Here are the Top 10 shortstop prospects for 2022

March 16th, 2022

MLB Pipeline will reveal its 2022 Top 100 Prospects list on Friday, with a one-hour show on MLB Network and MLB.com on Saturday at 11 a.m. ET. Leading up to the release of the Top 100, we'll examine baseball's top 10 prospects at each position.

Shortstop is the glamour prospect position of the moment. Our new Top 100 will feature 24 different shortstops, including six of our 14 highest-rated prospects.

The cream of the current crop comes primarily from three sources. The three best shortstops -- Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals), Anthony Volpe (Yankees), CJ Abrams (Padres) -- all were high schoolers selected in the first round of the 2019 Draft. Three more prep shortstops were first-rounders last July: Marcelo Mayer (Red Sox), Jordan Lawlar (D-backs) and Kahlil Watson (Marlins). Noelvi Marte (Mariners), Marco Luciano (Giants) and Orelvis Martinez (Blue Jays) all were high-profile signings from the 2018 international class.

Interestingly, none of our top 10 shortstop prospects is a college product. Bryson Stott, a 2019 first-rounder from Nevada-Las Vegas who's now a leading Rookie of the Year candidate, just missed the list.

The Top 10 (ETA)

1. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals (2022)
2. Anthony Volpe, Yankees (2023)
3. CJ Abrams, Padres (2023)
4. Noelvi Marte, Mariners (2023)
5. Marco Luciano, Giants (2023)
6. Marcelo Mayer, Red Sox (2024)
7. Jordan Lawlar, D-backs (2024)
8. Kahlil Watson, Marlins (2024)
9. Oneil Cruz, Pirates (2022)
10. Orelvis Martinez, Blue Jays (2024)
Complete list ?

Top tools

Best Hitter: Witt, Volpe, Abrams, Mayer (60)
The shortstop list is packed with talented hitters. Volpe (.294/.423/.604, 27 homers, 33 steals in Low-A and High-A at age 20) and Witt (.290/.361/.576, 33 homers, 29 steals in Double-A and Triple-A at 21) were the most impressive statistical performers in the Minors in 2021, their first full pro seasons. Abrams owns a career .343 average in pro ball, though the pandemic and injuries have limited him to 76 games. Scouts rated Mayer as the best pure hitter in the 2021 Draft.

Best Power: Witt (70)
Witt is a legitimate five-tool prospect but his power potential is what stands out most at his position. He won the High School Home Run Derby at the 2018 All-Star Game and consistently went deep against top amateur competition, and his pop has played as expected in pro ball. He has exceptional bat speed, packs plenty of strength in his 6-foot-1 frame and launches balls to all fields.

Fastest Runner: Abrams (80)
Abrams can get from the left side of the plate to first base in less than four seconds and knows how to use his speed. His quickness helps him get on base, where he has racked up 28 steals in 76 pro games, and helps him cover ground at shortstop. It also will come in handy if the presence of Fernando Tatis Jr. in San Diego means Abrams winds up moving to center field.

Best Arm: Cruz (70)
Cruz became the tallest (6-foot-7) player ever to start a big league game at shortstop last October, and his arm is one of the reasons he has lasted at the position longer than expected. He's capable of throwing out runners from areas of the diamond that many shortstops can't, though he can get overly aggressive trying to make plays he shouldn't.

Best Defensive Player: Witt, Mayer (60)
Witt not only has plus speed and arm strength but he also has outstanding instincts at shortstop. Considered the best defensive player in last year's Draft class, Mayer compensates for fringy speed with a quick first step, has a strong arm and anticipates plays well.

Superlatives

Highest Ceiling: Witt
Witt could be a 30-30 player who wins Gold Gloves at shortstop. The only players ever to accomplish that double are Barry Larkin, Alex Rodriguez (not in the same season) and Jimmy Rollins.

Highest Floor: Witt
Witt and Mayer are the safest bets to hit while providing quality defense. Witt has proven a lot more to this point than Mayer, whose pro career consists of 26 games in Rookie ball.

Rookie of the Year Candidate: Witt
Though Nicky Lopez had a breakout 2021 season, the Royals will find room for Witt in their lineup. He has nothing left to prove in the Minors and should become the face of their franchise very quickly.

Highest Riser: Volpe
After mononucleosis slowed him during his 2019 pro debut, Volpe lost the entire 2020 Minor League season to the pandemic and entered last year without much hype. He added strength and reworked his swing during the layoff, then exploded to become MLB Pipeline's Hitting Prospect of the Year and lead the Minors in runs (113) while ranking second in OPS (1.027) and third in extra-base hits (68).

Humblest Beginning: Cruz
Cruz was the only top 10 shortstop not to receive a seven-figure bonus when he turned pro -- though he just missed by receiving $950,000 from the Dodgers out of the Dominican Republic in 2015. He wasn't considered a premium prospect by many clubs and few thought he'd stay at shortstop because he was already 6-foot-4 and still growing when he signed. Los Angeles has proven correct on both counts but won't benefit because it traded him for Tony Watson in 2017.

Most To Prove: Abrams
There hasn't been anything wrong with Abrams' on-field performance but we need to see more of it. He played just 42 games in Double-A last year after breaking his left tibia and spraining his left knee in a June collision, then a left shoulder injury in instructional league prevented him from making up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League.

Keep An Eye On: Oswald Peraza, Yankees
Though he gets overshadowed by Volpe in the Yankees system, Peraza has played two levels higher and features superior speed, arm strength and defensive prowess. He's also more than capable at the plate, hitting .297/.356/.477 with 18 homers and a system-best 38 steals in 115 games while reaching Triple-A last year at age 21.

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com