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

2016 Third Base Prospects And Dynasty Rankings

We've taken a look at first base, second base, and shortstop dynasty prospects. Now it's time to move on to third base.

The position isn't terribly deep at the moment, but that's because Kris Bryant and Miguel Sano have reached the majors. The other top third base prospects either have a serious flaw or they are far from the majors. Often, shortstop prospects will eventually move down the defensive spectrum to third base - think guys like Corey Seager.  As always, if you feel like I missed somebody, call me out on Twitter @BaseballATeam.

Don't forget to read all of our 2016 fantasy baseball rankings columns. There's lots of great rankings analysis including redraft, dynasty/keeper, prospects and positional tiers.

The statistics reported are for the listed level only.

 

Third Base Dynasty Rankings

1. Joey Gallo (3B, TEX, MLB)
Stats: 123 PA, .204/.301/.417, 6 HR, 3 SB, 46.3% K rate, 12.2% BB rate
Age 22

An injury to Adrian Beltre led to an early taste of the majors for Gallo. The future three true outcomes scion was overmatched in the majors and at Triple-A. However, he hit well at Double-A with a scary .314/.425/.636 line. He'll return to Triple-A to start 2016.

Gallo is a risky type of prospect. The bust risk is just so high on a guy like this. The best case scenarios probably look like Pedro Alvarez or Chris Carter. Reach back in time, I see a lot in common with Russell Branyan. He had a solid 14 year career, but his whifftastic ways led to just 12 career WAR. He was usually a bench or platoon bat.

The Rangers will continue to hope for an epiphany from Gallo. If he can keep the strikeout rate even halfway under control, he'll be a valuable prospect. His homer happy profile makes him a better fantasy than real world asset.

 

2. Rafael Devers (3B, BOS, A)
Stats: 469 PA, .288/.329/.443, 11 HR, 3 SB, 16.5% K rate, 4.7% BB rate
Age 19

In many ways, I would prefer to own Devers over Gallo in a dynasty league. The risk involved is still fairly large due to his distance from the majors. An international signee, Devers has an advanced feel at the plate. Some scouts worry about his build. They wonder if he'll stick at third base. He may even slow down so much that he losses his prospect status.

After a successful 2015 campaign, I'm less concerned about him adjusting to professional baseball. The next step is to see him tap into more in-game power. His 11 home runs are fine for a player of his age. Excitingly, he hit 38 doubles and a triple in 508 plate appearances. As he matures, some of those doubles will leave the yard.

Aggression is a weakness. Thankfully, his swing is geared towards going with the pitch. That will make it harder for big league pitchers to find an exploitable hole in his game. I foresee him being an aggressive, middle-of-the-order power threat with 25 home runs annually. His statistical profile is reminiscent of Yoenis Cespedes.

 

3. D.J. Peterson (3B, SEA, AA)
Stats: 393 PA, .223/.290/.346, 7 HR, 5 SB, 22.9% K rate, 7.9% BB rate
Age 24

Peterson is a divisive prospect. Like many internet writers, I'm forced to lean heavily on statistics and second-hand scouting reports. His 2015 numbers don't read like any sort of prospect. After popping 31 home runs in 2014, he's hit just nine bombs this year. Two of those have come in the Arizona Fall League.

The soon-to-be 24-year-old is expected to eventually land at first base. He could still spend his first few seasons at the hot corner before swinging across the diamond. A former 12th overall pick, Peterson needs to rebound from his lost 2015 campaign. He's a solid buy low target at the moment. His upside still includes 30 home runs with a solid batting average. There's real risk that he never does anything in the majors.

 

4. Ryan McMahon (3B, COL, A+)
Stats: 556 PA, .300/.372/.520, 18 HR, 6 SB, 27.5% K rate, 8.8% BB rate
Age 21

McMahon was the 42nd pick in the 2013 draft. Rockies position players always come with helium, so it's not a bad time to jump on the McMahon bandwagon. He's popped 18 home runs in two consecutive seasons. A .401 BABIP artificially inflated his .300/.372/.520 slash. Remember, high BABIPs in the minors can indicate luck or mastery of a level. They rarely translate to the majors.

Power is his calling card, but scouts aren't positive he'll hit in the upper levels. He's clearly feasting on mistakes in the lower minors. His 27.5 percent strikeout rate against inferior competition is cause for concern. He's be challenged as one of the youngest players in Double-A next season. It should be informative.

McMahon has plenty of talent, but he'll still need to tighten up his plate approach. You may recall the Rockies have a stud at third base - Nolan Arenado. McMahon's future with the club likely depends on extension talks with Arenado. If the Rockies do manage to lock him up long term, McMahon will probably be used as a trade chip.

 

5. Rio Ruiz (3B, ATL, AA)
Stats: 420 PA, .233/.333/.324, 5 HR, 2 SB, 19.2% K rate, 12.9% BB rate
Age 21

When the Astros signed Carlos Correa for less than slot value, it allowed them to ink Lance McCullers and Ruiz. Houston dealt Ruiz to the Braves as part of the Evan Gattis trade. He immediately slotted in as one of the top prospects in Atlanta's system behind Ozhaino Albies.

