Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Shortstops

When it comes to fantasy baseball drafts, most people fixate on the big, menacing corner infielders like Pujols, A-Rod, and Ryan Howard, but if you don't land one of these hulks, then don't get discouraged! If you can't get a big guy early in the draft, feel more than free to "go small!" Securing a top notch shortstop early in the draft can be of great benefit to your team's potential! For your guidance, here is a ranking of the top ten fantasy shortstops for the 2010 season:

#1. Hanley Ramirez (Florida Marlins)

The guy eclipsed the century mark in both runs and RBIs last season and had a batting average of .342, yet it still seemed that he went unnoticed! That's what happens when you play baseball in south Florida! Don't be discouraged by his lack of press . . . Hanley is an all-out fantasy stud at shortstop and should be your option at this position if he is still available!

#2. Ben Zobrist (Tampa Bay Rays)

The great thing about Zobrist is that in most leagues, he is eligible under three different positions: shortstop, 2^nd base, and outfield! Having a player like this can allow you to be VERY flexible when it comes time to make hard, gut-wrenching decisions with your lineup! Oh, and another thing that makes him great are the simply awesome numbers that he put up last season-91 runs, 27 homers, 91 RBIs, 17 steals, and an OBP of .405!

#3. Troy Tulowitzki (Colorado Rockies)

Troy scared fantasy owners away after a disappointing, injury-riddled '08 campaign, but he quickly regained his dignity in the '09 season, as he batted nearly .300 with 32 homers and 92 RBIs. And just for gravy, he surprised everybody by nearly tripling his career high in steals, as he amassed a total of 20 stolen bases last season! Troy is a solid pick as long as he stays healthy . . . but, of course, that can be said for anybody!

#4. Derek Jeter (New York Yankees)

With a batting average of .334, an OBP of .406, and a run total of 107, it's hard to imagine placing Jeter outside the top 3, but if you look at the players above him, you'll see that they clearly outshine him in the homeruns and RBIs departments. Jeter had 18 homers and 68 RBIs, which is definitely respectable for a shortstop that bats in the beginning of the order, but those numbers just don't match up with the top three players on this list.

#5. Jose Reyes (New York Mets)

Due to the fact that he missed a great deal of the '09 season with a leg injury, it's difficult to judge Reyes based on last season's stats. Don't get caught up in last year's stats! If you want to pay attention to stats, pay more focus on his '08 numbers, when he was fully healthy and had over 200 hits, along with 56 steals! With a healthy Reyes back in the lineup, and with a talented David Wright soon after him in the lineup, Reyes should prove to be worthy of a top five spot among shortstops this year!

#6. Marco Scutaro (Boston Red Sox)

Scutaro is coming off a season in which he set career highs in eight key categories, highlighted by 100 runs, 90 walks, and an OBP of .379. Scutaro produced these numbers in Toronto. He is now a Boston Red Sox, where he bats in a more fierce lineup and he now gets to utilize the Green Monster to the best of his liking! Don't be surprised if Scutaro sets career highs yet again this year!

#7. Jimmy Rollins (Philadelphia Phillies)

Amazingly, some people have Rollins listed as a top three shortstop this season! Those people must be Phillies fans! Anybody that ends up with an on-base percentage of under .300 in a relatively injury-free season is definitely someone to be careful with! Perhaps he may turn his act around this year, but that is no guarantee . . . he's worth drafting, but not before a handful of other shortstops on this list!

#8. Yunel Escobar (Atlanta Braves)

His numbers aren't as impressive as the big-name shortstops, but hey, are you going to complain when your starting fantasy shortstop gives you 89 runs, 14 homers, 76 RBIs, an OBP of .377, and a batting average of nearly .300? I didn't think so!

#9. Asdrubal Cabrera (Cleveland Indians)

He's yet to play a full season, but he is steadily showing us what he is capable of doing offensively. Last season, he hit .308, swiped 18 bases, scored 81 runs, and knocked in 68. Those are not eye-popping numbers, but remember that those numbers come off only 127 starts! Give him a full 160-start season and he will put up numbers that will greatly enhance your fantasy team's chance of getting the gold! Oh, and don't forget that Cabrera is two-position eligible in most leagues (shortstop and 2^nd base).

#10. Elvis Andrus (Texas Rangers)

He is considered risky since he only has one year under his belt, but he is definitely worth gambling on. In his rookie season, he showed some top-quality speed, swiping 33 bases and accounting for 8 triples. None of his other numbers will blow you away, but it is safe to assume that this guy will only get better in his sophomore campaign . . . and he plays in hitter friendly, Texas, which is always nice!