| 1 |
|
| After dropping out of first-round consideration for the first time in years, Ramirez came roaring back with arguably his best Fantasy season, falling just short of a 40/40 campaign that he may well have completed if the Guardians’ final game wasn’t rained out. He’s an easy No. 1 here, given the troubles for some of the other third base studs, and a surefire first-rounder again. |
| 2 |
|
| From the beginning, there were reports of a balky shoulder for Devers that required maintenance days here and there, but he basically performed like his normal studly self … until he didn’t. The final two months saw his bat speed and arm strength suffer, and he was eventually shut down with what was ruled to be inflammation. Presumably, he’ll be all better by spring, but you never know. |
| 3 |
|
| Riley’s overall numbers fell short of the MVP-caliber production from the previous three seasons, but he had begun his usual summer turnaround, batting .292 with a .942 OPS over a 57-game span, when he fractured the hamate bone in his right hand. A hamate fracture can sometimes hamper power even after the player recovers, but with a full offseason’s rest, hopefully not. |
| 4 |
|
| Next year figures to be the first time in three that Machado is unimpeded by an elbow injury, but short memories will conclude that 2023 and 2024 represent his new normal. I think there’s a case for taking him ahead of Riley or even Devers, though, given that he hit .294 with an .879 OPS from June 1 on, finally moving past the extensor tendon surgery. |
| 5 |
|
| Chisholm’s first fully healthy season yielded the big numbers so many hoped it would and confirmed that he’s the best power/speed threat at third base apart from Ramirez. It’s possible even better things are in store with a full season at Yankee Stadium, but his batting average limitations, unfavorable lineup placement, and, yes, injury history lead me to rank him more conservatively. |
| 6 |
|
| More likely, you’ll draft Westburg to play second base, where he ranks fifth for me, but third base is thin enough in its own right that you could justify playing him here. His upside is limited by his poor on-base skills and unfavorable home venue, but his Statcast page is all lit up in red, confirming the legitimacy of his breakthrough. |
| 7 |
|
| Given his pedestrian Statcast readings, the prevailing assumption is that Bregman has thrived by wearing out the Crawford Boxes at Minute Maid Park, and that theory is more pertinent than ever as he hits the free agent market this offseason. Of course, his career home/away splits are actually pretty even, so the likeliest outcome is another .260 batting average with 25 homers and good plate discipline. |
| 8 |
|
| After several years of befuddling production, Chapman just turned in his best season since 2019, and it’s probably no coincidence that he also had his lowest strikeout rate since then. He became something of a base-stealer for the first time, which isn’t far-fetched given his 84th percentile sprint speed, so if you can stomach a sub-.250 batting average, there’s a lot to like here. |
| 9 |
|
| The mystique for Lewis is gone now. Rather than being the kid who only hits homers, which seemed to be the case on the rare occasions he was healthy, he batted .207 with a .620 OPS in 58 games to close out 2024 — the healthiest stretch of his career so far. He’s surely better than that, but how much better is an open question, making him a gamble in two respects next year. |
| 10 |
|
| After giving him only a cameo in 2023, the Rays officially turned the third base job over to Caminero late in 2024, and while he didn’t max out his potential right away, he made the same sort of loud contact that put him in the running for No. 1 overall prospect. He’s a bet on pedigree at a point in the third base rankings when the possibility of high-end production has about run out. |
| 11 |
|
| Bohm invited breakout hype when he hit .366 with a 1.036 OPS this past April — a terrible month for hitters overall — but the remaining five months brought his numbers more or less in line with career norms. He remains a B contributor in batting average, a B-plus in RBI, a C-minus in home runs, and a D in everything else, the balance of which is basically a serviceable starter. |
| 12 |
|
| The Met’s multi-year competition at third base seemingly ended this year with the underdog, Vientos, overtaking the favorite, Brett Baty, with the same big-time power he showed in the minors. But the improved contact rate that allowed him to seize the job in the first half receded badly in the second half, which has me wondering how secure he really is. |
| 13 |
|
| Among hitters, at least, Suarez was probably the biggest surprise of the second half, overcoming a .196 batting average and .591 OPS in the previous three months (not to mention a .221 batting average and .744 OPS in the previous four years) to hit .312 with a .974 OPS from July 1 on. He’s not a stranger to that sort of production, but it had been a long time for the 33-year-old, which rightfully raises skepticism. |
| 14 |
|
| The third base position kind of opens up here, leaving room to argue over who belongs next, but I’m picking Rengifo mainly because he also qualifies at second base, which is the weakest infield position. Prior to a season-ending wrist injury, he had broken through as a batting average and stolen base standout while averaging as many Head-to-Head points per game as Alec Bohm. |
| 15 |
|
| Ranking one spot higher at first base, Burger has proven twice over that he’s a good source of home runs but basically nothing else. That’s especially true with the Marlins lineup hampering his run and RBI production. The danger in such a profile is that when he’s not on, there’s little incentive to hold on, and many dumped him during the first three months of 2024. |
| 16 |
|
| Muncy has been teetering on the edge of collapse for several years now but always manages to pull it together just in the nick of time, as happened again this year following a hamstring injury. He’s increasingly at risk of a platoon role and a certain drain on batting average, but his on-base skills remain strong (which matters more for points leagues, naturally). |
| 17 |
|
| We’ve long known Arenado has little margin for error as a power hitter, relying more on an optimal launch angle than high-quality contact for his home runs, and losing a couple miles per hour in exit velocity this year seemed to eliminate that margin. He’ll be 34 next year, making a rebound a less-than-safe bet, but his contact skills are still good enough to make him a viable corner infield option. |
| 18 |
|
| This past season will go down as a lost one for Jung, who suffered a fractured wrist less than a week into it and was still feeling the effects after returning in the second half. For the little he did play, the exit velocity readings were off, but he was basically productive, offering hope (albeit with substantial risk) that he can produce at the level of a top-12 third baseman. |
| 19 |
|
| Norby made a reasonably good impression as the Marlins third baseman down the stretch, carrying over his pull and fly-ball tendencies from the minors to deliver home runs at a nice clip while flashing a little bit of speed as well. He’ll need to cut way down on the strikeouts, though, and while it’s not far-fetched to think he will, it’s hardly a given. |
| 20 |
|
| Like Bohm, McMahon turned up the throttle early in the season but ultimately finished with the same numbers he always does. He’s been remarkably consistent in his mediocrity over the years, but at least in deeper leagues, there’s value in a player who you can pencil in for everyday at-bats and 20 homers, even if everything else is pretty blah. |
