No position in the majors is more stacked for fantasy baseball than shortstop. Most rankings have between 12 and 15 shortstops taken among the first 100 players overall, so there is a lot of talent. However, that depth also opens the door to significant bust potential among players who might not deliver as expected.
Here are three shortstops who won’t be able to live up to their ADP and preseason draft projections ahead of the 2026 fantasy baseball season.
Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Busts to Avoid in 2026
Francisco Lindor, New York Mets (ADP: 20)
Look, this is not a knock on Lindor’s ability or fantasy potential. He is arguably one of the best shortstops in the game and has elite 30-30 potential, or even 40-40, if he stays healthy and productive. He was one of seven players who recorded a 30-30 season in 2025, but it seems he is his own worst enemy ahead of the 2026 campaign.
The star shortstop made his spring debut on March 15 after February surgery on his left hand, but it remains uncertain whether he will be 100% by Opening Day. If the shortstop position was not as stacked as it is, I would advise you to roll the dice on Lindor. However, there are far too many other valuable options at the position to take a risk with his health.
Even with three straight years of an OPS above .800 and an elite blend of power and speed, the “if” regarding his health is simply too much of a risk. You can target another shortstop who does not carry as much risk as Lindor in the first two rounds and look for elite contributors elsewhere.
Trevor Story, Boston Red Sox (ADP: 109)
Story was finally able to stay on the field consistently in the 2025 season and fully delivered, hitting 25 homers and slashing .263/.308/.433 with a .741 OPS. However, it is a huge gamble to bet on Story staying healthy. He has failed to play 100 or more games in five of his 10 seasons in the majors.
While the talent is clearly there, he has significant injury issues that can appear at any moment. He has played fewer than 50 games in two of his four seasons in Boston, and with an ADP below 100, he is basically a backup option at the moment in most formats.
Because he carries so much risk, you would not lose much if you look at bolstering another position at this stage of the draft. If Story is available a few rounds later, he would bring excellent value.
Jacob Wilson, Athletics (ADP: 154)
The Athletics signed Wilson to a seven-year, $70 million contract extension in late January, and there is no question he is going to be a building block for the franchise for years to come. However, as talented as he is, he is not as productive in fantasy as his ADP indicates.
He does not have the power other shortstops have, and while his hit tool is above average, nothing suggests he will consistently hit over .300 on a steady basis. If his average drops, he does not have the power or the plate discipline to sustain that and remain a strong fantasy contributor.
Even though he rarely strikes out, it will only take a slight regression for Wilson to perform below his suggested ADP. You are better off looking for a player with a higher ceiling at this point in your draft.
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