Ranking the Top 25 Shortstops of 2023 MLB Season | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
20. Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds
Stats: 98 G, 89 OPS+, .235/.300/.410, 35 XBH (13 HR), 44 RBI, 35 SB, 0.8 WAR
The Reds rattled off a 14-2 stretch of games after De La Cruz made his MLB debut on June 6. He still has work to do refining his offensive game, as evidenced by his 33.7 percent strikeout rate, but his mix of power, speed, defensive versatility and raw athleticism gives him superstar upside. The 21-year-old has an extremely bright future.
19. Tommy Edman, St. Louis Cardinals
Stats: 137 G, 91 OPS+, .248/.307/.399, 42 XBH (13 HR), 47 RBI, 27 SB, 2.1 WAR
After a 6.3-WAR season in 2022, Edman filled a super-utility role this year with almost equal time spent between shortstop (396.2 INN), second base (373.2 INN) and center field (310.2 INN). His sneaky power, speed, defensive versatility and two remaining years of club control make him a valuable player for the retooling Cardinals.
18. Jon Berti, Miami Marlins
Stats: 133 G, 103 OPS+, .294/.344/.405, 26 XBH (7 HR), 33 RBI, 16 SB, 2.4 WAR
Berti had an NL-leading 41 steals during the 2022 season. While he didn't necessarily benefit from the stolen base boom across baseball this year thanks to the larger bases, he set career-high marks in hits (114), home runs (7), RBI (33), runs scored (53) and total bases (157). The 33-year-old hit .389/.508/.685 in 67 plate appearances over the final month of the season.
17. Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins
Stats: 135 G, 94 OPS+, .230/.312/.399, 49 XBH (18 HR), 65 RBI, 1.4 WAR
The first season of Correa's six-year, $200 million contract with the Twins did not go as hoped, and his 1.4 WAR was a career low on the heels of a 5.5-WAR campaign in 2022, but he still managed to make an impact when it mattered. Correa went 9-for-22 with three doubles and four RBI in six games while playing stellar defense during the postseason.
16. Orlando Arcia, Atlanta Braves
Stats: 139 G, 98 OPS+, .264/.321/.420, 42 XBH (17 HR), 65 RBI, 1.6 WAR
The most unlikely All-Star of the 2023 season, Arcia hit .294/.345/.425 during the first half after beating out Vaughn Grissom for the starting shortstop job. The 29-year-old leveled off and hit just .235/.297/.416 after the All-Star break, but he remains a steal playing on a three-year, $7.3 million contract.
