Aledmys Diaz, Dansby Swanson among promising young shortstops struggling in 2017
The Cardinals missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2010, but they appeared to have struck gold with Aledmys Diaz, a Cuban defector whom they'd signed in March 2014. Taking advantage of the early season absence of Jhonny Peralta, the 25-year-old Diaz put a claim on St. Louis’ shortstop spot while earning All-Star honors and finishing fifth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. He hasn't been able to re-create that magic this year, however. On Wednesday, the slumping Redbirds optioned him to Triple A Memphis.
While 2016 NL Rookie of the Year Corey Seager has taken his place alongside Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor and Xander Bogaerts among the game's great young shortstops, Diaz—who admittedly is a bit older than that group (and missed the 2013 season for falsifying his birth date)—isn't alone among those who made a splash last year but have taken their lumps in 2017. Call this a six-pack of scuffling young shortstops; they’re listed alphabetically.
