Third Base Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Tiers, Analysis - Roto Leagues (2024)

Spring training is underway, which means fantasy baseball draft season is going to reach a fever pitch very soon. In my last article, I walked you through RotoBaller's first base rankings. This time around, we will take a look at who is available at the hot corner in 2024. The elite talent is concentrated on the few players who will be gone in the first two or three rounds. No need to fret if you miss out on the early shots, though, as there are decent value plays down the board.

Approaching a draft with a focus on tiers instead of specific players is key to successful drafting. The sting of missing out on "your guy" is lessened when you know who else might provide a similar level of production or value. There are nearly 70 players who are eligible at third base in our preseason rankings. In this article, I’ll touch on nearly all of them, tier by tier, to help you find your best options for the position.

After you are done reading, check out more of our preseason rankings, analysis, and news to stay ahead of the competition as draft season approaches.

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Third Base Fantasy Rankings - Roto Leagues

Tier 1 - Third Base Fantasy Rankings

It should be no surprise that the top-ranked third baseman is Jose Ramirez. Since his first All-Star season in 2017, he has racked up the fourth-most total bases in all of Major League Baseball. He’s also had a 20/20 season in every year of that span (including one 30/30 season) except for 2017 (missed out sixth by three swipes) and 2020 (pandemic season).

Expectations are justifiably high for Ramirez once again in 2024. The next third basemen in the rankings are excellent hitters as well, but the steals Ramirez chips are hard to come by at the position, making him a genuine five-category contributor.

Joining Ramirez in Tier 1 is Austin Riley. Hitting in the middle of Atlanta’s stacked lineup, Riley should remain as productive as ever. In 2023, he hit 37 home runs, scored 117 runs, and drove in 97 more. Since 2021, Riley has led all third basemen in runs (298) and home runs (108).

Austin Riley from July 18-22 last season:

.476 AVG
1.476 SLG
6 HR
16 RBI

31 total bases, the most by any player in a 5-game span in 2023. https://t.co/VUYFywz0qN

— StatMuse MLB (@statmusemlb) February 10, 2024

Tier 2 - Third Base Fantasy Rankings

Rafael Devers’ ability to hit for power and average makes him an ideal choice for third base in fantasy baseball. Last year, he hit 33 home runs, had the second-most RBI among third basemen (100), and had a .271 batting average. League-wide, Devers has racked up the 10th-most HRs and seventh-most RBI since 2021 and his 113 doubles are second only to Freddie Freeman’s 131. Devers is one of the hardest-hitting players in the league and at 27 years old, he is still in the prime of his career.

Elly De La Cruz took the league by storm in 2023. Within a month of being called up, he was hitting .325 with 28 runs scored and 16 stolen bases and had hit for the cycle in just his 15th game. As exciting as De La Cruz was to watch out of the gates, he struggled mightily in the second half, slashing .191/.271/.355 after the All-Star break and finishing the season with a league-worst 33.7% strikeout rate.

Elly De La Cruz has 10 homers and 20 steals through 64 games, the quickest ever to reach that mark! pic.twitter.com/ZbOtvdPRMK

— MLB (@MLB) August 23, 2023

De La Cruz’s talent is apparent and his breakout last year has vaulted him up early draft boards in 2024 to a 23.64 ADP. Based on his 2023 performance, some believe he could pull off something close to what Ronald Acuna Jr. did last season and is worth the gamble with a late second-round pick. The Reds do have a lot of depth, though, so another extended cold streak could mean less playing time or even a bit more seasoning in the minors, making De La Cruz as high-risk, high-reward as they come.

Tier 3 - Third Base Fantasy Rankings

Gunnar Henderson, the 2023 American League Rookie of the Year, gets Tier 3 all to himself. Henderson had a slow start to the season, but got hot in June and finished with 100 runs, 28 HRs, 82 RBI, 10 SB, and a .255 batting average. On top of that, his 52.0% hard-hit rate ranked in the 95th percentile. Batting leadoff for the Orioles means his RBI total may not reach the levels of his peers in the tiers above, but it is hard to look at his profile and not draw comparisons to Devers.

2023 Rookie Leaders

HR

1. Gunnar Henderson 28 #Birdland
2. Corbin Carroll 25
2. Francisco Alvarez 25
4. Triston Casas 24
5. Yainer Diaz 23
5. James Outman 23
5. Josh Jung 23
5. Spencer Steer 23
9. Anthony Volpe 21
10. Nolan Jones 20 pic.twitter.com/XO7yl37UmH

— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) October 2, 2023

Tier 4 - Third Base Fantasy Rankings

Tier 4 features a mix of veterans who might be past their prime, but can still be productive, and a few upstarts ready to make their mark.

