MLB fans often debate about the best players at each position.
Shortstop always results in a hot discussion, because there are so many worthy candidates.
Many people prefer Carlos Correa‘s defensive prowess, while others pick Francisco Lindor‘s upside and fielding chops.
Xander Bogaerts, Tim Anderson, Corey Seager, Fernando Tatis Jr., Bo Bichette, and Wander Franco are also worthy candidates.
But as of June 10, 2022, there may not be a better shortstop in Major League Baseball than the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ Trea Turner.
“Trea Turner since May 10 (Among MLB Shortstops): 41 hits (1st); .347 AVG (1st); .405 OBP (1st); .593 SLG (1st); 178 wRC+ (1st); 1.8 fWAR (1st); 9 SB (1st); 6 HR (T-2nd); 9 2B (T-2nd); 28 RBI (2nd),” Dodgers reporter Blake Harris tweeted.
Trea Turner since May 10 (Among MLB Shortstops)
41 hits (1st)
.347 AVG (1st)
.405 OBP (1st)
.593 SLG (1st)
178 wRC+ (1st)
1.8 fWAR (1st)
9 SB (1st)
6 HR (T-2nd)
9 2B (T-2nd)
28 RBI (2nd) pic.twitter.com/mGFKu5n2TM— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) June 10, 2022
Comparing Turner With Some Of The League’s Top Shortstops
Only Tatis has the kind of power-speed upside that Turner has, but is much more injury-prone and considerably worse defensively.
Correa and Lindor are better defensively, but they don’t come close to Turner’s category “juice” (ability to hit homers and steal bases).
Turner is the best pure hitter among MLB shortstops, as his career .303/.358/.491 batting line is the envy of many of his mates at the position.
We are talking about a man capable of stealing 46 bases in a season, as he did in 2017, and hit 28 homers, as he did last year.
He has 46 RBI and is well on his way to his first career 100-RBI campaign.
And he does all this while providing excellent defense at a premium position.
Turner will hit free agency after the season and is about to become a very, very rich man, no matter where he lands.
The Dodgers are the favorites to land his services for the long term, but it will cost a fortune.
Any contract he signs will be deserving for this underrated, game-changing talent.
NEXT: Dodgers Continue To Get Good Signs With Andrew Heaney
David Friedner says
Turner is hardly underrated. Also, Tatis is a far better hitter than Turner, who at 29, is probably not going to steal 46 bases any time soon. Turner is also in his eighth season and has only played more than 125 games twice, so, like Tatis, he hasn’t exactly kept himself on the field either. Turner .847 OPS/122 OPS+/7 DRS at SS in 601 GP; Tatis .965 OPS/159 OPS+/-9 DRS in 242 GP; Correa: .836 OPS/128 OPS+/69 DRS in 788 GP; Lindor .816 OPS/115 OPS+/36 DRS in 946 GP. Out of those four, Tatis is by far the best hitter. Turner is essentially in a statistical dead heat with Correa, but Turner does add the speed to his game. Lindor’s power is also basically equal to Turner’s. Turner is easily the third best fielder in that group, better than only Tatis. Out of those four you could easily make the argument that Turner is at best third, maybe even fourth out of the bunch. He’s also the oldest. Was Washington crazy to trade him? Yes, but he’s not the best SS in baseball, not even close.
Steve says
U r a joke