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2026 Prospect Shortstop Preview

Prospects Live February 9, 2026

Welcome to the mecca of prospect talent, folks: shortstop. Almost all hitting prospects were either shortstops or center fielders in high school due to the demanding nature of the positions, and the skill required to be a draft-worthy MLB prospect almost certainly means you were the best player on your team. It looks like 255 hitters were selected in the 2025 MLB draft, and there are roughly 15-20 million kids enrolled in high schools across America during any given year…so yeah, there are only so many talents that can even get a shot to become a big leaguer - and most do not stick around, sadly.

As tricky as becoming a steady major leaguer can be, the odds of dreams coming true are enhanced if a prospect’s shortstop defense is solid. Even if you get drafted to a team with a Bobby Witt Jr. locking down the position, a great SS can typically shift over to 3B or 2B with ease, and some can even become center fielders - another demanding spot. In short, there are multiple paths to success for these prospects.

But on the other hand, where does that leave us as dynasty GMs?

One of the most understated aspects of our make-believe game is position eligibility, especially in deeper formats. It’s easy to say “don’t approach FYPDs based on position need” if you’re in a 12-teamer, but those of us in 30-man formats understand the critical nature of filling out every position on the roster. While things are a little clearer at the college level, so many high school bats are drafted as shortstops, so let’s break down some things to look out for if you want to increase your chances of actually filling that positional need.

For a start, look at the player's body and how they move. If they move a little too slow or their frame suggests they will become a big, bulky power bat, then a move to third is possible. Ethan Holliday is a great example of someone who fits that bill, and Caleb Bonemer is already picking up more 3B reps after initially getting a shot at short. On the flip side, if a SS prospect is quick but the throws to first aren’t impressive, then we’re likely looking at a second baseman in MLB unless the organization’s depth is limited at the position.

While you never truly know which prospects will be traded and which will stick, it is worth noting that a franchise cornerstone like the aforementioned BWJ can be a roadblock to a prospect getting a true shot at short. Kansas City is a great example, considering they just drafted Sean Gamble and Josh Hammond, two prep shortstops who will almost certainly end up at new positions in the bigs due to the big dog’s presence. Looking across the state of Missouri, we see another example: JJ Wetherholt’s fine defense is still being forced to move due to the even better chops of Masyn Winn and his electric arm.

While some of the names you’ll see on our shortstop ranks will be filtered down over time, it’s still an exciting list that will be reinvigorated every year with new talent. While it’s tempting to not prioritize the position due to its constant depth, it would be wise to ensure you go out there and get the guys you know are actually going to stick at the spot long-term! Unless that prospect’s name is Konnor Griffin, in which case he might just win you fantasy championships no matter what position he plays.

Dynasty Buys and Sells at the end of the article.

2026 Prospect Previews - Prospects LiveProspects LiveProspects Live Staff

Top Prospect Shortstops

Players are in order of their fantasy prospect ranking from our February update.

1. Konnor Griffin PIT, SS, OF (AA)

184 PLIVE+, Peak Projection: 23 HR, 41 SB, 7.2% BB, 22.3% K, .292/.359/.484, 136 wRC+

Photo Credit: BucsonDeck.com

It's time to utter the word that the industry uses more than it should, but sure seems like it applies to Konnor Griffin: Generational. After entering the 2025 season with some concerns over his hit tool, the 6'4 225 lb. teenager silenced just about every critic with a combined .333/.415/.527 slash line across three levels. His contact rates were at a solid 76% in the lower minors, and there shouldn't be great cause for concern with a drop to 72% at Double-A after a long, grueling campaign. Of course, the juiciest aspect of this stud hasn't even been mentioned yet: a combination of power and speed that some believe could lead to a bigger version of Bobby Witt Jr. Yes, those are darned big shoes to fill...but if you're looking for someone to do it, you might as well go with a 19-year-old posting 21 HR and 65 SB in his first 122 games of pro baseball. His power actually grew in the upper minors as well, slamming 5 bombs in just 21 games! Congratulations to all dynasty GMs who have shares of the beast known as Konnor Griffin. If you missed out, good luck acquiring him at this point. - Darren Eisenhauer

2. Kevin McGonigle DET, SS (AA)

177 PLIVE+, Peak Projection: 23 HR, 14 SB, 12.0% BB, 12.8% K, .285/.369/.491, 141 wRC+

Photo Credit: mlb.com

The baseball world has a two-horse race on its hands for top prospect honors, and while Konnor Griffin appears to have the support of the majority, McGonigle may in fact be more deserving. The 5’10, 187 lb infielder came into 2025 with a reputation for being one of the more polished hitters in Detroit’s system, but with some slight skepticism surrounding his long-term power potential. McGonigle answered those questions resoundingly, putting up video game numbers in both High-A and Double-A. On the season, the 21-year-old recorded an eye-popping 182 wRC+, thanks to a slash line of .305/.408/.583, an impressive 19 home runs, and a higher walk rate (14.9%) than strikeout rate (11.6%) at every stop. McGonigle’s dominance at the plate carried over into the Arizona Fall League as well, where he registered an OPS of 1.210 with five home runs in just 19 games. His hit tool and plate approach are also truly elite, as evidenced by the exceptional zone contact rate (85.1%) and chase rate (20.8%) he posted in 46 games at Double-A, while still being over three years younger than the league-average age. He heads into 2026 as one of baseball’s best prospects and as a strong contender to skip Triple-A and break camp with the Tigers. - Lucas Morel

3. Jesús Made MIL, SS (A+)

150 PLIVE+, Peak Projection: 15 HR, 32 SB, 10.1% BB, 21.3% K, .263/.338/.419, 114 wRC+

Photo Credit: Zach Gardner

If you were strictly looking at surface stats, you might think Jesus Made is a pretty good prospect. He has a good average and OBP, he steals a bunch of bases, and he doesn’t strike out too much; he might make it. While all of those things are accurate, to truly understand why so many outlets (including Prospects Live) have him as a top 5 prospect, it is because he does nearly everything at an elite level, as an 18-year-old! While the power hasn’t shown in home runs yet, the bat speed and exit velocities are there to produce power when he figures out how to consistently optimize his batted ball angles. Made’s combination of contact ability, swing decisions, bat speed/exit velocities, and speed for someone his age is extremely rare. Many of these skills take years to develop, and he is already doing them while competing against players 4-5 years older. When he starts converting some more of his hard-hit balls into pulled fly balls, watch out! This is an elite talent who might be a future #1 overall prospect. - Greg Hoogkamp

4. JJ Wetherholt STL, 2B, SS (AAA)

154 PLIVE+, Peak Projection: 17 HR, 14 SB, 11.4% BB, 17.0% K, .263/.359/.423, 122 wRC+

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