Manny Machado had a down year in 2023, but it speaks to his reputation when we call a season with 30 home runs and 91 RBI a disappointment. Machado’s ISO was above .200 for the 11th consecutive season as well. Machado had elbow surgery in October, which may limit his participation in spring training, but he is expected to fully recover in time for Opening Day.

Similar to Machado, Nolan Arenado’s 2023 was a letdown according to his usual standards. Arenado had *only* 26 home runs and 93 RBI last year, but before that had hit at least 30 home runs and 100 RBI in every season (except 2020) going all the way back to 2015. The Cardinals’ cleanup hitter has a safe floor at a decent price as his current ADP is 76.3, making him a potential seventh-round pick in 12-team leagues.

Most home runs since 2014
Nolan Arenado

Most RBIs since 2014
Nolan Arenado

Most home runs since 2015
Nolan Arenado

Most RBIs since 2015
Nolan Arenado

Most home runs since 2016
Nolan Arenado

Most RBIs since 2016
Nolan Arenado

— Jay Cuda (@JayCuda) September 8, 2023

Rounding out the cohort of veterans in Tier 4 is Alex Bregman. The Astros third baseman had a career-high 724 plate appearances in 2023 and put together a line of 25 HR, 103 R, 98 RBI, and a .262 batting average. 2024 could be a big year for Bregman as he is slated to hit third in Houston’s potent lineup, right between Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker. He will likely be giving it all he can as he is in the last year of his current contract.

Headlining the Tier 4 up-and-comers is Royce Lewis. After missing almost two full seasons due to a torn ACL (in two separate occurrences), the 24-year-old had a short-lived breakout in 2023, swatting 15 home runs and batting .309 in 239 plate appearances. Sadly, the injury bug bit again and interrupted his rookie campaign, first with an oblique strain in July, and then a hamstring in September. The talent is there, but it is hard to ignore the injury history and the associated risk.

Congrats to Royce Lewis for being named @MLB AL Rookie of the Month👏🤩

Here’s how he ranked among AL rookies in September (min 70 PA):

.313 AVG (1st)
.410 OBP (2nd)
.612 SLG (2nd)
1.022 OPS (2nd)
.436 wOBA (1st)
6 HR (T-2nd)
23 RBI (1st)
19.2 K% (3rd)#WeBelieveinTC #MNTwins https://t.co/fxmdP7IJXL

— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) October 4, 2023

Spring training has only just begun and already poor Josh Jung is ailing himself with a strained calf that will keep him sidelined for a few weeks. Jung battled injuries in each of the last three years: a stress fracture in his foot in 2021, a labrum tear in his shoulder in 2022, and a broken thumb last year.

Before the injury derailed his rookie season, he earned All-Star honors with a first-half line of 19 HR, 62 R, 56 RBI, and a .280 batting average. Should he remain healthy for an entire season, 30 HRs and 90 RBI aren’t out of the question for the Rangers masher.

Finishing off this tier is Ha-Seong Kim, who also had a breakout of his own in 2023. Kim swiped 38 bases, which was good for sixth-most in the league. He also managed to pop 17 home runs despite ranking among the lowest in the league in barrel rate, hard-hit rate, and exit velocity. His plate discipline metrics were near the top though, and with another year under his belt, perhaps that will translate to a higher batting average in 2024. His eligibility at second base and shortstop gives his value a nice bump, too.

Tier 5 - Third Base Fantasy Rankings

Hey, it’s Spencer Steer again. I wrote about him in my First Base Ranking, Tiers, Analysis article last week. Like Kim, Steer’s value also gets a boost thanks to his positional flexibility as he is eligible not just at the corners but in the outfield and, depending on your league settings, at second base. He was one of a handful of Reds who broke out in a big way in 2023, but his .318 BABIP likely means regression is due and his splits strongly favor lefty matchups, which would put him on the short side of a platoon.

Alec Bohm also made an appearance in my last article. Available at both corner positions, Bohm is expected once again to be an everyday player and should reach 600 plate appearances for the third consecutive year in 2024. Bohm has lowered his swinging strike rate year-over-year going back to 2021 and at the same time, his contact rate has been on the rise. He projects to hit at least .271 in 2024 and while his counting stats might not be stellar, a 70 R/70 RBI season is within reach.

