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AIresearched baseline+1vote per month
Saved 2026-08-13 snapshot, not a live ranking. A consensus-style ranking of MLB shortstops right now, balancing 2026 performance with established all-around value and defensive impact.
FACT MODEA saved dated comparison, not a live standings, injury, roster, or fantasy update. Scores and votes are retained from the original selection.
01
KCR
Kansas City Royals
Bobby Witt Jr.
Witt combines elite speed, power, defense, and durability, making him the strongest all-around shortstop choice right now.
Multiple supplied rankings identify Witt as the leading shortstop, while 2026 coverage highlights his stolen-base leadership and continued 20-homer, 30-steal production.
Lindor remains a polished two-way shortstop whose power, baserunning, defense, and sustained production keep him among the position’s safest elite choices.
Supplied rankings repeatedly place Lindor near the top and cite his 30-homer, 85-RBI, stolen-base capability, positive OAA, and broad defensive range.
De La Cruz offers rare power and speed with improving production, giving him one of baseball’s highest ceilings and most disruptive all-around profiles.
Supplied 2026 coverage credits De La Cruz with a strong OPS, 22 home runs, and league-leading shortstop stolen-base impact, while multiple rankings place him near the top.
Turner brings a high offensive floor, speed, and veteran consistency, though his current-season start trails the younger stars above him.
Supplied sources cite Turner’s 2025.812 OPS, 36 steals, and 6.7 fWAR, while current coverage says he has struggled to open 2026 but remains among MLB’s best.
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THE SCORING
HOW ALL FIVE SCORED
The five criteria create the AI baseline. The community adjustment is then added or subtracted to produce the current published score.
Keep the criteria fixedSwipe to compare all five →
Criterion
#1Bobby Witt Jr.
#2Francisco Lindor
#3Elly De La Cruz
#4Gunnar Henderson
#5Trea Turner
94
92
93
88
89
98
94
94
93
89
94
96
88
91
85
100
89
99
87
95
94
95
91
91
89
AI baseline scoreWeighted criteria result
95.9
93.2
93.0
90.0
89.1
Community adjustmentVote-share influence
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Current published scoreBaseline + community
96
93
93
90
89
#1
Bobby Witt Jr.
96/100
AI baseline95.9
Community0.0
Published96
#2
Francisco Lindor
93/100
AI baseline93.2
Community0.0
Published93
#3
Elly De La Cruz
93/100
AI baseline93.0
Community0.0
Published93
#4
Gunnar Henderson
90/100
AI baseline90.0
Community0.0
Published90
#5
Trea Turner
89/100
AI baseline89.1
Community0.0
Published89
Offense · 30%Overall offensive production and run creation.
THE SCORING
HOW ALL FIVE SCORED
The five criteria create the AI baseline. The community adjustment is then added or subtracted to produce the current published score.
Keep the criteria fixedSwipe to compare all five →
Criterion
#1Bobby Witt Jr.
#2Francisco Lindor
#3Elly De La Cruz
#4Gunnar Henderson
#5Trea Turner
94
92
93
88
89
98
94
94
93
89
94
96
88
91
85
100
89
99
87
95
94
95
91
91
89
AI baseline scoreWeighted criteria result
95.9
93.2
93.0
90.0
89.1
Community adjustmentVote-share influence
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Current published scoreBaseline + community
96
93
93
90
89
#1
Bobby Witt Jr.
96/100
AI baseline95.9
Community0.0
Published96
#2
Francisco Lindor
93/100
AI baseline93.2
Community0.0
Published93
#3
Elly De La Cruz
93/100
AI baseline93.0
Community0.0
Published93
#4
Gunnar Henderson
90/100
AI baseline90.0
Community0.0
Published90
#5
Trea Turner
89/100
AI baseline89.1
Community0.0
Published89
Offense · 30%Overall offensive production and run creation.
HEAD TO HEAD
COMPARE TWO CONTENDERS
Choose any two contenders. We’ll line up what matters.
CONTENDER
KCR
Kansas City Royals
Bobby Witt Jr.
96
NYM
New York Mets
Francisco Lindor
93
Team
Kansas City Royals
New York Mets
Primary position
Shortstop
Shortstop
Offensive profile
Power and speed
Power and contact
Defensive profile
Elite
Plus range and hands
Baserunning profile
30-steal capability
30-steal capability
KCR
Kansas City Royals
Bobby Witt Jr.
96/100NYM
New York Mets
Francisco Lindor
93/100
Team
Kansas City Royals
New York Mets
Primary position
Shortstop
Shortstop
Offensive profile
Power and speed
Power and contact
Defensive profile
Elite
Plus range and hands
Baserunning profile
30-steal capability
30-steal capability
WHY THIS ORDER?
THE RECEIPTS, NOT THE MYSTERY.
Scores combine current production, recent value, defense, baserunning, and consistency, with current performance weighted most heavily. Consensus across supplied MLB, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, and other editorial rankings informed the order.