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Ranking MLB’s Top 10 Shortstops Heading Into 2015 Season

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By @DLaC67

Ranking MLB’s Top 10 Shortstops Heading Into 2015 Season

Starlin Castro Jhonny Peralta
Dilip Vishwanat - Getty Images Sport

The shortstop position is traditionally dominated by some of MLB's best defensive players, so how do you measure the league's best hitters at that position against the best defenders? This list will weigh the strengths and weaknesses of the game's best shortstops to find the 10 best in baseball.

10. Andrelton Simmons

Andrelton Simmons Atlanta Braves
Mike Zarrilli - Getty Images Sport

10. Andrelton Simmons

Andrelton Simmons Atlanta Braves
Mike Zarrilli - Getty Images Sport

Let's start with MLB's best defensive shortstop edging out many other talented guys at that position. Andrelton Simmons' 15.5 UZR in 2014 is 1.6 points better than any other shortstop in baseball, but his lack of offensive potency keeps him at No. 10.

9. Alcides Escobar

Alcides Escobar Kansas City Royals
Jamie Squire - Getty Images Sport

9. Alcides Escobar

Alcides Escobar Kansas City Royals
Jamie Squire - Getty Images Sport

Escobar's range playing deep in the hole at short is among the league's very best, and his cannon of an arm is also top-shelf. Alcides also hit .285 in 2014, played in every single game and led all MLB shortstops with 31 stolen bases.

8. Starlin Castro

Starlin Castro Chicago Cubs
Jim McIsaac - Getty Images Sport

8. Starlin Castro

Starlin Castro Chicago Cubs
Jim McIsaac - Getty Images Sport

Starlin Castro's UZR of -3.4 last season should certainly be cause for concern, but all the pieces are there. He went deep 14 times, batted in 65 runs and finished 2014 with a .777 OPS, making him one of the best hitting shortstops in baseball. He has the physical skills to develop defensively, but if he doesn't show that he has what it takes at shortstop, Chicago could consider moving him to another position soon.

7. Erick Aybar

Erick Aybar Los Angeles Angels
Jason O. Watson - Getty Images Sport

7. Erick Aybar

Erick Aybar Los Angeles Angels
Jason O. Watson - Getty Images Sport

A very short list of shortstops can give you as much defensively as Erick Aybar does, and he also finished last season with 68 RBIs and 16 stolen bags. A steady bat with a little bit of pop and a boatload of athleticism make it hard to find a more well-rounded shortstop than they have in Anaheim right now.

6. Jimmy Rollins

Jimmy Rollins
Rob Tringali - Getty Images Sport

6. Jimmy Rollins

Jimmy Rollins
Rob Tringali - Getty Images Sport

Nobody's talking enough about how good Jimmy Rollins was last season. His defense was much steadier than most thought, as he posted a 3.7 UZR after 138 starts, and practically nobody expected him to steal 28 bases.

5. J.J. Hardy

J.J. Hardy Baltimore Orioles
Rob Carr - Getty Images Sport

5. J.J. Hardy

J.J. Hardy Baltimore Orioles
Rob Carr - Getty Images Sport

Only Andrelton Simmons can edge out this three-time Gold Glover for the best defensive sabermetrics among all shortstops, and his offensive game should be much better this season. J.J. saw a drop in productivity on offense last year, keeping him out of the higher spots on this list, but he's proven his ability to do much more. Hardy went deep just nine times last year, but he homered at least 22 times in each of the three prior seasons.

4. Jose Reyes

Jose Reyes Toronto Blue Jays
Tom Szczerbowski - Getty Images Sport

4. Jose Reyes

Jose Reyes Toronto Blue Jays
Tom Szczerbowski - Getty Images Sport

The aging-but-crazy-talented Jose Reyes succeeded in staying healthy through 2014, giving him the chance to hit .287 with 33 doubles and 30 stolen bases. Put him in the same boat as Rollins when it comes to skillful veteran shortstops who just need to stay on the field and be themselves to be one of the game's best.

3. Ian Desmond

Ian Desmond Washington Nationals
Jim McIsaac - Getty Images Sport

3. Ian Desmond

Ian Desmond Washington Nationals
Jim McIsaac - Getty Images Sport

The upside for Ian Desmond's bat is remarkable. With 24 HRs and 91 RBIs, only Peralta, Hanley Ramirez (who won't be playing short in 2015) and Tulo could rival him offensively while playing at shortstop last year. Desmond's average dipped in 2014, but fans should expect better this season. His defense leaves much to be desired, but his skill with the bat makes him worthy of the No. 3 spot.

2. Jhonny Peralta

Jhonny Peralta St. Louis Cardinals
Dilip Vishwanat - Getty Images Sport

2. Jhonny Peralta

Jhonny Peralta St. Louis Cardinals
Dilip Vishwanat - Getty Images Sport

Jhonny Peralta's offensive statistics were outstanding as usual, but what really made him stand out in 2014 was his dramatically improved defense. Peralta racked up 17 defensive runs saved in 2014 after saving between -1 and 2 runs in each of the three seasons before that. Only three qualifying shortstops can beat his 12.0 UZR from 2014, and no shortstop in baseball could match his 5.8 WAR.

1. Troy Tulowitzki

Troy Tulowitzki Colorado Rockies
Justin Edmonds - Getty Images Sport

1.Troy Tulowitzki

Troy Tulowitzki Colorado Rockies
Justin Edmonds - Getty Images Sport

Say what you will about his injury problems, but Tulo is still the world's best shortstop right now. When he's actually on the field, he's one of the most valuable guys in baseball, period. The dude has a lifetime OPS of .891 and serious defensive skills that rival almost anyone in the game. He's almost the best player in baseball, so yeah, he's the No. 1 shortstop.

Doug LaCerte is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DLaC67, “like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google.

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