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

Eric Cross' Top 10 Third Base (3B) Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Rankings for 2025

Jose Ramirez - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, MLB Injury News

Eric Cross' top third base (3B) dynasty fantasy baseball rankings heading into 2025. He discusses his top 3B targets for fantasy baseball dynasty leagues.

The hot corner was more lukewarm several years ago, but it's smoking hot entering 2025 with plenty of elite talent and depth as well. This might even be the most exciting infield position for fantasy right now.

I'll be continuing my positional dynasty fantasy baseball rankings series today with the third base position. All 10 players below are inside my Top 100 overall and there are another handful of third basemen that aren't far off.

For my additional dynasty fantasy baseball rankings and write-ups, check out my Patreon, where you can find my full Top 75 Third Base Dynasty Rankings. Also make sure to continue checking RotoBaller, as I'm going to be going through all positions in the coming weeks!

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

 

3B Dynasty Rankings for Fantasy Baseball

For my dynasty positional rankings article series, I'm only including players at one spot. This will primarily be where they played the most in 2024, but I'll include certain players at certain positions if they're eligible and/or it's clear they'll be at a new position in 2025. I'll make notes throughout the rankings for where certain players would rank that aren't included in my writeups below.

1. José Ramírez, CLE (Age 32)

It's not often that you see a 32-year-old at the top of any dynasty positional list, but José Ramírez has cemented himself as the alpha dog at this position until he gets a few years older or one of the names below rises up and overtakes him. If we exclude the shortened 2020 season, Ramírez has seven straight seasons of at least 23 home runs, six straight seasons of at least 20 steals, and has eclipsed 100 runs and 100 RBI four times each in the last seven full seasons.

Yes, Ramírez is 32, but he's showing no signs of slowing down. In 2025, Ramírez once again had a zone contact rate above 90% and an overall contact rate above 85% with above-average quality of contact metrics and an elite approach. He should continue to be a fantasy stud for the next few years.

2. Rafael Devers, BOS (Age 28)

While his production tailed off late in the season, it was still another good year for Rafael Devers. The 2024 season was his fourth straight season with at least 84 runs, 34 doubles, 27 home runs, 83 RBI, and an average north of .270. We also saw Devers post a 13 percent barrel rate and 52.6 percent hard-hit rate in 2024, marking the fifth straight season with a barrel rate over 11.5 percent and the fourth straight season with a hard-hit rate above 50 percent.

I'm expecting a bigger season from Devers in 2025 as he wasn't 100 percent for the entire season and was limited to just 138 games. The Red Sox lineup should be better around him in 2025 as well with a full season of Triston Casas and the newly acquired Alex Bregman in the mix. Outside of Ramírez, Devers is as safe as they come at this position with a realistic chance to provide Top 20 value once again in 2025.

3. Austin Riley, ATL (Age 27)

On the surface, it was a down season for Austin Riley. On top of being limited to 469 plate appearances, Riley's slash line dipped to .256/.322/.461. That's a fine slash line but underwhelming for a hitter of Riley's caliber who was coming off a .281/.345/.516 slash line in 2023 and .273/.349/.528 in 2022 along with 38 and 37 home runs respectively.

But assuming we have a healthy Riley in 2025, I'm expecting him to return to his pre-2024 form as the metrics under the hood were still impressive for the most part. Riley finished in the top 20 percent of hitters in xBA, xSLG, xwOBA, AVG EV, Barrel%, Hard-Hit%, Sweet-Spot%, and bat speed. Riley even improved his zone and overall contact rates a smidge last season.

Rankings Note: Jazz Chisholm Jr. would rank here and was discussed in my Top 10 Dynasty Second Base Rankings article.

4. Junior Caminero, TB (Age 21)

There aren't many young hitters with more raw power than Junior Caminero. Even in his brief MLB tenure, Caminero has been able to showcase that power with a career 11.8 percent barrel rate and 45.1 percent hard-hit rate through his first 213 plate appearances. In Triple-A, Caminero posted an elite 56.5 percent hard-hit rate. Over a full season, flirting with 35 home runs is definitely a possibility.

