Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson & Elly De La Cruz: Meet MLB’s Latest Crop Of Superstar Shortstops

But we don’t get where we are today without first going back in time more than a quarter century. In the late 1990s, the trio of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra defined the shortstop position through their brilliance on both sides of the ball. Collectively, they set the standard for what a shortstop could be.

Baseball America tabbed Jeter, Rodriguez and Garciaparra the “Holy Trinity.” In an August 1999 issue, BA surveyed 50 players, general managers and assistant GMs at that year’s All-Star Game in Boston about the trio’s best tools and skills.

Jeter led the way with the most first-place votes through the plethora of categories. His career culminated in Cooperstown, one vote shy of Hall of Fame unanimity. Jeter knocked 3,456 hits in his career while leading the Yankees to five World Series championships. Only Omar Vizquel appeared in more career games at shortstop than Jeter.

A-Rod is arguably the most multi-talented player of the draft era. He hit 696 home runs, collected 3,115 hits, stole 329 bases and won two Gold Gloves at shortstop. His link to PEDs and the Biogenesis scandal are the only things keeping him out of Cooperstown.

Garciaparra won two batting titles, including a .372 mark in 2000, and hit as many as 35 homers in a season, though injuries curtailed his effectiveness in his 30s.

Speaking about the influence of the so-called Holy Trinity today, Guardians GM Chris Antonetti said: “It could just be a natural ebb and flow with the talent at the position.

“If you look back over the last few decades, there have been periods of time where we’ve had generational shortstops all contributing at the same time.

“When you go back to Jeter, Garciaparra and Rodriguez, there were lots of really good shortstops then. Maybe there was a bit of an ebb. And I think what we’ve now seen over the last six to seven years, that maybe there’s a resurgence in the position.”

Antonetti knows a thing or two about talented shortstops. Cleveland debuted Francisco Lindor as its shortstop in 2015. He would have won American League Rookie of the Year if not for Carlos Correa, another brilliant young shortstop who debuted that same season.

The Dodgers’ Corey Seager followed Lindor and Correa in 2016, winning National League Rookie of the Year. The group formed a second power trio of all-time young shortstop talent blossoming at once.

This story, however, isn’t a survey or a retrospective. It’s a story about the supernova of talent taking over the shortstop position in MLB today.

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If in 1999 we were talking about the Holy Trinity. Today, we are experiencing The Threequel.

Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson and Elly De La Cruz are shaking up the shortstop position with their athleticism, power and defensive excellence. The trio has a chance to rival peak Jeter, Rodriguez and Garciaparra from nearly three decades ago.

Witt’s arrival in Kansas City as a 2022 rookie heralds the starting point for The Threequel. Henderson debuted late that season for the Orioles and won 2023 AL Rookie of the Year. De La Cruz joined the Reds midstream in 2023, appearing in 98 games.  

“I’ve played shortstop ever since I can remember,” Witt said. “I always wanted to be a shortstop, because I was able to help the team win offensively, defensively and every day.”

Witt may have the best mix of power, speed, hitting ability, defensive range and arm strength since, well, A-Rod. Witt turns 25 years old this season and already has two 30-30 seasons, another 20-20 season, a Gold Glove and a runner-up finish for AL MVP last year.

He has quickly developed into one of the most dominant players in baseball. According to FanGraphs.com, Witt has generated 18.5 WAR, a total that trails only Aaron Judge, Lindor, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman since his 2022 debut.

Witt’s ascendance is even more impressive in light of the lost 2020 minor league season. The Royals drafted him second overall in 2019, but he saw no official game action in 2020 before winning Minor League Player of the Year honors in 2021 and quickly adapting to MLB a year after that.

Witt’s 30-30 seasons are indicative of a new type of headlining shortstop: one who combines traditional skills with a new-age power and speed into a star-making mix.

“It’s just how the game is evolving,” Witt said. “Guys are getting stronger. They’re not trying to hit homers, it’s just part of it now. Naturally, you try to hit line drives. For me, I try to hit the ball hard and put good swings on it. Home runs are sometimes mistakes.”

