St. Louis — One of MLB’s hottest topics today is the controversial absence of Masyn Winn from the Top 10 Shortstops rankings – a shock that has startled fans and experts alike. However, looking closely at his statistics, performance, and actual value for the 2025 season, perhaps what MLB Network miscalculated more than underestimating one of the St. Louis Cardinals’ brightest talents is his overall performance.
Theoretically, the latest Top 10 Shortstops list is proof of the depth of this position in MLB. But the big paradox: Winn isn’t in the top 10, even though he remains a benchmark in every aspect of defense and value creation for the Cardinals.
Some argue that the main reason lies in a misjudgment of Winn’s offensive performance and overall WAR value this season (9 HR, 51 RBI, 9 SB, with an AVG of .253) – statistics that aren’t exactly “explosive” by top-tier standards. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
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If there’s one undeniable fact, it’s that Winn is truly one of the best defensive shortstops in MLB. He leads the Outs Above Average (OAA) category – the top statistic for measuring defensive impact – surpassing many other top-tier stars.
Not only that:
His incredibly fast range and movement to the ball often slow down opponents’ reactions.
His interception range is the widest among all shortstops in the league, as if he’s single-handedly “carrying the entire midfield.”
His reflexes and situational awareness are exceptional – something that impresses both pitchers and fans.
It’s safe to say Winn isn’t just doing well — he’s far ahead of the rest. But these incredibly sophisticated statistics are overshadowed by top lists that rely heavily on offensive metrics and established names, causing Winn to be unexpectedly overlooked.
There’s an interesting paradox: Winn isn’t just playing well — he’s underrated for what he’s doing. While many rankings rely primarily on superficial statistics like batting average and home runs, Winn offers real defensive value plus WAR, something the Cardinals themselves highly value:
His 2025 WAR value is among the highest relative to his relatively low salary — making him one of the Cardinals’ most undervalued players.
His excellent defense surpasses many more renowned shortstops — something many rankings don’t have enough weight to assess.
With this data, why place Winn lower than other players—those who can boast impressive offensive statistics, but couldn’t carry a single game in all 162 games?
Part of the reason for fan concern: Winn played most of the 2025 season with a meniscus injury in his knee—yet the Cardinals decided to keep him playing instead of resting him to focus on recovery.
This shows:
The Cardinals’ roster believed in Winn to the point of being willing to take medical risks, demonstrating significant faith in his value.
Winn himself fought for the team—this attitude made him the soul of the locker room and a name opponents didn’t want to face.
But this very “risky gamble” also made his performance less impressive in the eyes of some analysts.
Despite being “snubbed,” Masyn Winn still has the opportunity to build a much larger legacy:
He just won the 2025 NL Gold Glove, one of the clearest examples of elite defensive caliber in MLB.
At just 23 years old, he could rise to the league’s elite shortstops within the next few seasons.
His exclusion from the top 10 may only spark controversy, but it will further motivate Winn to prove himself – something both the Cardinals and the experts expect.
Masyn Winn’s exclusion from the Top 10 Shortstops is not only a shock — but also a major analytical error when considering his defense, actual WAR, and overall impact.
Perhaps MLB and the rating community need to reconsider their criteria, because:
Defense can no longer be considered “secondary” in shortstop rating.
Masyn Winn not only deserves to be in the top — but also deserves to be recognized as a complete superstar.
And if the 2026 season sees Winn explode convincingly, this “snub” will be remembered as one of the biggest misjudgments in modern baseball.