X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Third Base: Undervalued and Overvalued For Fantasy Baseball Points Leagues

Elly De La Cruz - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Joey Pollizze lists five 3B fantasy baseball draft sleepers for points leagues (2024). Some of these third basemen are draft day values at their current fantasy ADP.

There's some depth at the third base position in fantasy baseball this year. It might not be as deep as in years past, but 10 third basemen are going inside the top 85 in drafts this year.

Some third basemen like Jose Ramirez, Austin Riley, Rafael Devers, and Gunnar Henderson are going earlier in drafts. Ramirez, Riley, and Devers are going somewhere in the second round, while Henderson goes in the third or fourth round. All four players are priced appropriately in fantasy drafts in 2024.

However, several third basemen are valued too high and too low in 2024. So, let's dive in and see which corner infielders are overvalued and undervalued in points leagues this season.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds

This one might turn some heads, especially after Elly De La Cruz's electric rookie season. The 22-year-old will have position eligibility at both third base and shortstop this season, but we'll group him with the former for the sake of this article.

De La Cruz did a little bit of everything in his rookie season, which helped him finish with a .235 batting average, 13 home runs, 44 RBI, 15 doubles, seven triples, and 35 stolen bases across 98 games. However, his high strikeout rate (33.7%) and poor second half worry me heading into the 2024 season.

Most fantasy managers will remember the rookie's first couple of games in the majors, where he hit .361 with three HRs and 10 RBI through 15 games. It wasn't all great, though, for De La Cruz in his first year. Over the final 52 games of the season, he hit .195 with six HRs, 24 RBI, and five doubles with 79 strikeouts from July 31 to October 1.

De La Cruz is one of the most electric players in the league right now, but there will be plenty of rough stretches from him at the plate. It remains to be seen which version we see of the infielder in 2024. Chances are it's a combination of both the first half and second half, which makes him a risky option at his current ADP of 38.8. There are safer, more consistent players to select in fantasy drafts in the early fourth round.

Verdict: Overvalued 

 

Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins

Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis is a talented player, and we all saw that last year in 2023. He hit .309 with 15 HRs, 52 RBI, and seven doubles. Lewis also broke the MLB record for fewest games (66) to reach five career grand slams after hitting four last season.

However, given his inability to stay healthy over his career, his 64.2 ADP seems way too high. Lewis has only played in 118 combined games in the majors and minors since the start of the 2021 season. The former first overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft first tore his ACL in February 2021. Then, he suffered another ACL tear in the same knee one year later in May 2022. That caused him to play in only 12 games with the Twins.

Last year, injuries were no different for Lewis, as he played in just 58 games in the majors. He missed over one month with an oblique strain suffered in July and then missed the final two weeks of the season with a hamstring issue. The talent and power are surely there for the 24-year-old third baseman, but he just hasn't been able to stay healthy.

Verdict: Overvalued  

 

Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals

It was quite a surprise to see St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado struggle as much as he did during the 2023 season. He hit just .266 at the plate with 26 HRs, 93 RBI, and 26 doubles. The 26 HRs and 93 RBI were his fewest in a full season since 2014, while the 26 doubles were his fewest in a full season over his 11-year career. As a result, his 84 ADP makes total sense in 2024. 

Still, he's a player you should be targeting in points leagues because of his high potential home run and RBI numbers. There's no doubt last year was not Arenado's best, but before the 2023 season, he combined to hit 64 HRs, 208 RBI, and 76 doubles between 2021 and 2022.

Arenado should have a bounce-back campaign in 2024 in an offense that should be better than it was a season ago. The veteran still has plenty left in the tank, and he should hit more than 26 HRs this upcoming year. If he doesn't and stays around the 25-28 home run mark, his 90-plus RBI should boost his value. His consistency at the plate should help him produce solid numbers this year. 

Verdict: Undervalued 

 

Josh Jung, Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung is coming off a solid 2023 rookie campaign, where he hit .266 with 23 HRs, 70 RBI, and 25 doubles. Jung also made his first All-Star appearance and finished fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting last year. Now, entering his second full season in the majors, a true breakout is possible for the 26-year-old.

Jung's numbers across the board were solid in his first full year. The metrics also back up his season, which should give fantasy managers plenty of hope for a potential 2024 breakout. His average exit velocity (91.8 mph), expected slugging (.482), barrel rate (11.9%), hard-hit rate (47.4%), and sweet spot rate (41.9%) all ranked in the top half of the league. His 41.9% sweet spot rate also placed him in the top 2% in the majors.

If Jung can keep up those metrics in 2024, there's a strong chance he could exceed his 23 HRs from last year. He will also be hitting fourth or fifth in one of the best offenses in baseball. That should lead to plenty of opportunities to drive in runs with Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, and Adolis Garcia all hitting in front of him. His 118.8 ADP is way too low entering the season.