Playing at Colleyville Heritage High outside Dallas, Witt was a known commodity who had been heralded as top prospect for years. His father of the same name was a 16-year MLB veteran righthander whom the Rangers drafted No. 3 overall in 1985.

Witt’s draft scouting report in 2019 read in part: “If he is even a .230 or .240 hitter, he should have a lengthy big league career because of his defensive ability at shortstop, speed and power. If he proves to be an average or better hitter, he could become a franchise-caliber player.”

As Witt has developed into a superstar, the Royals have been transformed by his play. His MVP-caliber season, along with top-five Cy Young Award finishes from Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans, lifted the Royals to 86 wins and an AL wild card last season after seven straight losing seasons.

It’s a trend Royals GM J.J. Picollo has seen in modern day shortstops.

“Kids now train differently when they come into the system, maybe a little bit more advanced than they were 10 to 15 years ago,” Picollo said. “They’re more athletic. They understand what it takes to play that position—the flexibility, the footwork, the athleticism and the movement patterns they train for that.”

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Some kids train differently, but others are just built differently.

De La Cruz stands at 6-foot-5 and has the combination of speed, strength and agility that almost seems otherworldly. It almost looks like he belongs on a football field, rather than a baseball diamond—and maybe if he grew up in the U.S. rather than the Dominican Republic that would have been the case.

The 23-year-old switch-hitter’s ability to produce power, steal bases and play elite defense makes him a rare talent in the modern game. De La Cruz is one of the most electrifying players, but that outcome would not have been obvious when the Reds first scouted him.

In fact, De La Cruz wasn’t initially on the Reds’ radar in the 2018 international class. He happened to be working out at the El Niche Baseball Academy in Santo Domingo when the Reds arrived to scout another prospect. A 16-year-old De La Cruz was there, too, already standing 6 feet tall, but without any semblance of the sinewy muscle that has helped fuel his rise.

The Reds were intrigued. After one workout, they saw enough and signed De La Cruz for $65,000.

Quickly, they realized they had uncovered a gem.

De La Cruz debuted in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, then lost the 2020 season to the pandemic.

Once play returned, he made the sport snap to attention. Evaluators were awestruck. His pyrotechnics on the field upstaged fireworks shows across the minor leagues.

In 2022, a near 30-50 campaign helped him finish runner-up to Henderson as Minor League Player of the Year.

In two seasons in Cincinnati, De La Cruz has hit .250/.324/.447 with 38 home runs. Last year he made his first all-star team and led MLB with 67 stolen bases—but also 218 strikeouts. Continued improvement to his contact rate and OBP are required, but he has the athleticism to adapt and meet the challenge.

“Athletes continue to get better and evolve,” Reds GM Nick Krall said. “And Elly is one of the best ones I’ve ever seen. And I think the sky’s the limit for him.”

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Through three major league seasons, Henderson has demonstrated a high talent level with the Orioles, winning AL Rookie of the Year in 2023 and then finishing fourth in the MVP race last season.

Known for his all-around game, Henderson combines impressive power and hitting ability with solid defense and has one of the strongest infield arms in the game. Last season he flirted with 40 homers while setting additional career highs with 21 stolen bases and 78 walks. He made his first all-star team.

Standing at 6-foot-3, Henderson’s solid frame gives him the physicality to succeed at the plate, while his agility allows him to cover significant ground defensively. His quick reflexes and 70-grade arm allow him to play deeper than other shortstops as needed.

While Henderson is less likely than Witt or De La Cruz to win a Gold Glove, his ability to impact the game both offensively and defensively makes him a game-changer and a crucial asset to the Orioles, who have perhaps the most exciting young lineup in the game.

In his first draft as president of baseball operations for the Orioles, Mike Elias selected Henderson at the top of the second round in 2019 out of his Alabama high school. Adley Rutschman was the first overall pick, making the Orioles’ 2019 draft haul an all-timer.