Outside of the power, Caminero's contact skills have been fine and he had an 84 percent zone and 76 percent overall contact rate in Triple-A last season. Power will be the calling card here but Caminero is far from an all-or-nothing power bat and should provide a decent batting average moving forward as well. If everything clicks, we could be looking at another Austin Riley type of hitter with Top 25 overall upside.

5. Jordan Westburg, BAL (Age 26)

A broken hand limited Westburg to 447 plate appearances last season, which is a bummer as Westburg was pacing at around 85 runs, 26 home runs, 90 RBI, and 10 steals. But the silver lining here is that Westburg's perceived value was kept in check to some degree and you can still acquire him for more of a back-end Top-100 price tag.

Westburg does a lot of things well and the sum of the parts is a Top-50 caliber fantasy asset. The contact skills were fine with an 83 percent zone and 74 percent overall contact rate along with an 11.8 percent barrel rate, 91.1 mph AVG EV, 46.1 percent hard-hit rate, and 91st percentile sprint speed. Westburg finished 2024 ranking in the Top-24 percent of hitters in xBA, xSLG, xwOBA, AVG EV, Barrel%, Hard-Hit%, and Sweet-Spot%. He's one of my favorite dynasty targets this offseason at any position.

6. Manny Machado, SDP (Age 32)

You aren't going to find many more consistent hitters than Manny Machado, especially among the top hitters in the league. In all 10 of Machado's MLB seasons, he's had an average exit velocity north of 90 mph and a hard-hit rate above 41 percent. He's also never had a strikeout rate higher than 20.7 percent.

In 2024, Machado hit 29 home runs which was his ninth straight season with at least 28 home runs, and also exceeded 85 RBI for the 10th straight season. Yes, he's 32 and will probably start declining at some point (everyone does), but that time doesn't appear to be soon. Machado is a great target for any contending dynasty team.

7. Royce Lewis, MIN (Age 25)

Determining where to rank and value Royce Lewis is becoming increasingly difficult. The upside is an early-round talent and we've seen that upside in glimpses, but only in glimpses. Lewis has smacked 33 home runs in his first 605 plate appearances but continues to be limited by injuries which cause many to label him as injury-prone or a major durability red flag. We also saw Lewis' average exit velocity drop by 3.1 mph and hard-hit rate drop by 4.3 percent in 2024, but how much of that was due to him battling through injuries?

Given his near-average contact rates and power upside, Lewis could be a .260/30 bat annually if he can stay healthy. But at the same time, we don't know if that can happen or how much speed he'll provide along the way. I'm high on Lewis' talent in general, but the term "Buxton 2.0" has snuck into the back of my mind. It's still far too early to apply that term, but it's a possible outcome here. For now, I've dropped Lewis down my rankings a bit until he can prove he can stay healthy for a full season.

8. Mark Vientos, NYM (Age 25)

It was a big breakout season for Mark Vientos in 2024. In just 454 plate appearances, Vientos swatted 27 home runs with a .266/.322/.516 slash line. Vientos has always been known for his power and that power was impressive last season with a 14.1 percent barrel rate, 91.2 mph AVG EV, and 46.6 percent hard-hit rate. With his quality of contact and lineup spot, a 30/100 season is certainly possible in 2025.

However, Vientos struck out at a 29.7 percent clip last season with a 15.9 percent SwStr rate, 78 percent zone contact rate, and a 68 percent overall contact rate. He's probably more of a .250-.260 hitter moving forward, but you'll take that if it's coming with at least 30 home runs and plenty of RBI. The contact limitations will likely keep Vientos from jumping into the Top-5 at this position, but he could stick as a back-end Top-10 option moving forward.

9. Matt Shaw, CHC (Age 23)

With Isaac Paredes now in Houston, the hot corner in the Windy City is wide open for Matt Shaw to step in this season. In 523 plate appearances last season, Shaw slashed .284/.379/.488 with 21 home runs, 31 steals, an 11.9 percent walk rate, and an 18.2 percent strikeout rate. Shaw did most of his damage over his final 94 games, slashing .306/.384/.525 with 18 home runs and 24 steals following an underwhelming first five weeks of the season.

No single tool for Shaw stands out, but he's above average across the board offensively. Shaw recorded an 86.4 percent zone and 74.3 percent overall contact rate in Triple-A last season while having a hard-hit rate of around 40 percent. The upside is a .270/20/20 type and an annual Top-10 third baseman.

10. Alex Bregman, BOS (Age 30)

After spending nine seasons with Houston, Alex Bregman tested the free agency waters and wound up signing with the Boston Red Sox. While his quality of contact metrics haven't stood out, Bregman has three straight seasons with at least 23 home runs and five seasons with at least 20 home runs in the last six full seasons. The only season in that span when he didn't have 20 home runs was in 2021 when he hit 12 in 91 games.

There were some concerns that Bregman's profile wouldn't fit well in his new home ballpark when the offseason began, but landing in Boston is one of the best-case scenarios for his short-term value. Bregman continues to be an elite source of contact and approach with eight straight seasons with a zone contact rate above 90 percent, an overall contact rate above 85 percent, and a strikeout rate below 16 percent. I'd like to know what happened to his walk rate last season though.

If you enjoyed these rankings and want to see additional rankings, analysis, and more, check out Eric's Toolshed Fantasy Patreon.



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

Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith Finds End Zone in First Training Camp Practice
Tyler Shough

Pushing for Fully Guaranteed Rookie Deal
Ar'Darius Washington

Goes on PUP List
Lamar Jackson

to be Even Better in 2025?
Tre Harris

Agrees to Terms on Rookie Deal
Justin Herbert

Off to Good Start at Training Camp
Jameson Williams

Earning Rave Reviews from Lions Coaches
Christian Mahogany

Expected to Start for Lions
Zach Allen

an Extension Candidate in Denver?
Zaire Franklin

May Miss Start of Training Camp
Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard Returning to Portland
Mason Taylor

to Play "Crucial" Role in Jets' Offense
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
T.J. Watt

Once Again Becomes Highest-Paid Non-QB
RJ Harvey

Reaches Agreement on Four-Year Rookie Contract
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Believe Rashee Rice Will Receive Two- to Four-Game Suspension
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jack Kiser

Inks Rookie Deal With Jaguars
Mike Green

Expected to Sign Rookie Deal with Ravens on Thursday
Mike Williams

Retiring After Eight NFL Seasons
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Jordan Addison

Pleads Guilty to Lesser Offense, Gets Fine and Probation
Jordan Mims

Titans Add Backfield Depth With Jordan Mims
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Anthony Richardson Sr.

Believed to be Recovered From Shoulder Injury
Najee Harris

Chargers Place Najee Harris on NFI List
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Kyle Schwarber

Named All-Star Game MVP
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Clayton Kershaw

Retires Both Batters In ASG Appearance
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Hit In Pinky In All-Star Game, X-Rays Negative
MLB

NL All-Stars Win On Tie-Breaker Home Run Swing-Off
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Oneil Cruz

Ties Home Run Derby Distance Record
Cal Raleigh

Wins 2025 Home Run Derby
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Michael Lorenzen

Royals Put Michael Lorenzen on Injured List With Oblique Strain
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Junior Tafa

Unsuccessful in his Light-Heavyweight Debut
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Tosses Gem Against Giants
Shota Imanaga

Shuts Down Yankees on Sunday
Nathan Eovaldi

Dominant Again in Seventh Win
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Chicago White Sox

Billy Carlson Goes 10th Overall to White Sox
Cincinnati Reds

Steele Hall Selected Ninth by Cincinnati
Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays Select JoJo Parker with Eighth Overall Pick
Miami Marlins

Marlins Select Aiva Arquette With Seventh Overall Pick
Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates Select Seth Hernandez with Sixth Overall Pick
Kyle Stowers

Punishes Former Team with Three-Homer Game
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
SJ

Jeff Skinner Joins Sharks on One-Year Contract
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF