These 2026 Fantasy Baseball Shortstops Are Draft Bust Risks
We break down the injury concerns, age risks, and overhyped ADPs of 2026’s shortstop class.
It's time to go over my fantasy baseball draft busts at shortstop after just taking a look at my draft steals.
We looked at draft steals and busts for outfielders yesterday, and will continue with these series over the next couple weeks.
More fantasy baseball average draft position data can be found on FantasySP. Draft Genius now has custom head-to-head scoring options and on demand AI expert help for every pick.
Francisco Lindor - New York Mets
Lindor is the second fantasy shortstop off draft boards, going around pick 24 on average.
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Lindor is among the fantasy shortstop leaders every season, but has an early-season injury concern. It's an injury that could diminish his power numbers, which would hurt his overall stock.
He's been a model of consistency and availability, and while this injury might not knock him off for any time, the injury could hurt his numbers. Lindor is also 32 years old, so he'll be exiting his prime shortly and is on the back nine of his career.
I just think the injury creates too much concern on my end to want to spend that early of a pick on Lindor. Let someone else take that risk and try a shortstop later on instead.
Elly De La Cruz - Cincinnati Reds
De La Cruz is the No. 4 shortstop taken, going around pick 27 on average.
De La Cruz was SS7 last season, so he's going a few spots above that. With big strikeout numbers, I don't see him upping his fantasy value that much, even if his power, run production or average/OBP go up.
The Reds have a better offense now, so I get why some are high on De La Cruz. I get that he's an exciting player, but he just doesn't feel as confident as some of the players taken around him.
I'd much rather skip De La Cruz and try to find a shortstop later on. It's a stacked position, so the options are endless. Again, I'd let someone else take De La Cruz, and I bet you can fill your shortstop spot rather easily, while getting similar production to De La Cruz.
Mookie Betts - Los Angeles Dodgers
Betts is the fifth shortstop taken on average, going around pick 35 so far.
Betts fell off last season, posting some of the worst numbers in his career. At age 33, I don't see him bouncing back in a huge way, although I'm also not saying he's going to regress that hard for a second straight year.
He's part of a loaded Dodgers' lineup, and that's what's driving his fantasy value and high-end draft status. Betts was still SS4 last season, so it's not like he fell off crazily, but I just don't think he's worth that high of a pick.
Getting him in the 40s or even closer to 50 is much more reasonable in my eyes. Take a young-and-upcoming hitter over the aging Betts.
Corey Seager - Texas Rangers
Seager is down at SS9, going around pick 81 on average.
When fully healthy, Seager can be one of the top hitters (not just shortstops) in the MLB. The problem is, Seager is injured a lot. He's also approaching 32 years old, so regression is coming.
Seager hasn't played in more than 123 games in a season since 2022, so three straight years. All that missed time has dropped his fantasy draft stock going into 2026, but I still think he's going too early.
If he missed extended time again in 2026, he could have a hard time producing like the other picks do around his ADP. I don't mind Seager as a SS1 on fantasy teams, but I'd definitely want a second shortstop option in case Seager is banged up throughout the coming year.
Trevor Story - Boston Red Sox
Story is the 12th fantasy shortstop, going around pick 111 on average.
Story is in a similar boat to Seager, but got in 157 games in 2026. Story had pretty good fantasy marks, so some might see him as a draft steal option again.
I'm too worried about his injury history, even at his later draft ADP. Story logged 94 or less games in the three years before last season. That's just too risky for my liking.
Of course, at SS12 off draft boards, he's a backup option to most. There's so many good fantasy shortstops around that I think taking the gamble on Story just isn't worth it. Take CJ Abrams, Xavier Edwards or Jeremy Pena a couple rounds later instead.
