In fantasy baseball drafts, it’s not always about who gets the best players, but where they get them in the draft. The top-tier options at shortstop are pretty cut and dry, but the further down the ADP we go, the closer the players get in terms of production.

 

 

 

With so many players having multi-position eligibility, our plans going into the draft can quickly become invalidated. Several shortstops, including Elly De La Cruz, Gunnar Henderson, and Ha-Seong Kim are eligible at 3B and could fall off the board unexpectedly. We need to be ready to pivot off players while still making the best pick each round. The last thing we want is to panic on the clock and take someone to fill an empty position while other options are still available. 

There are three shortstops I’m going to cover who fall in the later rounds. These players are ranked below the top 12 shortstops so they may be more relevant in deeper leagues, but the better you prepare, the better the drafts will go. 

Willy Adames, Milwaukee Brewers (ADP 182)

Following a career year in 2022 with highs in nearly every offensive category, Willy Adames stumbled a bit in his 2023 campaign. His .217/.310/.407 slash line was the worst in his career, but he still managed to pull down 24 home runs with 73 runs and 80 RBIs. A low batting average could hurt the overall team, but he is projected to return to mean and hit .244 in 2024. 

In 2023 among all qualifying shortstops, Adames ranked 6th in home runs, 5th in RBIs, and 12th in runs scored. He lacks in speed, only ever stealing as many as 8 bases in a season, but 30 home run upside is incredibly valuable at a position where only three players cleared 30 bombs last season. Steals are also much easier to come by so if we can get speed in other positions, his power upside will help our totals. Let’s not forget he carried a .226 ISO at home last season. 

The Brewers don’t have the strongest lineup, but Adames has some good players hitting ahead of him in Christian Yelich and Rhys Hoskins. He has a very strong chance to lead the club in home runs and will provide solid runs and RBIs in 2024. His upside is 30 home runs and 100 RBIs, which would be plenty in compensation for a pick at ADP 182.

Trevor Story, Boston Red Sox (ADP 201)

Trevor Story has been a disappointment since joining the Red Sox in 2022, barely putting together a full season through 2 years with the team. Injuries kept him off the field and will always be a concern, but it’s a new season and he’s healthy. We can’t expect him to replicate his numbers from his days in Colorado, but Fenway is a hitter’s park and the next best place outside of Coor’s Field.  

Through projections, Story is expected to tally 22 home runs and steal 23 bases with a .240 batting average. This puts him in elite company as a dual threat at the position, with only four other players reaching 20 in each category in 2023. Those players are Francisco Lindor, Bobby Witt Jr, Trea Turner, and Anthony Volpe. 

Story’s projected stats align with shortstops much higher in ADP than him, namely Oneil Cruz, Dansby Swanson, and Anthony Volpe. If we miss out on the top-tier shortstops and he can stay healthy, sitting back and taking Trevor Story down at ADP 201 can help us maximize value in our picks.

Story is projected to bat third in Boston’s lineup, right behind the big bat of Rafael Devers. It’s not a bad place to be considering Masataka Yoshida and Tristan Casas, who finished 3rd in AL Rookie of the Year voting, hit behind him. It’s far from a loaded roster, but Fenway is an excellent hitting environment and I’m looking for Story to have a solid year.

Jeremy Pena, Houston Astros (ADP 231)

Jeremy Pena may not have the same allure as many of the shortstops above him, but he has the potential to bring value to your roster. His power took a massive hit in 2023, falling from 22 home runs the year before to just 10 while his ISO fell from .173 to a lowly .118. His BABIP of .323 was fourth among shortstops, so he’s making a ton of contact but fell short of the fences. 

A repeat of 2023 won’t lock us in for a playoff spot, but if he can recapture the production we saw in 2022, the value is there. Pena also has the luxury of hitting in the middle of one of the strongest lineups in the league in Houston. Sure, he’s not going to be batting cleanup, but with Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, and Yordan Alvarez all hitting ahead of him, every plate appearance is going to be an opportunity to produce. 

Let’s not also discount the fact he’s stolen double-digit bases in both MLB seasons. Steals are much easier to come by with the new rule changes and his 13 last year ranked 10th at the position, but every steal we can add counts.

Fantasy Alarm has Pena projected for 24 home runs, 83 runs, and 69 RBIs. The home runs feel a little optimistic, but he has a 22 home run season under his belt so it is not out of the question. If he can live up to these expectations, he will be a solid choice for his ADP. At the same time, if you get him late enough and he isn’t producing, you won’t be pot-committed to stick with him.