MLB’s shortstop crop is loaded heading into Week 16, and the All-Star rosters only sharpen the picture. With the 2026 All-Star Game a week away and the teams already announced, the position has a little bit of everything: breakout power, steady production, speed, and a few notable snubs.
At the top of the list sits CJ Abrams, who has put together a monster season for Washington. He enters the week as one of only two shortstops in MLB with at least 19 home runs and double-digit stolen bases, and he’ll start the All-Star Game at shortstop for the National League.
Right behind him is Bobby Witt Jr., who keeps pushing his career into rare territory. He leads all MLB shortstops in stolen bases and ranks second overall in the league. Witt Jr. will start at shortstop for the American League in the All-Star Game.
Colson Montgomery has also forced his way into the conversation with a huge power season for the White Sox. He leads MLB shortstops in home runs entering the week, yet still ended up as an AL All-Star snub.
Elly De La Cruz checks in fourth after working back from a stint on the injured list. He’s one of seven MLB shortstops with double-digit home runs and stolen bases, but he came up short of making the NL All-Star team.
Otto Lopez has been one of the steadiest bats in the sport this season. He leads all of MLB in hits entering the week and has earned a spot on the NL All-Star team.
Kevin McGonigle lands at No. 6 after a strong rookie campaign for Detroit. He is third among MLB shortstops in hits and will be a reserve on the AL All-Star roster.
Brayan Rocchio deserves more attention than he’s gotten. He’s been one of Cleveland’s most reliable hitters and enters the week seventh in hits among MLB shortstops.
Zach Neto keeps delivering for the Angels, and his power production has him tied for second in home runs among MLB shortstops. He could also be in line to replace an injured AL All-Star representative.
Dansby Swanson has found a real groove with the Cubs over the past month. He added eight home runs in the last two weeks and is tied for third in home runs among MLB shortstops entering the week.
Brooks Lee rounds out the top 10 and continues to look like a long-term piece for Minnesota. In his second full season, he’s tied for fourth in home runs among MLB shortstops, and he’s one Twins player who won’t be going anywhere at the deadline.
In Other News...
Nationals Suddenly Face A Trade Dilemma That Could Define Their Season
The Nationals have spent most of the summer trying to prove their record is no fluke, and at 47-45 they are still squarely in the postseason picture. That makes Foster Griffin one of the more interesting names on their roster right now, because the left-hander has quietly turned in a strong season with a 2.87 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 18 starts, enough production to draw attention beyond Washington.
MLB insider Robert Murray reports the interest in Griffin is expected to be plenty, which puts the Nationals in a familiar but tricky spot for a team trying to move forward without giving up too much ground. For a club that has already spent months climbing into contention, the question around Griffin is not just about what he has done so far, but what Washington is willing to risk if the market keeps building before the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Former Royals Arm Is Suddenly Raising A Familiar Question Again
Foster Griffin has quietly given the Nationals a stretch of steady work, and it comes at a time when clubs are always looking for left-handed pitching depth that can travel well into October. The former Royals arm has leaned on a seven-pitch mix this season, added a sinker, and shown enough consistency to keep his name in the conversation as a useful bullpen piece.
The control issues have not disappeared, but his recent run has been hard to ignore. Over his last four appearances, Griffin has put up a 0.95 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 28.1 innings despite 10 walks, and his overall line for Washington remains solid at 2.87 ERA with a 4.27 FIP and 1.04 WHIP. He also brings recent experience from Japan, where he worked from 2023 to 2025, and that background only adds to the appeal for a contender weighing whether he might fit a late-season bullpen puzzle. [Read more 🡒]
CJ Abrams Deadline Tension Just Got Real For Nationals Fans
CJ Abrams has spent the summer carrying the pressure that comes with being a two-time All-Star and the Nationals starting shortstop, and lately that burden has only grown heavier. His recent struggles at the plate have put him back in the trade-rumor conversation ahead of the deadline, even as Washington keeps pushing in the postseason race and needs its young core to stay steady.
Abrams has been trying to keep the outside noise from taking over, using meditation to stay centered while the speculation around him keeps building. He gave the Nationals a jolt with a key three-run homer against the Astros, a reminder of how quickly his bat can change a game, but the larger question hanging over him and the club is whether Washingtons surprising run changes the way the front office views his future. [Read more 🡒]