan Rocchio | CLE |
| 22 | Gabriel Arias | CLE |
| 23 | Carson Williams | TB |
| 24 | Kaelen Culpepper | MIN |
| 25 | Trey Sweeney | DET |
For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.
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