Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets and Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals are revolutionizing what it means to be a shortstop in Major League
Baseball.
Power began to crop up more often at the position in the 1990s with five different players reaching the 30-homer mark in the decade. Rodriguez, however, re-wrote the position between the 1990s and early 2000s before his move to the Yankees and third base. He holds the record with seven 30-plus home-run seasons by a shortstop including a remarkable three-year stretch with the Texas Rangers from 2001-2003 in which he hit 52, 57, and 47 home runs — though steroids will always taint his reputation.
Witt Jr. is also on the verge of entering an exclusive company from just a power-hitting standpoint. The Royal is on pace for 30 home runs with 22 in 116 games this season, which would give him his second straight 30-plus campaign. Only nine other shortstops have had multiple seasons with that many homers.What is continuing to set Witt and Lindor apart, though, is the blend of power and speed.
Lindor overcame a miserable start to the 2024 season and has quietly been one of the National League’s very best players. Since May 19 , he is batting .295 with an .890 OPS, 15 home runs, 44 RBI, and 18 stolen bases. Paired with his sterling defense, Lindor’s 5.
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