Ruiz had some difficulty in his first try at Double-A, but he was young for the level. How he performs next season will be telling. Unlike most of the others on this list, Ruiz features strong plate discipline with solid contact rates. Unfortunately, his power still needs to develop as evidenced by his .090 ISO. Speed will never be part of his game - in fact he's a candidate to swipe zero bases by the time he reaches the majors.

There are some questions about his defense. He reportedly has a strong work ethic and has focused on improving at the hot corner. If he can't stick there long-term, he doesn't have enough bat to work as a first base prospect. For now, he looks like a high risk, high reward buy-low candidate for dynasty owners.

 

6. Eric Jagielo (3B, NYY, AA)
Stats: 248 PA, .284/.347/.495, 9 HR, 23.4% K rate, 7.3% BB rate
Age 23

In his first exposure to Double-A, Jagielo was hitting well until a knee injury ended his season. He's expected to make a full recovery, but it won't help his already negligible speed. Like several other third base prospects, there is doubt that he'll stick at the position long-term.

Jagielo, a left-handed hitter, does have enough power to work as a first base prospect. The big question is how far his contact skills will develop. Presently, he's holding his own in the minors. Triple-A is often viewed as a big test for power prospects like Jagielo. Because he can feast on mistakes, it can inflate his power numbers in the lower minors.

Since he missed most of 2015, he'll likely open the season in Double-A. If he continues to thrive, he'll quickly join the Triple-A squad. An injury to Chase Headley could even induce a promotion to the majors. He looks like a .230 to .250 hitter with 20 to 30 home run power. He should also benefit from Yankee Stadium's short right field porch.

 

7. Travis Shaw (3B, BOS, MLB)
Stats: 248 PA, .274/.331/.491, 13 HR, 23.0% K rate, 7.3% BB rate
Age 25

I debated Shaw's eligibility for this list. I decided his owners probably still view him as a prospect since he's well and thoroughly blocked in Boston. Barring a trade, either of another veteran or Shaw himself, he'll open the season in the minors.

Scouts have long viewed Shaw as a fringy starter - the kind of guy who fits better in Oakland than Boston. It's tempting to see his 13 home runs in 248 plate appearances and project a 30 home run ceiling. Unfortunately, scouts are confident he's more of a 10 to 20 home run guy.

Shaw teased a pull-happy approach and thrived at Fenway Park. On the road, he hit a miserable .224/.294/.383. At home, a .345 BABIP helped him to a .319/.364/.588 line. He also possessed reverse handedness splits. He hit much better against fellow lefties. Overall, his splits look incredibly fluky. Expect regression.

The best case scenario for Shaw involves a trade to a second division club. He could provide decent fantasy value for a team like the Brewers.

 

Names To Watch

Most of these players should catch a cup of coffee in the majors. Some of them will be fantasy building blocks with 20 home run power, good speed, or a solid average. Unfortunately, determining which will breakout and which will become bench fodder is a difficult exercise.

Renato Nunez (3B, OAK, AA)

Nunez, 21, has impressed with his bat while sprinting through the minors. He spent the entirety of his season at Double-A, and the A's also handed him a spot in the Arizona Fall League. To date, he's hit a combined 22 home runs in 473 plate appearances. Power is his game. Scouts worry about his defense.

Colon Moran (3B, HOU, AA)

Moran is a polarizing prospect. His talent has always been highly regarded, but I've seen a lot of comments questioning his work ethic. The Marlins sold low as part of the Jarred Cosart deal. Moran, 23, hit .306/.381/.459 in 417 Double-A plate appearances. It would be nice to see more power.

Jeimer Candelario (3B, CHC, AA)

Candelario split his season between High-A and Double-A. He's also in the Arizona Fall League. He profiles as a pesky hitter with a high contact rate and average. He possesses adequate power, but he doesn't access it with regularity in games. Still, 13 home runs over 569 plate appearances isn't bad for a soon-to-be 22-year-old.

Brandon Drury (3B, ARI, AAA)

Drury is similar to Candelario, but he's also a year older. He received 59 mostly unsuccessful plate appearances in the majors. His power numbers declined drastically (26 HR in 2014, 7 HR in 2015), and he leaned heavily on a high BABIP in Triple-A. He could platoon with Jake Lamb.

Ke'Bryan Hayes (3B, PIT, A-)

Hayes was selected 32nd overall in the 2015 amateur draft. The 18-year-old hit well in short-season ball without showing a lick of power (six extra base hits, no HR in 227 PA). He's a long way from the majors.

Tyler Nevin (3B, COL, R)

Another 18-year-old draft selection, Nevin was selected 38th overall. He hit .265/.368/.386 over 223 plate appearances. Rockies hitting prospects always possess a little extra bonus value.

Austin Riley (3B, ATL, R)

In many ways, Riley was the best of the 18-year-old draftees. Taken 41st overall, he popped 12 home runs in 252 plate appearances. Unfortunately, he also showed off a high strikeout rate. The power is real, but he might not make enough contact.

Jomar Reyes (3B, BAL, A-)

Reyes is also 18, but he was signed as an international free agent in 2014. The 6'6'' behemoth is expected to eventually wind up at first base. Scouts love his mechanics and consistency at the plate. However, he's yet to tap into game power.

Hunter Dozier (3B, KAN, AA)

Dozier was selected eighth overall in the 2013 draft. The 24-year-old still has plenty of time to make good on his promise, but I view him mainly as a utility man. He has too much swing-and-miss in his bat with insufficient power to make up for it.

J.D. Davis (3B, HOU, A+)

The Astros development team does impressive work. Davis, 22, is coming a 26 home run season. He hit .289/.370/.520 with a high 28 percent strikeout rate. He's an underhyped prospect who could fly way under the radar.

Jae-gyun Hwang (3B, KBO)

Hwang was a candidate to be posted this winter, but his club has opted to post Ah-Seop Son instead. Korean teams are allowed to post just one player per season. Hwang will probably jump to the majors next offseason when he's a free agent.

Patrick Kivlehan (3B, SEA, AAA)

Another relatively unheralded prospect, Kivlehan hit 22 home runs with 14 stolen bases in 518 Triple-A plate appearances. He's nearly 26 years old, but that could help to keep him off the prospect radar. Kyle Seager blocks him, but the Mariners have other offensive needs too.

Garin Cecchini (3B, BOS, AAA)

Cecchini, 24, was a relatively well-regarded prospect entering 2015. Despite a second short stint in the majors, he took a big step back developmentally. His .213/.286/.296 line in 469 Triple-A plate appearances ensures he's buried on the Boston depth chart. He could still recover and improve.

 

MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-12" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]

 




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

Jayden Higgins

Impresses During Minicamp
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

on the Move to Memphis
Cole Anthony

Dealt to the Grizzlies
Seattle Seahawks

DeMarcus Lawrence Making an Impression With his New Team
Isaiah Simmons

Being Used Exclusively as a Linebacker
Tyler Mahle

Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Travis Etienne Jr.

the Jaguars Lead Back?
Luis Robert Jr.

Scratched with Thumb Soreness
Desmond Bane

Traded to Orlando
Byron Buxton

Scratched from Sunday's Lineup
Daniel Jones

the Favorite in Colts QB Competition?
Brendan Donovan

Returns to the Lineup
Steven Adams

Rockets Agree to Three-Year Contract Extension
Royce Lewis

Hits 10-Day Injured List
Ty Dillon

Is a Respectable Cap Flexiblity-Focused DFS Option For Mexico City
Corey Perry

Produces 10th Postseason Goal
Connor McDavid

Scores First Finals Goal
John Hunter Nemechek

Is John Hunter Nemechek Worth Rostering In Mexico City DFS Lineups?
Shohei Ohtani

Blasts Two Homers in Win
Sam Bennett

Nets Another Road Goal in Game 5 Win
Eetu Luostarinen

Earns Two Points Saturday
Michael King

Not Making Progress
Brad Marchand

Pots Two Goals in Game 5 Victory
Jackson Merrill

Removed Early on Saturday
Sergei Bobrovsky

Ties NHL Record with 10th Road Win
Ross Chastain

Trackhouse Racing's Mexico Focus Makes Ross Chastain a Leading Contender for the Win
Kyle Busch

One of Two Past Mexico City Winners in the Field
Ryan Preece

Earns Surprising Front-Row Start
Austin Cindric

Not as Strong of a Road Racer as People Think
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Stronger on Infield Road Courses Than Purpose-Built Ones
Joey Logano

Seemingly Alternating Between Good and Mediocre Races
Brad Keselowski

One of the Few Drivers with Mexico City Experience
Denny Hamlin

Ryan Truex Makes First Cup Series Start Since 2014
Erik Jones

Mexico City Will Likely be a Struggle for Erik Jones
Noah Gragson

Front Row Motorsports' Speed May Make Noah Gragson a Decent DFS Option
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Road Courses Are Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s Worst Track Type
Riley Herbst

Surprisingly Outqualifies 23XI Racing Teammates at Mexico City
Cody Ware

a Very Experienced Road Racer but Still a Long Shot
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen the Heavy Favorite to Win in Mexico City
Christopher Bell

the Chalk DFS Play in Mexico City
Tyler Reddick

Has a Lot of Work To Do To Be Competitive in Mexico
AJ Allmendinger

Struggling to Find Speed in Mexico City
Chris Buescher

Says Car is "Bad Fast" Heading into Mexico City Race
Michael McDowell

Confident Heading into Viva Mexico 250
Giancarlo Stanton

Likely Returning Early Next Week
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
Anthony Richardson

Should be Fine for Training Camp
Russell Westbrook

to Decline Player Option
Kevin Durant

Trade Could Happen in the "Next Few Days"
Cam Akers

Joining Saints
Michael Mayer

to Get More Involved
Aaron Rodgers

DK Metcalf Building Chemistry with Aaron Rodgers
Colston Loveland

Likely to be Primary Tight End
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
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
Jaylen Brown

Undergoes Successful Knee Procedure
Matt McCarty

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

Desperate to Continue Good 2025 Season
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
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF