Third Base

The Top-10 are all solid, if not great options, and you should find something to your liking scattered fairly evenly throughout the entire draft. If it’s the “young guns” that catch your fancy, Ke’bryan Hayes, Spencer Torkelson, Josh Jung, and Alec Bohm are emerging talents that could prove to be great investments in the middle-to-end game.

  1. Jose Ramirez, CLE – He didn’t best his amazing 2018 season, but came pretty darn close. He blasted 36 homer, drove in 103 runs and even in a rather anemic offense scored 111 runs. -103, with 111 runs scored. Toss in the 27 stolen bases while being caught a scant four times, and you have an elite player who will be a Top-10 player off the board this Spring.
  2. Rafael Devers, BOS – The 25-year-old slugger is one of the best pure power hitters in the game. Pencil in 30 home runs, and 100 RBI/Runs Scored and enjoy the ride!
  3. Manny Machado, SDP – Machado more than earned his keep last season. He posted a career high 106 RBI and found a way to get back to double-digit stolen bases (12), something he hadn’t managed since 2015. It’s tough to beat the consistent production generated by Machado.
  4. Austin Riley, ATL – The big concern was would he hit enough to hold a regular job. The power was never in question. After assembling a 33-107 season last year with a .303 BA, we can put that question to rest. The likelihood of a repeat of that great .303 BA is not high, but with that prestigious power, a .260-to-.270 BA will more than suffice.  
  5. Nolan Arenado, STL – He might not be the player he once was in Colorado, but he’s still a solid bet to produce a 30 homer, 100 RBI season in a strong St. Louis lineup. One of the safest floors in the game.
  6. Alex Bregman, HOU – All of the numbers in 2021 looked good, excepting one. The at-bats, which were limited due to injury to only 348. Off-season wrist surgery should resolve that issue. He’s currently receiving a hefty discount in Redraft Leagues (91 ADP) and one that could prove to be worth taking.
  7. Adalberto Mondesi, KCR – The risks don’t get much higher, but the rewards can be equally as high. There are playing-time questions, along with the constant health concerns, but memories of those 43 thefts in only 415 at-bats in 2019 should still be fresh in our minds.
  8. Anthony Rendon, LAA – Rendon missed significant time due to a hamstring strain and was then shutdown at the beginning of August due to a hip issue and subsequent surgery. A return to health in 2022 and a 25-30 homer season and that always stellar OBP is waiting and at a significant discount.
  9. Kris Bryant, FA – Bryant is currently searching for a place to call home in 2022, but wherever it is, the rewards will be solid.  OF-93  
  10. Ke’bryan Hayes, PIT – We got a taste of the youngsters potential last year. In 2022 we should see the full picture and it could be a very good one. The double-digit power/speed combination at the top-of-the-order is most enticing.
  11. Luis Urias, MIL – 23 homers and 75 RBI with five thefts is one heckuva breakout campaign by the 24-year-old Urias. Who saw this level of production occurring? I think we can rule out the Padres. Toss in the multiple-position eligibility and his stock is assuredly on the rise. 2B-25, SS-68
  12. Matt Chapman, OAK – Chapman managed to hit 27 homers and drive in 72 runs in a down year. A change of scenery, and one that is likely to occur as the A’s tear it down and commence to rebuild, could be just what is needed to fuel a rebound campaign.  
  13. DJ LeMahieu, NYY – LeMahieu underwent core muscle surgery this off-season (which helps explain the poor 2021 campaign) and should be ready to roll for Spring Training. That stellar 2019 season is looking more and more like an outlier. 1B-55, 2B-83
  14. Ryan McMahon, COL – A perfectly boring 20 HR, 80 RBI, .250 BA type bat…..as long as he continues to play half his games at Coors Field. 2B-52
  15. Eduardo Escobar, NYM – The odds are long that the amazing 2019 season (35 HR-118 RBI) will be repeated, but the 28-90 season compiled last year is nothing to sneeze at. It was good enough to generate interest from the Mets, as Escobar will now call Citi Field and a much better offense his home for the next two years. 2B-42
  16. Spencer Torkelson, DET – After compiling a 30 HR, 91 RBI season with a .383 OBP as a 22-year-old while sailing through three levels last year in the Minors, there is very little left to prove down on the farm. Enjoy the one year of 3B eligibility as he’ll be anchoring First Base for a long time.
  17. Justin Turner, LAD – Turner isn’t getting any younger, but at the same time hasn’t demonstrated the struggles that quite often accompany the aging process.  The 37-year-old is coming off a 27 HR, 87 RBI season and should find the DH position in the NL much to his liking.
  18. Josh Donaldson, MIN – It’s all about health and Donaldson has broken the 500 at-bat mark just once since his days in Toronto. Bet on 450 at-bats and take anything over and above that as a bonus.
  19. Eugenio Suarez, CIN – Hopefully the shortstop experiment has run its course and he can settle back into the hot corner on a full-time basis. Suarez is one of the safest bets in the game to hit 30 home runs. He’s also one of the safest bets in the game to hit for a .210 BA. Set your expectations accordingly. SS-34
  20. Josh Jung, TEX – We were waiting for the power to develop and in 2021 it did. The 2019 First Round pick (8’th overall) out of Texas Tech started slow, missing time with a stress fracture that occurred in Spring Training, but upon his return exploded with 19 homers in 304 at-bats between Double and Triple-A. Toss in the combined .398 OBP and he’s ready to be a key component in the retooled Rangers offense.   
  21. Yoan Moncada, CWS – Over the past two seasons (720 at-bats), Moncada has hit a total of 20 home runs. Over that same span, he has stolen a total of three bases. Why is he currently going off the board as the 12’th option at Third Base in NFC Drafts?   
  22. Abraham Toro, SEA – The retirement of Kyle Seager opens an everyday role for the former Astro, and as a late-round sleeper he’s enticing. There could very well be a 20-10 type breakout season in his immediate future. 2B-58
  23. Jeimer Candelario, DET – The improving Tigers lineup should provide Candelario the opportunity to build on that solid 2021 campaign.
  24. Cavan Biggio, TOR – The combination of neck and back issues and a UCL sprain were cause for multiple IL stints and were largely responsible for a down season for the 26-year-old Biggio. The clock is ticking, with 2022 likely to be a career defining type year.
  25. Evan Longoria, SFG – 2021 was a good year, we just didn’t see enough of it as he struggled staying on the field, amassing only 246 at-bats. Longoria is probably best left as a CI in deeper Leagues or as an injury replacement, but when healthy a 20-70 type season can’t be ruled out.
  26. Hunter Dozier, KCR – That promising 2019 season is looking an awful lot like an outlier. Yes, there is 20 home run potential, but it comes with a heavy lack of BA price. OF-70
  27. Patrick Wisdom, CHC – Wisdom flashed his prestigious power last year to the tune of 28 homers in only 338 at-bats. He also whiffed 153 times. It’s great to see a long-time Minor Leaguer finally get the opportunity to play at the big-league level and succeed, but one should remember and not lose focus on why that player had such a lengthy Minor League career.   
  28. Giovanny Urshela, NYY – His principal value is in deep Leagues, as a corner or middle-infielder, as we wait for the eventual arrival of Oswald Peraza and/or Anthony Volpe. It could be a very short wait. SS-28
  29. Mike Moustakas, CIN – Since 2015, “Moose” has found a way to break the 500 at-bat mark only twice. Injuries limited him to only 183 at-bats in 2021, but as we’ve seen in the past, when healthy the power production is solid. He’ll find the new NL DH slot much to his liking.
  30. Alec Bohm, PHI – To say the 2021 season was a disappointment, would be an understatement. He struggled badly, culminating in an August demotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He simply has too much talent to repeat those sophomore struggles. A cheap late investment has the potential to reap decent rewards.
  31. Luis Arraez, MIN – 2B-48, OF-27
  32. Jonathan Villar, FA – SS-26
  33. Joey Wendle, MIA – SS-25
  34. Yandy Diaz, 1B-81
  35. Brian Anderson, MIA
  36. Jose Miranda, MIN
  37. J.D. Davis, NYM
  38. Wilmer Flores, SFG – 1B-34, 2B-30
  39. Santiago Espinal, TOR
  40. Rougned Odor, BAL – 2B-74
  41. Ha-seong Kim, SDP – 2B-21, SS-35
  42. Josh Harrison, FA – 2B-102, OF-22
  43. Kevin Smith, TOR 
  44. Carter Kieboom, WAS 
  45. Jonathon Berti, MIA – 2B-27
  46. Maikel Franco, WAS
  47. Tyler Wade, LAA – SS-31, OF-25
  48. Romy Gonzalez, CWS
  49. Ronald Torreyes, PHI – SS-44
  50. Josh VanMeter, ARZ – 2B-52
  51. Nolan Jones, CLE
  52. Colten Welker, COL
  53. Yonny Hernandez, TEX
  54. Kelvin Gutierrez, BAL 
  55. Hanser Alberto, KCR – 2B-31
  56. Phil Gosselin, LAA – 1B-23, OF-40
  57. Matt Duffy, CHC – 2B-21
  58. Jake Burger, CWS 
  59. Jack Mayfield, LAA
  60. Aledmys Diaz, HOU
  61. Emmanuel Rivera, KCR 
  62. Brendon Davis, LAA
  63. Kevin Padlo, SEA 
  64. Willians Astudillo, MIN – 1B-27
  65. Curtis Mead, TBR
  66. Michael Brosseau, MIL – 2B-27 
  67. Elehuris Montero, COL
  68. Yu-Cheng Chang, CLE -1B-49
  69. Miguel Vargas, LAD 
  70. Hudson Potts, BOS
  71. Josh Fuentes, FA – 1B-32
  72. Luis Guillorme, NYM
  73. Travis Shaw, FA – 1B-31
  74. Mark Vientos, NYM
  75. Johan Camargo, PHI
  76. David Bote, CHC – 2B-61
  77. Isan Diaz, MIA – 2B-35
  78. Asdrubal Cabrera, FA
  79. Jason Vosler, SFG
  80. Charlie Culberson, FA
  81. Starlin Castro, FA