Verdict: Undervalued 

 

Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies

The last player on this list is Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm. Bohm put together career numbers in 2023, which included a .274 batting average, 20 HRs, 97 RBI, and 31 doubles. His 20 HRs, 97 RBI, and 31 doubles were all career-highs, and he improved his walk rate by 2% from the 2022 season.

However, even after his solid year at the plate, Bohm's ADP sits at 155.2 this year. Maybe fantasy managers don't entirely trust that the third baseman can keep up his career numbers in 2024, though there are reasons to believe he will.

Bohm's expected batting average (.290), which was 16 points higher than where he finished, was in the top 7% in baseball in 2023. His whiff rate (18.1%) and strikeout rate (15.4%) also landed him in the top 12%, meaning there's a good chance he will put the ball in play. Although his barrel rate (5.7%) ranked toward the bottom of the league, hitting in the middle of the Phillies lineup should lead to more RBI chances.

Last year, Bohm ended the season batting third and fourth in Philadelphia's potent lineup. While we don't know where he will hit in 2024, he should get plenty of opportunities to drive in runs with Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Nick Castellanos all likely hitting in front of him. So, it appears he could hit over 95 RBI once again this season.

Verdict: Undervalued



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Advice




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Zane Smith

Has Upside in Mexico
Giancarlo Stanton

Likely Returning Early Next Week
Cole Custer

Is Cole Custer a DFS Option in Mexico?
Spencer Strider

Registers 13 Strikeouts
Hunter Brown

s Records 12 Strikeouts
Emeka Egbuka

"the Talk" of Bucs Minicamp
Royce Lewis

to be Placed on Injured List
Byron Buxton

Exits Early on Saturday
Evander Kane

Drops to Fourth Line Saturday
Kasperi Kapanen

Won't Play on Saturday
Calvin Pickard

Starts Game 5 for Oilers
Jaxson Dart

Working as No. 2 QB During Offseason Workouts
Xavier Gipson

Roster Spot Could be in Jeopardy
Josh Reynolds

the Front-Runner for WR2 Duties
Garrett Wilson

Stock Up This Offseason
Breece Hall

Motivated Going into 2025 Season
Brandon Aiyuk

Making Good Progress From Knee Injury
Keon Coleman

Inconsistent at Minicamp
Mitchell Trubisky

Not a Lock for Backup Job
Dalton Kincaid

Adds Strength and Bulk
James Cook

a Full Participant in Mandatory Minicamp
Tyrese Haliburton

Struggles in Friday's Loss to OKC
Jacob Misiorowski

Expected to Make Next Start
Chet Holmgren

Dominates the Glass in Game 4
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Leads the Way in Game 4
Jalen Williams

Has a Quality Showing on Friday Night
Charlie Morton

Continues Good Work With 10 Strikeouts
James Wood

Homers, Drives in Four
Agustín Ramírez

Agustin Ramirez Homers Twice to Snap Skid
Isaac Paredes

Astros Hopeful Isaac Paredes Can Avoid the Injured List
Royce Lewis

Dealing With Hamstring Strain
Kodai Senga

Diagnosed With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain
Gleyber Torres

Goes Deep Twice on Friday
Jonathan India

Leaves With Apparent Shoulder Injury
Evan Carter

Leaves Early With Wrist Soreness
Anthony Richardson

Should be Fine for Training Camp
Russell Westbrook

to Decline Player Option
Kevin Durant

Trade Could Happen in the "Next Few Days"
A.J. Puk

Pauses Throwing Program
Matt Chapman

Can Begin Rehabbing in a Week
Logan Gilbert

Next Start Could Come in the Big Leagues
Cam Akers

Joining Saints
Yordan Alvarez

Still Not Hitting
Michael Mayer

to Get More Involved
Aaron Rodgers

DK Metcalf Building Chemistry with Aaron Rodgers
Colston Loveland

Likely to be Primary Tight End
Jacob Wilson

Returns on Friday
Justin Martinez

Out 12-13 Months With UCL Sprain
Will Johnson

Returns to Practice
Harold Fannin Jr.

