Third Base is deep in talent with plenty of options at the top and in the middle and a host of young talent in Jordan Westburg, Junior Caminero, Tyler Black, and Colt Keith, all looking to leave their mark in 2024. I won’t be rushing to fill Third Base this year, preferring to choose from the likes of Josh Jung, Alec Bohm, and Isaac Paredes in the teen rounds.

1. Austin Riley, ATL – Riley led all his peers by slugging 37 home runs last year. 117 runs scored and captured the #1 spot in that category. We have now witnessed three consecutive seasons of 30 or more home runs. I call a best-of-five H2H battle against Jose Ramirez a closely fought 3-2 victory for Riley. It’s time for him to stake his claim as the best in the game at the “hot corner.”
2. Jose Ramirez, CLE – Another 20-20 season for Jose Ramirez in 2023, his third-in-a-row. The odds are high that we’ll be discussing his fourth-in-a-row next year.
3. Elly De La Cruz, CIN – He hits the ball a ton and runs like the wind. The only question would be the hit tool and his “Baezish” approach to swinging at any and everything. There is risk, but it doesn’t come without some amazing potential rewards. SS-69
4. Rafael Devers, BOS – Devers has now compiled three 30-100 seasons in the past five years. The odds are pretty high that he’s producing somewhere near that level again in 2024. If you prefer to pass on the risk associated with Elly De La Cruz, move Devers up a spot.
5. Gunnar Henderson, BAL – 2023 was an outstanding year for the 22-year-old star, but there is still room for improvement. Is a 30 home run, 90 RBI, 110 runs scored with 15 stolen bases season in his future? I wouldn’t bet against it. SS-83
6. Ha-Seong Kim, SDP – I don’t know if Kim will repeat the 38 stolen bases he accumulated in 2023, but 30 thefts should be within reach. Toss in 15-to-20 home runs with that multi-position eligibility, and you have a player who should be on everyone’s radar. 2B-106, SS–20
7. Nolan Arenado, STL – 2023 was the first full season since 2014 in which Arenado didn’t hit at least 30 home runs with 100 RBIs. What an amazing run for the future HOF’er. A 26 HR, 93 RBI campaign is still far from shabby; it wasn’t what we’ve come to count on from him consistently. Is a bounceback in order?
8. Manny Machado, SDP – Machado DH’d all of September while dealing with a sore elbow, eventually going under the knife in early October to repair the extension tendon in his right elbow. Will he be ready to swing a bat and DH come April? Down-shifting for 2024 makes a lot of sense. The question is, how far?
9. Royce Lewis, MIN – There is no doubting the skills; the health issues have proven to be a challenge. What are the odds of seeing Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton penciled in on the same lineup card?
10. Alex Bregman, HOU – Mid-20’s power with 90 RBI and 100 runs scored from the tenth ranked 3B illustrates the depth at this position to a “t.”
11. Josh Jung, TEX – The only thing missing from his excellent rookie campaign was 100 or so at-bats, which he lost when he fractured his left thumb. Jung is on the right team with a good place in the order and possesses the skill set to produce many a 30-90 season. I’m all in!
12. Spencer Steer, CIN – The roster flexibility is sweet, as are the 23 home runs, 86 RBI, and 15 stolen bases he amassed last year. The Twins came up with the short end of the stick on this deal. 1B-73, OF-47
13. Noelvi Marte, CIN – The Reds are chock-full of excellent young prospects, and 2023 brought us the debut of Noelvi Marte in August, and he didn’t disappoint. Let’s see what Rich Wilson has to say about Marte. “He’s growing into double-plus power, but speed will become less part of his game as he fills out. I think he hits with a chance to be a full-time regular with impact potential.” That works for me!
14. Isaac Paredes, TBR – “Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me.” He isn’t fooling me thrice. 1B-25
15. Alec Bohm, PHI – Bohm had his first 20 home run campaign and finished three RBI shy of a 100 RBI season in ‘23. Hitting in the five-hole in that high-powered Phillies offense comes with its perks. 1B-80
16. Max Muncy, LAD –The 30 HR + power potential and that stacked Dodgers lineup should have him running those RBI totals into the 90s. The only concern is the BA. It’s not quite Kyle Schwarber-level BA, but it’s in the same area code. Move him up in OBP Leagues as he has proven to be very successful finding his way to first via the free pass.
17. Jake Burger, MIA – The power potential has always existed. He simply struggled to stay healthy. Just remember that a .220-to-.230 BA could be the price paid for that big-boy power.
18. Eugenio Suarez, ARZ – He really enjoyed playing half his games in the Great American Ballpark. T-Mobile Park, not quite so much. The move to Arizona and the friendly confines of Chase Field won’t hurt him in his quest for a rebound and a return to the 30-home run club.
19. Ryan McMahon, COL – Low 20’s home run power with 70 RBI and Runs Scored is a safe floor. In Colorado, the hopes were much higher.
20. Ke’Bryan Hayes, PIT – Mid-teen power combined with mid-teen speed just doesn’t seem enough for this highly skilled youngster. It’s okay, but okay isn’t good enough, at least not for me.
21. Jordan Westburg, BAL 2B-50
22. Junior Caminero, TBR
23. Jeimer Candelario, CIN 1B-21
24. Luis Rengifo, LAA 2B-66, SS-37, OF-21
25. Maikel Garcia, KCR
26. Matt Chapman, TOR
27. Tyler Black, MIL
28. Matt Vierling, DET OF-114
29. Ezequiel Duran, TEX SS-37, OF-35
30. Colt Keith, DET
31. Wilmer Flores, SFG 1B-61
32. Brett Baty, NYM
33. Michael Busch, CHC
34. Willi Castro, MIN OF-83
35. DJ LeMahieu, NYY 1B-56
36. Anthony Rendon, LAA
37. Nick Senzel, WAS OF-54
38. Patrick Wisdom, CHC
39. Zach McKinstry, DET 2B-48, SS-23, OF-57
40. Josh Rojas, SEA 2B-49
41. D. Davis, SFG
42. Brayan Rocchio, CLE
43. Chris Taylor, LAD SS-31, OF-60
44. Yoan Moncada, CWS
45. Jon Berti, MIA SS-64
46. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TOR OF-78
47. Andruw Monasterio, MIL 2B-32
48. Nick Madrigal, CHC
49. Abraham Toro, OAK
50. Kyle Farmer, MIN 2B-45, SS-40
51. Curtis Mead, TBR
52. Taylor Walls, TBR 2B-37, SS-32
53. Bryan Ramos, CWS
54. Nicky Lopez, CWS 2B-49
55. Oswald Peraza, NYY
56. Edmundo Sosa, PHI
57. Owen Miller, MIL 1B-35, 2B-42
58. Ramon Urias, BAL
59. Carter Kieboom, WAS
60. Jace Peterson, ARZ
61. Coby Mayo, BAL
62. Aledmys Diaz, OAK SS-40
63. Jordan Diaz, OAK 2B-28
64. Eguy Rosario, SDP
65. Alan Trejo, COL 2B-49
66. Matthew Batten, SDP

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