With the depth of talent present in the 2026 fantasy baseball shortstop position compared to the second base position, filling your fantasy team’s middle infield spot with a sleeper shortstop is a strategy fantasy managers can use to build a championship-caliber fantasy baseball roster.
Top 5 Potential Sleeper Shortstops Ranked
Jacob Wilson (Athletics)
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NFBC ADP: 169.36
Wilson’s 7.5% K rate and 91.7% contact rate made him one of baseball’s most disciplined hitters last season. He was one of seven major leaguers with a BA of .300 or better in 2025.
2025 stats:
.311 AVG, 13 HR, 62 R, 63 RBI, 5 SB in 125 games.
2026 outlook
Wilson’s 2025 xHR and below-average barrel and hard-hit rates don’t support last season’s power output. However, playing his home games in hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park should help push Wilson’s HR totals back into the double digits this season. A batting average in the .300 range should be the norm for Wilson moving forward.
Jacob Wilson 2026 projection:
.305 AVG, 14 HR, 68 R, 66 RBI, 4 SB
Xavier Edwards (Miami Marlins)
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NFBC ADP: 177.56
In 2025, Edwards was a sleeper shortstop who hit for a high average and was an excellent resource in the stolen base and runs scored category.
2025 stats:
.283 AVG, 3 HR, 75 R, 43 RBI, 27 SB in 139 games.
2026 outlook
Edwards has a career .298 BA in 239 games. He’s an extremely disciplined, high-contact hitter who should continue to be a stolen base threat from the top of the Marlins’ 2026 lineup.
Xavier Edwards 2026 projection:
.288 AVG, 5 HR, 75 R, 45 RBI, 30 SB
Ezequiel Tovar (Colorado Rockies)
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NFBC ADP: 206.05
Quad and ankle injuries forced Tovar to miss close to two months of the 2025 season and likely contributed to his below-career-average home run, runs scored, and RBI rates.
2025 stats:
.253 AVG, 9 HR, 44 R, 33 RBI, 5 SB in 95 games.
2026 outlook
Tovar’s extreme career home/away splits are a red flag, but his potential production at hitter-friendly Coors Field could help stabilize his overall 2026 batting statistics.
Ezequiel Tovar 2026 projection:
.258 AVG, 23 HR, 76 R, 73 RBI, 8 SB
Colson Montgomery (Chicago White Sox)
NFBC ADP: 218.31
Potentially unsustainable above-average barrel and HR/FB rates were two key stats that helped Montgomery post power numbers that Babe Ruth would be proud of.
2025 stats:
.239 AVG, 21 HR, 43 R, 55 RBI, 0 SB in 71 games.
2026 outlook
Montgomery’s lack of plate discipline tells the story of a second-year player who might not be worth rostering.
Montgomery’s 2025 strikeout rate hovered around 30% and finally settled at 29.2%. His O-swing % (pitches swung at outside the strike zone) mirrored his K rate and was also too high (28.2%). Montgomery’s overall contact rate was below average at 69.2%.
If his minor league career home run rate is any indication, Montgomery’s power production could regress in 2026. Based on his 2025 Whiff %, opposing pitchers will probably feed Montgomery a steady diet of offspeed and breaking stuff, making him a potential BA drain. There’s risk, and modest reward, in rostering him in 2026.
Colson Montgomery 2026 projection:
.230 AVG, 25 HR, 60 R, 67 RBI
Andres Gimenez (Toronto Blue Jays)
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NFBC ADP: 335.81
Injuries caused Gimenez to miss almost two months of the 2025 season, and he never quite got on track. His 2025 batting average was well below his career .253 average.
2025 stats:
.210 AVG, 7 HR, 39 R, 35 RBI, 12 SB in 101 games.
2026 outlook
Gimenez is slated to start the season as the Blue Jays’ everyday shortstop, and his elite defense should ensure that he gets regular at-bats. Gimenez has a career 14 home run and 27 stolen base 162-game average. Allowing approximately 600 plate appearances, Gimenez’s 2026 stat line might look something like this:
Andres Gimenez 2026 projection:
.250 AVG, 13 HR, 65 R, 62 RBI, 23 SB
Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Sleeper Pros and Cons
Jacob Wilson is a perennial .300 hitter who’ll get a slight power boost from his hitter-friendly home ballpark. Dynasty fantasy baseball managers should anticipate a potential power drop-off for the long term.
Xavier Edwards is expected to be a three-category contributor (BA, Runs, SB). His speed is elite.
Ezequiel Tovar has five-category production potential.
Colson Montgomery is the riskiest shortstop sleeper in this article. His plate discipline is a real concern.
Based on his ADP and double-digit HR and SB potential, Andres Gimenez has the highest upside from among the sleeper shortstops discussed.
Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Sleeper Strategy
Target the shortstop sleepers discussed in this article as late as possible in your drafts to maximize your return on investment. Wilson has the highest ADP from among the players discussed, but even he won’t be selected until the 12th round or later in typical 12-team leagues. Remember, the only way to gauge a fantasy baseball player’s true value is to participate in as many preseason mock drafts as you can.
People Also Ask About Fantasy Baseball Sleeper Shortstops
Who are the top sleeper shortstops for 2026 fantasy baseball?
Colson Montgomery, Andres Gimenez, and Xavier Edwards stand out due to ADP discounts paired with power or speed upside.
Is Colson Montgomery a good fantasy pick in 2026?
Yes. Montgomery offers late-round power upside after hitting 21 home runs in limited action last season.
Why is Andres Gimenez considered a sleeper in 2026?
He projects for everyday playing time in Toronto with realistic double-digit home run and stolen base production at a low ADP.
Who is the best undervalued shortstop for speed in 2026 fantasy baseball?
Xavier Edwards stands out for stolen base upside and batting average stability at minimal draft cost.
How should fantasy managers draft shortstop sleepers in 2026?
Target shortstops with ADPs after pick 175 who provide at least one standout category such as speed, power, or batting average.