Henderson and Witt were drafted a round apart, but they have arrived at the same point as two of the American League’s finest young players.

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Angels manager Ron Washington  is renowned as one of the best infield coaches in the business. He helped mold Marcus Semien into a big league shortstop-turned-Gold Glove second baseman.

He has seen every MLB infielder up close for the past 50 years. He sees something special in Henderson, Witt and De La Cruz.

“You have to be a smart and mature player to be up the middle at shortstop,” Washington said. “You have to be that way because you’re the lead on the infield.

“They’re hitters, too. You don’t just have one who’s a slouch. And what I mean by that is: You don’t have one that focuses on defense and speed. A majority of them can play every part of the game. That is the (type of) athletes who are coming out now.”

The shift at shortstop is a reflection of the changes in baseball. There is an increased focus on power, athleticism and versatility.

The shortstops of yesteryear, like Jeter and Garciaparra, were known for their ability to make the routine plays and hit for average with occasional power. Today’s shortstops are expected to be multi-dimensional threats.

“I think the shortstop position has become a lot more physical,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “You look at the great shortstops like Omar Vizquel and Ozzie Smith. Those guys were super, ultra-athletic and maybe not as physical.

“This new generation of players has both. They’re obviously equally as talented defensively, but they have the ability to really do damage offensively.”

Teams today look for shortstops who can not only handle the glove but also contribute significantly to the offense. In the past, it may have been more about defensive consistency, but today’s shortstop is a dynamic athlete who can impact the team in a variety of ways.

“The shortstop is typically one of the best athletes on the field,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “Defense and athleticism and hands, and when you have that, you can go produce.

“And we have some of the best shortstops to ever play the game right now.”

As we examine the shortstop position, it’s clear that it is evolving in exciting ways.

Cal Ripken Jr. set the standard for the “big” shortstop more than 40 years ago. At 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, his dimensions were unheard of for a shortstop when he debuted in 1981. Ripken’s success paved the way for Jeter, Rodriguez and Garciaparra and later for Lindor and, especially, the more physical Correa and Seager.

Today, Witt, Henderson and De La Cruz set the standard and are influencing the next wave of players.

Future shortstops will undoubtedly be athletes, but it’s also true that subsequent generations of players will continue to change the way the game is played.

The legacy of the old guard will always be honored, but the future is bright for the next wave of shortstop superstars.

And it begins with the The Threequel of Witt, Henderson and De La Cruz.

Tall Tale

When Orioles manager Earl Weaver installed Cal Ripken Jr. at shortstop in 1981, baseball had never seen anything like him. Ripken was 6-foot-4 and physical, not short, quick and wiry like the prototype shortstop of the time. Weaver’s decision—and Ripken’s Hall of Fame play—changed the shortstop position forever.

Notable Shortstop Triumvirates

1998: Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra—the original Holy Trinity of shortstops—all finished top 10 in American League MVP voting in 1998. Garciaparra was runner-up with a career-high 35 home runs. Jeter placed third, hitting .324 for the 114-win Yankees. Rodriguez paired 42 homers with 46 steals and an AL-leading 213 hits as a 22-year-old but finished ninth.

TOTAL 1998 bWAR: 23.1

2017: Twenty years after the Holy Trinity, a new crop of shortstops entered full bloom. Corey Seager, Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor emerged as the top trio of a group that also included Xander Bogaerts and Trevor Story. In 2017, Lindor clicked for his first of five 30-homer seasons—and counting?—while Seager’s Dodgers and Correa’s Astros met in the World Series.  

TOTAL 2017 bWAR: 17.7

2024: Shortstops Elly De La Cruz, Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr. showed what they’re capable of in 2024, each finishing top 10 in his league’s MVP race. Witt finished runner-up to a historic Aaron Judge season in the American League, with Henderson placing fourth. De La Cruz popped 25 homers and led MLB with 67 steals in his first full season.  

TOTAL 2024 bWAR: 23.7