FAMtasy SS Rankings

1. Troy TulowitzkiTulowitzki is the kind of player that drives fantasy owners crazy. He’s too talented not to take if you get the chance, but you also know there’s a very good chance he misses time due to injury.

Tulo played in just 92 games in 2014 and has averaged 117 games per season over his career. When healthy, there isn’t a short stop in the game that comes close to matching his talent or production. Tulo is a gamble, but the potential reward outweighs the risk at a very weak fantasy position.

Average Season 2007-2014

Games Batting Ave

Home Runs

Doubles RBIs

117 .301 22 25 75

2. Ian Desmond

Over the past 4 or 5 years, Ian Desmond has become one of the most dependable fantasy shortstops in baseball. Desmond has posted 3 straight 20/20 seasons and has also driven in 70+ runs per season over that same time period (91 RBIs in 2014).

You won’t catch your opponents sleeping on Desmond come draft day 2015, but he has proven that he is worth his 3rd round ADP. Expect another 20/20 season out of the 29 year old with a good chance at improving on his 2014 batting average (.255).

2012-2014 Stats

Batting Ave

Home Runs

RBIs Steals

2012 .292 25 73 21

2013 .280 20 80 21

2014 .255 24 91 24

3. Hanley RamirezI’m leaving Hanley in the SS category for now. He is projected to play LF for the Red Sox in 2015, but he will begin the season SS eligible, where he is far more valuable, in most formats.

Ramirez has battled injury issues in recent years, but when healthy he is still a very valuable fantasy asset. His career 162 game average of .300, 25 HR, 87 RBI, and 35 steals points to an elite fantasy option. However, that’s not the full story with Hanley. He has notoriously battled injury and maturity issues and there is also a decent chance he loses his SS eligibility at some point this season. Know what you’re getting into prior to drafting Ramirez in 2015.

Average Season 2010-2014

Games Batting Ave

Home Runs

RBI Steals

121 .281 18 68 19

4. Jose ReyesReyes is yet another SS that has battled some injury issues in recent years. A somewhat healthy Reyes is still good for double digit home runs (30 combined over the last 3 seasons) and 30+ steals. That production isn’t easy to come by at the SS position.

Reyes turns 32 in June. If he can stay healthy he is still a very good fantasy option at SS and a solid source of steals (455 in his career).

Average Season in Career (2003-2014)

Games Batting Average

Home Runs

RBIs Steals

120 .292 9 47 38

5. Alexei RamirezRamirez is one of the best of the “2nd tier” of fantasy shortstops for 2015.

The 33 year old had a very solid 2014 season. The 2015 White Sox should have a stronger lineup and it’s not a stretch to think Alexei could reap some of the benefits. I’d look for very similar numbers out of Ramirez in 2015.

2011-2014 StatsBatting

AveDoubles Home

RunsRBI Steals

2011 .269 31 15 70 72012 .265 24 9 73 202013 .284 39 6 48 302014 .273 35 15 74 21

6. Starlin CastroCastro is a very talented young player (turns 25 in March) whose best offensive years still seem to be ahead of him.

Castro missed 28 games in 2014 but still managed 154 hits and tied a career high with 14 home runs. I would look for him to better both of those numbers in 2015 as he hits in the middle of an exciting young Cubs lineup.

2011.307 BA10 HR66 RBI

2012.283 BA14 HR78 RBI

2013.245 BA10 HR44 RBI

2014 .292 BA14 HR65 RBI

7. Jhonny PeraltaPeralta can be a difficult guy to get a read on from year to year. He had a very solid first season in St. Louis, posting a .263, 38 double, 21 HR, 75 RBI season in 2014.

There should continue to be plenty of RBI opportunities in 2015 for Peralta. The Cardinals lineup should be slightly stronger after the offseason addition of Jason Heyward, the renewed health of Yadier Molina, and the continued development of young hitters (Adams, Wong). I’d look for Peralta to match or exceed his 2014 numbers this season.

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 20140.2

0.22

0.24

0.26

0.28

0.3

0.32

0.292

0.257

0.270.276

0.2540.249

0.299

0.239

0.303

0.263

Chart Title

8. Elvis AndrusIt was a strange season for Andrus as he was one of the few Rangers that did not spend significant time on the DL in 2014.

There were some concerning stats for Andrus last season. He was successful on only 54% of his stolen base attempts after the All-Star Break. He also had only 15 extra base hits after the break (0 HRs). Andrus is still only 26 and I would expect him to have a stronger season in 2015. Look for more steals, RBIs, and runs out of Elvis this season.

2012-2014 Stats

Batting Ave Runs RBI Steals

2012 .286 85 62 21

2013 .271 91 67 42

2014 .263 72 41 27

9. Jimmy RollinsRollins turns 37 in 2015. How much the 15 year MLB veteran has left in the tank remains to be seen.

Rollins will be hitting in a better lineup in 2015 after getting traded to the Dodgers in December. I’m betting Rollins has another 15+ HR, 20+ steal season left in him and those numbers would not surprise me in 2015. Taking a SS of Rollins’ age is a gamble though, so be sure you’re not reaching if you plan on drafting him this season.

Average MLB Season 2001-2014

Games Batting Ave

Runs HR RBI Steals

148 .268 94 15 63 32

10. J.J. Hardy Hardy had a very uncharacteristic power slump in 2014. JJ’s first home run came on June 21st. In the offseason, he revealed that he played through significant back pain for most of the season, which was a major factor in the power slump.

This could make Hardy a great value in 2015. I would expect a major bounce back season for Hardy. If your opponents are sleeping on the 32 year old, you might just end up with a steal at SS.

2011-2014 StatsBatting Ave Home Runs RBI

2011 .269 30 802012 .238 22 682013 .263 25 762014 .268 9 52