Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings & Projections

2010 Shortstop Preseason Preview

 

Jhonny Peralta

Peralta has been a bit inconsistent over the years, but he is young enough to improve his numbers a little and improve his consistency.

7. Jhonny Peralta - Indians - 2010 Preview:

Just when Peralta convinced fantasy managers that he was a consistent fantasy starting shortstop with a very nice 2007 and 2008 when he averaged a .273 batting average and 22 home runs a season, he bombed in 2009 with just 11 home runs and a .254 average. Mangers should still have that confidence that Peralta is the real deal and he will be playing on fantasy teams for years to come. You can pencil him in for at least a .270, 20 home run season and at age 27, he still has upside and could do better.

2009 Statistics: .254 - 11 HR's - 83 RBI's - 57 Runs

2010 Projection: .275 - 23 HR's - 90 RBI's - 66 Runs

 

8. Elvis Andrus - Rangers - 2010 Preview:

A very nice rookie season for the 21-year-old shortstop. He batted a respectable .267 with 6 home runs, 8 triples and 33 stolen bases with 480 at bats. He still has a lot of growing to do and even though he could still regress in 2010, his upside is greater in value. This makes Andrus an interesting mid-late-round draft pick who at worst won't hurt you and at best blossoms into a legitimate starting fantasy shortstop. He should hold the water at batting average in Roto Leagues and help out in stolen bases and runs. He might even chip in with ten home runs and ten triples which are solid numbers for a shortstop not in the top-five.

2009 Statistics: .267 - 6 HR's - 40 RBI's - 72 Runs

2010 Projection: .280- 10 HR's - 51 RBI's - 87 Runs

 

9. Jason Bartlett - Rays - 2010 Preview:

His 14 home runs were a pleasant surprise for fantasy owners as he never hit more than five before 2009. Other than that, he had the same solid stats that made him a back up fantasy shortstop in the past; .320 batting average, 29 doubles, 7 triples, and 30 stolen bases. So the question is, was his power surge in 2009 a fluke or is it just a preview of 2010? He hit just one home run with 454 at bats in 2008, so the power is suspect and until he does it again you should lean towards it being a fluke. In the end if you can get a .300 hitting, 10 home run, 30 stolen base, 90 run shortstop in the later rounds the draft, you'll still have a bargain.

2009 Statistics: .320 - 14 HR's - 66 RBI's - 90 Runs

2010 Projection: .307- 9 HR's - 61 RBI's - 89 Runs

 

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10. Alcides Escobar - Brewers - 2010 Preview:

The minor league defensive wizard can now swing a decent bat and steal bases and will be making a fantasy impact for years to come. He should be this years Elvis Andrus statistically, but you never know, he could steal up to 40 bases and be better than Andrus. He is just 23, so it will be a few yeas before we see what he can do with a bat, but he is worth a roll of the dice over some other vanilla shortstops.

2009 Statistics: .304 - 1 HR - 11 RBI's - 20 Runs

2010 Projection: .291- 7 HR's - 55 RBI's - 81 Runs

 

Best of the Rest

 

Stephen Drew - Diamondbacks

The 27-year-old had a very disappointing 2009 when he batted just .267 with 12 home runs. He is still a better value if you get points for doubles and triples. He has 23 triples and 73 doubles in the last two seasons. .280, 17 Home runs, 11 triples, 35 doubles is very possible.

 

Yunel Escobar - Braves

A very solid shortstop. He batted .299 with 14 home runs, 76 RBI's and 89 runs. The 27-year-old Cuban has upside and makes a nice sleeper.

 

Maicer Izturis - Angels

He will start at third, but should qualify as a shortstop as well as a second basemen which increases his value. He batted .300 with 8 home runs and 13 stolen bases with 387 at bats. If healthy, he could be a 15 home run, 30 stolen base shortstop.

 

Asdrubal Cabrera - Indians

The young shortstop showed some good signs in 2009 by stealing 17 bases, hitting 6 home runs while batting .308 with 508 at bats. At just 24 there is risk, but he makes a nice late-round pick as a back up who is a bit of a prospect as well.

 

Miguel Tejada - Orioles

The veteran had a solid year batting .313 with 14 home runs, 86 RBI's and 83 runs and his return to upcoming Baltimore to play third base will help his falling fantasy value.

 

Erik Aybar - Angels

A good baseball player is starting to become a decent fantasy shortstop. He is just 26, so it is all about the upside with him. He could bat you .300 a steal you 25 bases.

 

J.J. Hardy - Twins

The .280, 25 home-run-hitter bombed in 2009 and was shipped to Minnesota. He could return back to form and be an easy top-ten in 2010.

 

Cliff Pennington - A's

Yet another young gun with a shot at being a low-end starting fantasy shortstop. He batted .279 with 4 home runs, 3 triples, 11 doubles and 7 stolen bases with 208 at bats.

 

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