Breaking down All-MLB Team SS nominees
Voting for the 2021 All-MLB Team presented by Cue Health is underway, and you can help decide which players will be honored as the best of the regular season at each position, with 50% of the vote coming from fans and 50% coming from a panel of experts.
You can vote right here, and may continue to do so once every 24 hours between now and when voting ends on Friday at 5 p.m. ET. The 2021 All-MLB Team will be announced Nov. 23 on MLB Network. There will be a first team and second team All-MLB, and voters are asked only to consider performance during the regular season when casting their ballots.
The nominees at each position were revealed Wednesday on MLB Network, and 10 shortstops are up for consideration to be part of the 2021 All-MLB Team, though only two can be chosen.
Here’s a breakdown of the All-MLB candidates at shortstop.
Tim Anderson, White Sox
2021 stats: .309 AVG, 17 HR, 61 RBIs, 18 SB, .806 OPS
Anderson was a first-time All-Star for Chicago in 2021. The 28-year-old ranked second among shortstops in batting average, his third straight year over .300, and he had at least 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases for a fourth consecutive full season (not counting the shortened 2020 season).
Bo Bichette, Blue Jays
2021 stats: .298 AVG, 29 HR, 102 RBIs, 25 SB, .828 OPS
Part of a loaded Toronto infield along with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Marcus Semien, Bichette led the American League with 191 hits. The 23-year-old first-time All-Star also led all shortstops in RBIs (102) and runs scored (121) and was one of six players with 25 homers and 25 steals.
Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox
2021 stats: .295 AVG, 23 HR, 79 RBIs, 5 SB, .863 OPS
Bogaerts anchored the left side of the Red Sox infield alongside Rafael Devers, and the 29-year-old earned his third career All-Star nod and fourth career Silver Slugger Award at shortstop. He led a playoff-bound Boston team in batting average (.295) and on-base percentage (.370).
Carlos Correa, Astros
2021 stats: .279 AVG, 26 HR, 92 RBIs, 0 SB, .850 OPS
Correa was his usual slugging self, setting a career high with 26 homers in the deepest lineup in baseball. But he also shone defensively, leading the Major Leagues with +21 Defensive Runs Saved en route to winning his first career Gold Glove Award and the Platinum Glove Award as the top overall defender in the AL.
Brandon Crawford, Giants
2021 stats: .298 AVG, 24 HR, 90 RBIs, 11 SB, .895 OPS
Crawford had a resurgent year for a Giants team that rolled to MLB's best record. The 11-year veteran set new career highs in basically every offensive category -- batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, home runs, RBIs, runs scored, even stolen bases. Crawford also won his fourth career Gold Glove Award.
Nicky Lopez, Royals
2021 stats: .300 AVG, 2 HR, 43 RBIs, 22 SB, .744 OPS
Lopez raised his batting average to an even .300 on the final day of the season, and he stole 22 bases while being caught only once. But the highlight was his glove -- the 26-year-old was the best fielder in MLB by Statcast's Outs Above Average stat, at +25 OAA.
Corey Seager, Dodgers
2021 stats: .306 AVG, 16 HR, 57 RBIs, 1 SB, .915 OPS
The 2020 World Series MVP was back at it in 2021. Though Seager was limited to 95 games, he still paced the Dodgers in batting average, on-base percentage and OPS. It was his second straight season with a .300-plus average, .500-plus slugging percentage and .900-plus OPS.
Trevor Story, Rockies
2021 stats: .251 AVG, 24 HR, 75 RBIs, 20 SB, .801 OPS
Story posted his third 20-20 season for Colorado, making him one of 10 players in the 20-20 club this season. He's also one of just two players, along with the Indians' José Ramírez, to reach the 20-20 mark in each of the last three full seasons (excluding 2020).
Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
2021 stats: .282 AVG, 42 HR, 97 RBIs, 25 SB, .975 OPS
The 22-year-old Tatis was named an MVP finalist and Silver Slugger after winning the NL home run crown with 42 long balls this season. Tatis led all shortstops with his .611 slugging percentage and .975 OPS, and he had 11 more homers than any other shortstop (Javier Báez). He and Shohei Ohtani were the only players with 40 homers and 25 steals in 2021.
Trea Turner, Nationals/Dodgers
2021 stats: .328 AVG, 28 HR, 77 RBIs, 32 SB, .911 OPS
The Dodgers' blockbuster trade for Turner and Max Scherzer paid off big-time. Turner ended up the MLB batting champion and hits leader (195) -- his second straight year atop that category. The 28-year-old also won the NL stolen base crown for the second time in his career. Turner and Cedric Mullins were the only players with 20 homers and 30 steals this year.