Ke'Bryan Hayes got everyone’s attention in 2020, slashing .376/.442/.682 in his debut during the pandemic-shortened season. Hayes never lived up to the ensuing hype, but in 2023, he reached career highs in home runs (15), runs scored (65), and RBI (61). Hayes had a late-season surge after altering his batting stance, and if those changes carry over to the upcoming season, then 2024 may be another year of personal bests.

Ke’Bryan Hayes EVs this spring:
105.7
105.4
105.1
104.3
91
🔥
pic.twitter.com/JGyYYIYJob

— Chris Clegg (@RotoClegg) February 27, 2024

Speaking of second-half surges, Jake Burger went on a bender after being dealt to the Marlins at the trade deadline. Burger had already mashed 25 home runs by the time he was traded on August 1, but the power came with a Schwarber-esque trade-off in batting average as he was hitting just .215 with the White Sox. After getting to Miami, his batting average took off and Burger hit .303 the rest of the way, finishing with a solid .250 mark. Most projections have him close to 30 HRs with at least 70 runs scored and 80 RBI in 2024, making him a great value given his current 177.3 ADP.

In 2023, Max Muncy hit 36 HRs, scored 95 runs, and recorded a career-high 105 RBI. His .212 batting average was certainly a drag, but by now that should not come as a surprise. Hitting in the middle of the Dodgers’ potent lineup and with enough power to project for 30 HRs, Muncy could be a three-category contributor again in 2024 and a valuable selection at his 146.7 ADP.

Nolan Gorman’s primary position is second base, but he is eligible at third as well. In his sophomore campaign, Gorman built on the foundation laid in 2022, bumping his barrel rate up from 14.4% to 16.5%, which ranked in the 97th percentile of the league, and slugging a team-high 27 home runs. Hitting in the middle third of the Cardinals lineup, he may lag in the runs category, but if he can finally crack 500 plate appearances, then 30 HRs and 80 RBI aren’t out of the question. Not bad for someone with a 187.7 ADP.

If #STLCards lefty Nolan Gorman can keep taking these kinds of swings vs. lefties, he can become an every-day player in '24 -- the club's expectation.

Gorman ripped a 96.5 mph fastball from #Marlins LHP Ryan Weathers for an RBI double. It left Gorman's bat at 108.3 mph. pic.twitter.com/w9tRmbo5J2

— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 15, 2024

Noelvi Marte made his MLB debut in 2023, appearing in 35 games. The Reds’ No. 1 prospect hit .316 and ended the season on a 16-game hitting streak. He was expected to take over as the team’s primary third baseman this season, but recently tested positive for a banned substance. As such, he will be serve an 80-game suspension. The talent is clearly there, but Marte will be absent from the field until late June. Expect his ADP to plummet in the remaining drafts before the beginning of the season.

Tier 6 - Third Base Fantasy Rankings

Isaac Paredes had a breakout season last year, crushing 31 home runs and plating 98 runs with a .250 batting average. Those numbers are alluring, but beware of the numbers behind the numbers. Of the 102 major leaguers who hit 20 or more HRs in 2023, only three had a barrel rate lower than Paredes’ 5.9%, and Paredes himself had the lowest hard-hit rate (28.5%) of the group.

Junior Caminero, Maikel Garcia, and Brett Baty are among the most prized prospects in their respective organizations. While each has shown promise, they also have concerns that may impair their value in 2024.

Caminero reportedly will start the year in Triple-A with no way to tell when he will be back in Tampa. Garcia’s solid rookie campaign lends optimism for growth, but the offense around him (aside from Bobby Witt Jr.) is questionable. Baty demonstrated awesome power in the minors but he fizzled out with the Mets, getting just nine home runs in 389 plate appearances and a 7.6% barrel rate.

Final numbers for Maikel Garcia and the fan club (shoutout): #Royals

Fielding Run Value - 11 (Elite)
xBA - .270 (Great)
AVG EV - 91.8 (Great)
Hard-Hit% - 50.6 (Elite)
Sweet-Spot% - 36.9 (Great)
Chase% - 20.6 (Elite)
Whiff% - 19.5 (Great)
OAA - 15 (Elite) pic.twitter.com/1njIWzOYPU

— Jack Johnson (@JohnyJ_15) October 4, 2023

Ryan McMahon, Jeimer Candelario, and Jorge Polanco are all projected for at least 20 HRs. Except for 2020, McMahon has hit that mark in every season since 2019. Candelario had a low-key breakout in 2023 and he could have another year of new career highs now that he is calling Great American Ball Park home.

Aside from his 33-HR season in 2021, Polanco has only one other season with 20 dingers, and that came in 2019. His new home stadium (T-Mobile Park) won’t do him any favors and, given his injury history, he may struggle to reach enough plate appearances to meet his projections.

Matt Chapman roared into the 2023 season, ripping off a .385/.465/.687 slash line and driving in 21 runs in the month of April. The rest of his season was fairly underwhelming though, and he finished with just 54 RBI and a .240 batting average. Chapman has a propensity for crushing baseballs and led the league in hard-hit rate (56.4%) last year and was near the top of the leaderboard in average exit velocity and barrel rate. Hopefully, those metrics help negate the pitcher-friendly environment of Oracle Park as Chapman recently inked a deal with the San Francisco Giants.

Luis Rengifo and Justin Turner are eligible at multiple positions. Rengifo has little to offer with his bat, even if he is expected to receive more playing time and may lead off for the Angels in 2024. He has also been hampered by a hamstring injury through the spring. Turner parlayed a bounce-back season in Boston into a new deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, which may make him a sneaky play for RBI and average going late in drafts.

Eugenio Suarez’s 96 RBI from last year were the most he had in a full season since 2019, despite hitting the fewest home runs (22) since 2016. The trade-off for Suarez is the low batting average (.223 over the last three years), but his glovework keeps him in the lineup every day, giving him a path to put up counting stats you don’t usually get from someone with a 318.7 ADP.

Wilmer Flores managed to one-up Suarez in the home run department in 2023, hitting a career-high of 23. That he did so in 454 plate appearances was impressive but begs the question what might have been if he had been granted a regular starting role. Another season of platooning for the Giants awaits him in 2024, so you may want to fade Flores unless your league allows daily lineup changes.

Wilmer Flores - San Francisco Giants (23)
pic.twitter.com/wTzEMCVPBL

— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) September 30, 2023

Tier 7 And Below - Third Base Fantasy Rankings

Already we’ve run through the first 30 players in the RotoBaller rankings, far more than you’d expect to see drafted in a typical 12-team league. For most of the players in the bottom half of our list, their biggest asset is positional flexibility. These players are being drafted straight to the bench (if at all) where having eligibility at more than one position is incredibly useful.

Several players in the lower rungs are outfield-eligible. If your league starts five outfielders, then Willi Castro, Ezequiel Duran, Chris Taylor, Matt Vierling, Jon Berti, Zach McKinstry, Cavan Biggio, Nick Senzel, and Oswaldo Cabrera are names you will want to remember.

Many more are eligible around the infield. Elehuris Montero, J.D. Davis, Mark Vientos, Patrick Wisdom, and DJ LeMahieu qualify at either corner position. LeMahieu will make for an interesting sleeper candidate if he slots into the Yankees' leadoff spot in front of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.

Gio Urshela, Oswald Peraza, Geraldo Perdomo, Taylor Walls, Kyle Farmer, Josh Rojas, Luis Urias, Nick Madrigal, Nicky Lopez, Andruw Monasterio, and Owen Miller all have eligibility at second base, shortstop, or both.

Michael Busch, Jordan Westburg, Colt Keith, Mark Vientos, Jonathan Aranda, Jared Triolo, Eguy Rosario, and Gabriel Arias are up-and-comers with promise but no guarantees of playing time. Soon after being traded from the Dodgers to the Cubs it was thought that Busch would find it easier to get into the lineup but there are spring training rumors that Christopher Morel may cut into that work. Keith, one of the Tigers' top prospects, recently signed a massive contract extension and purportedly has the inside track as the Tigers’ starting second baseman.

Colt Keith has Top 10 upside at the 2nd Base position.

Plus hit/power combination with a solid approach.

2023 AA/AAA): 577 PA, .306/.380/.552, 38 2B, 27 HR, 10.4% BB, 21% K#FantasyBaseball pic.twitter.com/prZtckkGJq

— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) January 28, 2024

Tyler Black, Colson Montgomery, and Coby Mayo are ranked due to the potential they hold but are better dynasty investments than draft day selections. They may have a chance of getting a call this summer, but odds are so slim they break camp with their parent clubs that your late-round fliers are better spent elsewhere.

That leaves us with Yoan Moncada and Anthony Rendon. Moncada’s 2019 breakout led many to believe he was the next big thing at the hot corner, but he has not been able to replicate that success in the time since. Rendon’s most productive season as an Angel came in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. In the three seasons since, he has played in 148 games total. Manager Ron Washington has said Rendon will bat cleanup for the Angels in 2024, and already the $245 million man has been sidelined in spring training due to a sore groin.

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