MLB: The Five Best Shortstops Heading into 2017

Shortstop has been a position that has been looking for a boost around MLB for some time. Superstars at the shortstop position, aside from Derek Jeter, have been absent for years. The ones that were perennial All Stars included Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez and Jimmy Rollins. The early part of this decade included All Star slots being filled by the likes of J.J. Hardy and Jhonny Peralta.

Since 2000, there have only been three MVP shortstops: Oakland’s Miguel Tejada in 2002, Texas’ Alex Rodriguez in 2003 and Rollins for Philadelphia in 2007. It has been a tough position to build around for teams, and had usually been filled by someone with not much pop and a lot of glove. Throughout that time, teams have been developing some big time talent in their farm systems to fill the void between second and third base and it seems to be paying off.

There has been a youth movement at the position and its more than just a few guys to plug into the lineup; they are potential MVPs. We are seeing young players who are fun to watch with an array of different skill sets, from power, to dazzling defense, to a winner’s hunger. The game has been clamoring for a new wave of young talent and we have to look no further than the number 6 on the fielding chart.

We have been introduced to young stars that have been putting up eye-popping numbers at the shortstop position, similar to when Nomar Garciaparra, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez came into the spotlight in the late 1990s and early 2000s. With a position so loaded with talent, there is a lot of debate over who is the best. There is a wide range of talented players who have incredible bats, great gloves and amazing speed, but ranking them is difficult. Here are the five best shortstops heading into the 2017 season.