Every year, MLB Network puts out its “Top 10 Right Now” at each position across Major League Baseball. And I have been following suit on the Baseball Banter Broadcast, bringing you my own Top 10 Right Now at each one of those positions. And this first Top 10 for the upcoming 2026 season will begin with my favorite position on the diamond, Shortstop. Here are my Top 10 Shortstops Right Now for 2026.

NUMBER TEN: MASYN WINN (ST. LOUIS CARDINALS)

Masyn Winn begins my countdown of the Top 10 Shortstops right now. Several potential shortstops could have slotted into this spot on the countdown that just missed my list. And the reason I felt so confident in leaving them off is that I believe in Masyn Winn. If you’re a wrestling fan, you can insert the Joe Hendry meme here. All kidding aside, Winn is already the type of defensive player that if this list were strictly about defense, he’d be number one. That said, while Winn’s offensive contributions haven’t risen to the level of his defense, there is still quite a lot to like about this player. It is also very possible that Masyn will continue to develop the offensive part of his game to such an extent that he will vault up this list in the years to come. However, for now, Masyn Winn is my number ten shortstop for the 2026 campaign.

NUMBER NINE: TREA TURNER (PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES)

Trea Turner is one of the more veteran names in this Top Ten position list. However, his age has not really diminished his overall talent and skill set. Turner’s main asset is still his speed and athleticism. And Trea uses those skills to help Philadelphia be successful. Turner is a player capable of winning the Phillies a ballgame in so many different ways. And even at a crowded position like shortstop, Trea makes his case known that he’s still one of the best in the game to do it.

NUMBER EIGHT: JACOB WILSON (ATHLETICS)

Jacob Wilson may not be as familiar a household name as many of the other shortstops on the list. But this second-generation shortstop is making waves all his own. Wilson is a contact over power shortstop that is capable of producing for the Athletics on both sides of the baseball. Jacob is the son of former Major League shortstop Jack Wilson. And much like his dad, Jacob can field the position of short. There’s no doubt that Wilson already possesses a tremendous hit tool, despite entering just his second full season. Many fans will sleep on Wilson because he’s playing for the “homeless” A’s, but nevertheless, this is a premium top ten shortstop in the game today, and should make everyone’s list.

NUMBER SEVEN: DANSBY SWANSON (CHICAGO CUBS)

Dansby Swanson has become a perennial entry on my Top 10 Shortstops Right Now list. And while Swanson may not be the offensive force that some other candidates on this list may be, Dansby provides the intangibles of a winner and maintains a place on the top ten list. Few players possess the defensive skills and capabilities that Swanson flashes on a routine and nightly basis. And while the offense didn’t necessarily strike fear in teams in 2025, there is the possibility that with even league-average offense, Swanson’s defense takes his candidacy to a higher level in 2026.

NUMBER SIX: COREY SEAGER (TEXAS RANGERS)

Corey Seager could make his way to a much higher place on this list for many people. And in reality, there isn’t much to keep him out of the top five. However, staying on the field and helping his team is where Seager gets slightly knocked in my book. There’s no doubt that a healthy Corey Seager, who plays in 150-155 games in the season, will have his numbers through the roof and be deserving of a higher placement in this countdown. Even when there are better defensive shortstops surrounding his spot in the list, there’s no denying that Corey’s offensive capabilities will keep him in the top ten of the shortstop list for the foreseeable future.

NUMBER FIVE: MOOKIE BETTS (LOS ANGELES DODGERS)

Mookie Betts moving to shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers a couple of seasons ago felt like a gimmick. However, it turned out to be one of the smartest decisions made by an extremely smart organization. Betts has turned himself into a plus defender at the shortstop position while maintaining a plus offensive skillset that should have him in the upper echelons of the position for still years to come.

NUMBER FOUR: ELLY DE LA CRUZ (CINCINNATI REDS)

The player with the most potential upside and also the biggest enigma of this list is Elly De La Cruz. De La Cruz possesses otherworldly capabilities but has yet to harness them in a truly effective way. We’ve seen Elly steal over 35 bases in all three of his Major League seasons. But we’ve also seen him hit no higher than a .264 batting average either. And while the rest of the league averages are down, his counterparts at the position convert more balls in play into hits. The other aspect that has De La Cruz so questionable for his contrarians is that his defense feels less than up to par for being an elite shortstop long-term. If Elly is to remain at shortstop, then the necessary steps to improve defensively will be an absolute requirement for a continued escalation up this list. Another season of poor defense could knock Elly out of the shortstop conversation and force his move to another position altogether. But for now, taking a flyer on the rare talent and ability has Elly De La Cruz sitting at my number four shortstop in the game today.

NUMBER THREE: GUNNAR HENDERSON (BALTIMORE ORIOLES)

Gunnar Henderson is a premier face for the sport of Major League Baseball. And while the 2025 season may not have reflected as highly as previous seasons, there’s little question about his ability on both sides of the baseball. Henderson will now have reinforcements to protect him in the lineup in 2026, and his production should see potentially astronomical gains. Look for the 2026 campaign to be an MVP-caliber season for the Baltimore Orioles shortstop.

NUMBER TWO: FRANCISCO LINDOR (NEW YORK METS)

And the number two shortstop on my top ten list heading into the 2026 season is Francisco Lindor. Lindor is quietly putting up a potentially Hall of Fame-caliber career. When examining the strides and contributions to the game that “Mr. Smiles” has made, especially in his time as a New York Met, it has been a phenomenal career. That said, Lindor’s game has not diminished. Francisco is the type of player that you build your franchise around. Frankie plays a premium position in the game and in the infield general. And since moving to the leadoff spot for the Mets, he has elevated his offensive output to an even higher level. Lindor has gone from being a nice complementary player to an MVP candidate. And the 2026 campaign should feature more of the same from one of Puerto Rico’s favorite sons.

NUMBER ONE: BOBBY WITT JR (KANSAS CITY ROYALS)

There are very few players in all of MLB, regardless of position, that I would say are better than Bobby Witt Jr. It was an easy call to list him as the number one shortstop in the game today. There isn’t a facet of Witt Jr’s game that can truly be held as a weakness against him. Bobby is the epitome of a five-tool player. Let us briefly examine how accurate the claim of calling Bobby a five-tool player truly is, shall we? First, let’s look at the batting average department. The Major League average in 2025 was .245. What was Witt Jr’s batting average in this past season? Witt featured a batting average of .295, and for his career, that average is .290 across his four Major League seasons. Well above the league averages in that department. Hit tool…check. What about the power output? Bobby has hit 105 home runs across his four Major League campaigns, which averages out to 26 home runs a year on average. So the power department gets checked off, too.

Now, what about the speed, one might ask. Bobby has 148 steals for his career (average of 37 steals per season) and never had fewer than 30 in a single season. Then what about the sprint speed of Bobby Witt Jr, well, since his debut in 2022, Witt had the fastest sprint speed according to Statcast than anyone in baseball (minimum ten chances). Back-to-back Gold Gloves let you know what you need to know about his defense. And as far as arm strength, Bobby ranked sixth in 2025 among shortstops. Again, it was an easy call to name Bobby Witt Jr as my number one shortstop. Because if I had to start a draft right now, he’d be the first shortstop I’d pull off the board.