Could Have Big Role in Rookie Season
Quentin Johnston

Still Running With Starters
Rashawn Slater

Takes Part in Minicamp
Jack Bech

Mostly Working With Second-Team Offense
Joaquin Buckley

Set For Main Event
Kamaru Usman

An Underdog At UFC Atlanta
Miranda Maverick

Set For Co-Main Event
Rose Namajunas

Looks To Bounce Back
Andre Petroski

Looks To Extend His Win Streak To Four
Edmen Shahbazyan

A Favorite At UFC Atlanta
Raoni Barcelos

Set To Take On Former Champion
Cody Garbrandt

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Mansur Abdul-Malik

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Cody Brundage

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Alonzo Menifield

Opens Up UFC Atlanta Main Card
Oumar Sy

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Connor Hellebuyck

Wins Vezina And Hart Trophies
Aleksander Barkov

Records Two Power-Play Assists Thursday
Sam Reinhart

Collects Three Points in Thursday's Loss
Matthew Tkachuk

Notches Three Points in Losing Effort
Calvin Pickard

Joins Exclusive List with Thursday's Win
Mattias Ekholm

Logs Two Assists in Comeback Victory
Leon Draisaitl

Delivers Victory in Overtime Thursday
Myles Turner

Playing Through Illness
Reed Sheppard

Will Play in the NBA Summer League
Kevin Durant

Deal Could Come Sooner Rather Than Later
Dorian Finney-Smith

Undergoes Ankle Surgery
Anze Kopitar

Wins Third Lady Byng Trophy
Sergei Bobrovsky

Heading Out for Win No. 15
John Klingberg

Won't Play in Game 4 Against Panthers
Viktor Arvidsson

Sits Out Game 4 Against Panthers
Stuart Skinner

Remains in Oilers Crease Thursday
Chris Kreider

Ducks Acquire Chris Kreider From Rangers
Jalen Williams

Leads Thunder in Scoring Wednesday
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Settles for 24 Points in Game 3 Loss
Pascal Siakam

Does Everything for Pacers Wednesday Night
Tyrese Haliburton

Gets Close to Triple-Double in Game 3 Win
Bennedict Mathurin

Leads All Scorers with 27 Points Wednesday
Brandin Podziemski

Has Second Offseason Surgery
Cale Makar

Wins His Second Norris Trophy
Lane Hutson

Voted NHL's Best Rookie
CGY

Adam Klapka Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Considered a Game-Time Call Thursday
Jaylen Brown

Undergoes Successful Knee Procedure
Kevin Porter Jr.

Likely to Decline Player Option
Matt McCarty

Comes Off Season-Best Showing at RBC Canadian Open
Justin Thomas

Desperate to Continue Good 2025 Season
Kevin Durant

Knicks Not Looking to Trade for Kevin Durant
Jon Rahm

Seeks Revenge at U.S. Open
Tom Kim

Aiming for Improvement in U.S. Open
PGA

Sungjae Im Expects Solid Performance at Oakmont
Brian Harman

Aims to Rebound From the Memorial
Tony Finau

has Been Up and Down at U.S. Open
Patrick Cantlay

Hoping This is the Year at Oakmont
Akshay Bhatia

Improving in Time for U.S. Open
Xander Schauffele

Primed for Another Major Championship Run
Cameron Young

May Struggle at U.S. Open
Collin Morikawa

Eyeing Third Major Championship Title
Matt Fitzpatrick

Seeks to Avenge Oakmont Collapse
Jordan Spieth

Can Contend at Oakmont
Shane Lowry

a Strong Value Play at U.S. Open
Brooks Koepka

Seeks Another Major Win at Oakmont
Viktor Hovland

Still Can Improve at U.S. Open
Michael Kim

a Boom-or-Bust Value Play at U.S. Open
Russell Henley

Looking to Play the Weekend at Oakmont
Tyrrell Hatton

a Safe Option at U.S. Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Eyeing Third U.S. Open Title
Darius Garland

Kings Targeting Darius Garland
Kevin Durant

Expected to Be Moved Soon
Denny Hamlin

Charges Late to Win at Michigan
Carson Hocevar

Michigan Run is Derailed by A Late-Race Flat Tire
Kyle Larson

Up-and-Down Day Ends With Top-Five Finish at Michigan
Ross Chastain

Quietly Finishes Sixth at Michigan
Corey Perry

Nets Power-Play Goal in Monday's Loss
Chris Buescher

Takes Second Place After William Byron Runs Out of Fuel
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Has a Great Points Day to Build Buffer Over the Playoff Cut Line
Ryan Blaney

Flat Tire Results in Poor Finish for Ryan Blaney
Alex Bowman

Playoffs in Doubt After Stage 2 Crash at Michigan
Sean O'Malley

Submitted For The First Time In His Career
Merab Dvalishvili

Defends Bantamweight Belt At UFC 316
Julianna Peña

Julianna Pena No Longer A Champion
Kayla Harrison

Is The New Champion
Joe Pyfer

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Kelvin Gastelum

Drops Decision
Patchy Mix

Drops Decision In His UFC Debut
Mario Bautista

Extends His Win Streak
Vicente Luque

Submitted At UFC 316
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF