It has been very well documented that the third-base position is more shallow than normal, but there are still ways to navigate it with confidence and efficiency. The spot for your KDS will greatly determine which 3B you are going to be looking at, as the top 5 third-base options all go in the first 25 picks in most drafts. Grabbing one of the elites is great, but we have other ways to win, other targets further down the board, and other ways to play this position.
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Tier 1 – Diamond Tier 💎
| 1 | Jose Ramirez | CLE | 3B |
Elite speed, strong power, fantastic plate skills, and rare speed at a shallow 3B position are the selling points for JRam, a player who is my 1.1 in many formats.
Tier 2 – Platinum Tier 👑
| 2 | Bobby Witt | KC | SS/3B |
Based on OPS, Witt doesn’t belong in the middle of the first round, but he could easily provide 25 HR, and 25 SB with both 3B and SS eligibility, and the only thing holding him back is a bad home park and not a good lineup. Easy to build around him if you can manufacture the loss in counting stats.
| 3 | Manny Machado | SD | 3B |
One of the safest players in the pool, Machado has a premium hit tool to pair with a strong hard-hit rate, 10+ steals upside, and elite durability. Great wheel pick.
| 4 | Rafael Devers | BOS | 3B |
Picking the nits between Devers and Riley is tough, but I prefer the AVG outlook over Devers and think there is more chip-in steals potential. Both are star players, so you can’t go wrong.
| 5 | Austin Riley | ATL | 3B |
Ridiculously safe 3B option, can sleepwalk into 35+ HR and a solid AVG with gobs of counting stats with Atlanta. Batted ball data and GB/FB mix are ideal.
| 6 | Nolan Arenado | STL | 3B |
One of the most consistent players in the MLB, Arenado is a classic safe floor player but an elevated 2022 BABIP is baked into his cost, and I don’t see him hitting a .290 AVG. 30 HR and a .270 AVG is nice, but I won’t take him in the 3rd.
Tier 3 – Gold Tier 🥇
| 7 | Gunnar Henderson | BAL | 3B |
One of the top, top prospects in the Majors, Gunnar has elite power in his bat to pair with a workable hit tool, a patient approach, and the ability to swipe 10-15 bags in his early career. A pick that is not as risky as it seems at his ADP.
| 8 | Alex Bregman | HOU | 3B |
Bankable counting stats and decent power are the selling points in roto for Bregman, a very stable profile who is a floor play now more than ever. His value in OBP leagues is tremendous with his elite plate skills.
Tier 4 – Silver Tier 🥈
| 9 | Max Muncy | LAD | 2B/3B |
His elbow injury had me scared off last year, but after he returned from the IL on June 9th he was back to his normal self, with 18 HR and a .762 OPS down the stretch (95 games). Versatility, lineup spot, power, and stability are the biggest selling points with Muncy, who’s a star in OBP formats. LAD extended him, so they think his health outlook is safe.
| 10 | Matt Chapman | TOR | 3B |
Max volume of PT and loud power are the pluses for Chapman, plan for a detrimental .230 AVG, but he can supplement it with a plus in the power and RBI column. Bankable.
| 11 | Eugenio Suarez | SEA | 3B |
Randomly spiked a .302 BABIP with a 31% K Rate which fueled his .236 AVG, if you can take a .210 AVG with 30 HR he is for you, I want to avoid that AVG risk personally. OBP league bump.
| 12 | Ke’Bryan Hayes | PIT | 3B |
A lot of concern with his batted-ball profile. That being said, there is 20+ SB upside here, and if his health (back, wrist) issues do improve, there is upside in this profile, needs to provide a better AVG. Account for low power.
Tier 5 – Bronze Tier 🥉
| 13 | Josh Jung | TEX | 3B |
A former top-10 prospect according to some fantasy outlets, Jung is a player with an advanced hit tool and potential pull power. The fact he made it back from a torn labrum is a big plus, not knocking him for a lot of swing and miss since making it back healthy on the field is an accomplishment. Max PT potentially, since Texas really wants him to develop.
| 14 | Justin Turner | BOS | 3B |
The team switch to Boston is nice, Turner will also add 1B eligibility, a big AVG lifter with more power in his bat than he showed in 2022. Professional hitter in a good lineup spot.
| 15 | Ryan McMahon | COL | 3B |
Completely unplayable on the road. Making him a primary 3B in a 15-teamer is challenging for me. As a 3B option in a 12-teamer with more replacement value, I would consider if he is cheap enough. Strong Power and plus AVG at home.
| 16 | DJ LeMahieu | NYY | 1B/2B/3B |
Health issues have hurt his performance as he has aged, but triple eligibility with strong runs and AVG in a DC is amazing. I have some exposure, but there is some significant health risk. When I take DJLM, I like to put him into the UT spot so I can float him wherever I wish as the year/draft progresses. Could smash his ADP if he goes .280 AVG with 80+ runs, an elite hit tool.
| 17 | Jose Miranda | MIN | 1B/3B |
Solid contact rates and 3B eligibility have me a little high on him. I would project 15 HR – .275 AVG with solid runs and RBI in the mid to high 60’s.
| 18 | Yandy Diaz | TB | 3B |
Ultimate glue guy, leadoff hitter, and premium plate skills, Yandy is not going to wow you despite being an advanced hitter, but his help in AVG and runs scored is nice, and he can chip in RBI as well. Plan around a low HR total. Safe as it gets.
| 19 | Alec Bohm | PHI | 3B |
A good lineup helps support Bohm, and he should provide a decent AVG but power is not coming anytime soon and there are cheaper options I prefer.
Tier 6 – Copper Tier 🪙
| 20 | Jordan Walker | STL | 3B/OF |
Limitless upside exists for Walker, and whether he cultivates it in 2023 is a question, but he has 80-grade raw power and enough juice on the basepaths to help in the SB dept. Playing time is a question, but if he has a 135 wRC+ for AAA Memphis, the Cardinals will find him a home in STL.
| 21 | Yoan Moncada | CWS | 3B |
Revitalized under a new manager, Moncada struggled with long COVID and its complications, and even at his worst, he provides volume and latent power upside. I still believe he can provide fantasy goodness.
| 22 | Luis Urias | MIL | 2B/SS/3B |
Despite the fact that he was an interesting prospect, Urias is a little boring, as he isn’t a standout in AVG, steals but he pulls the ball a lot and can barrel the ball well for a MI. Great flexibility.
| 23 | Wilmer Flores | SF | 1B/2B/3B |
The triple-eligibility and safe playing time, paired with a decent lineup spot make Flores a fairly safe floor play. He is very boring, but he provides great flexibility.
| 24 | Ha-Seong Kim | SD | SS/3B |
An interesting little 10/10 guy with a slick glove, Kim is a glue guy for DCs, but in FAAB he leaves me a little cold. I like him, don’t love him. SS eligibility really helps given the cliff at SS.
| 25 | Anthony Rendon | LAA | 3B |
Hard for me to believe that he is completely done, but the injury risk is very concerning. I would only sprinkle him into my portfolio sparingly. Decent AVG with solid power in a good lineup spot.
| 26 | Isaac Paredes | TB | 1B/2B/3B |
Triple-eligible with budding power (solid Max EV, pull heavy with a lot of FBs), Paredes also brings a good glove to the equation, which should provide him even more PT. He helps you have much more flexibility at a cheap cost.
| 27 | Brandon Drury | LAA | 1B/2B/3B |
Drury did slip-up some after his monster run in Cincinnati, which is sensible given the fact he was due to regress some. His true talent probably has him around a .245 AVG with 20 HR’s or so, which is not unusable given his triple eligibility.
| 28 | Gio Urshela | LAA | 3B |
A nifty little AVG booster with potential multi-eligibility in-season, Urshela is a nice flexible piece, and he should play a reasonable amount for the Halos.
| 29 | Brett Baty | NYM | 3B |
Baty has big raw power and enough hit tool to get to it regularly, injuries or underperformance could expedite his arrival to the MLB in 2022, a high-upside speculative pick. Could play OF.
| 30 | Luis Rengifo | LAA | 2B/3B |
A decent utility player, Rengifo is a 2B/3B option for the Halos that is occasionally miscast as a SS, and he could provide a 10/10 year. Bland but acceptable.
| 31 | J.D. Davis | SF | 3B |
With a monster 55% hard-hit rate and a 16% barrel rate in 2022, Davis is primed for a fresh start with at-bats in San Francisco. He struck out too much to sustain strong play with an ugly 35% K rate, but the Giants have done wonders with player development and JDD has more raw material than their usual projects. A solid CI stab at ADP for Davis.
| 32 | Jon Berti | MIA | 2B/3B |
Highly questionable PT for the poor hitting Berti has me out at his price.
| 33 | Josh Rojas | ARI | 2B/3B |
Poor defender, not a good hitter with speed, a crowded depth chart, and too much risk in this profile for me to touch it.
| 34 | Eduardo Escobar | NYM | 3B |
Perfectly cromulent as a reserve bat, Escobar is a power-only player depending on solid PT volume to sustain any value. Age is getting up there too.
| 35 | Josh Donaldson | NYY | 3B |
Assured at-bats from Brian Cashman to start the year, Donaldson still has strong barrel rates and The Bat X projection shows optimism. Sloppy power volume late in a DC.
| 36 | Brendan Donovan | STL | 2B/3B/OF |
Classic scrappy Cardinals utility-man, Donovan has a strong hit tool, he’s a poor man’s Luis Arraez who could spike a nice AVG year. I wish he provided speed, but he’s a glue guy.
Tier 7 – Fool’s Gold Tier 🙍
| 37 | Spencer Steer | CIN | 3B |
Batted ball data has me left a little cold, but the opportunity is there, and a good park. Decent play, but there is downside.
| 38 | Jeimer Candelario | WAS | 3B |
Due for a bounce back with a park upgrade from DET to WAS, The Candyman is a boring volume play, but sometimes in DCs that is all we need. I like him to bounce back to serviceable production.
| 39 | Ramon Urias | BAL | 2B/3B |
Hovering around a 10% barrel rate with both 2B/3B eligibility, players like this Urias allow us to get closer to 4 hitters eligible at each infield slot. Urias isn’t flashy, but he’s very affordable, has great duel eligibility, and should receive a solid amount of at-bats even if he rotates in as a utility man.
| 40 | Joey Wendle | MIA | 2B/SS/3B |
More of an NL-Only guy at this stage, Wendle provides a tiny bit of something everywhere and could go 10-10 with a non-harmful AVG. Triple eligibility and a steady glove help his profile gain traction.
| 41 | Brian Anderson | MIL | 3B/OF |
Anderson is ready to bounce around the diamond for the Brewers, and he combines a good K Rate with okay power and okay contact, and at this range in the draft, he is solid depth and flexibility in a DC.
| 42 | Jace Peterson | OAK | 3B |
A potential 10-10 guy who is guaranteed at-bats in Oakland, he is bland but useable for cheap speed.
| 43 | Patrick Wisdom | CHC | 3B |
Ticketed for a smaller role, Wisdom has big power, but it comes with the price of a horrendous AVG and a lot of Ks. Sloppy, desperate power play.
| 44 | Jake Burger | CWS | 3B |
If he were to be given a chance to play, I think the returns would be good for power. Last year put up a 15% barrel rate and he is a good handcuff for Moncada.
| 45 | Rodolfo Castro | PIT | 2B/3B |
A little power, a little speed, and a lot of Ks, I just am off Castro for redraft leagues.
| 46 | Kyle Farmer | MIN | SS/3B |
A pure depth play for Minnesota and your fantasy teams, not a ton to love here except as an emergency duel-eligible guy.
| 47 | Evan Longoria | ARI | 3B |
Could get on a mini-heater but injury risk is high and just isn’t very interesting because he will get a lot of days off.
| 48 | Elehuris Montero | COL | 3B |
A Coors-only streamer, Montero needs to clean his K Rate up, as it was unacceptable. There is latent upside, but I am not a believer.
| 49 | Hunter Dozier | KC | 1B/3B/OF |
He is paid but it is sloppy volume in a bad park. Be careful with these guys who used to be automatic for me in years past.
| 50 | Taylor Walls | TB | 2B/SS/3B |
Blessed with triple-eligibility, Walls has 3B/2B/SS eligibility, and while he is a backup, his strong defensive value will allow him to draw starts. He has the potential to provide some value as an emergency backup INF type for those drafting deep DC squads. Scouts have remarked that with Walls’ strong frame, more power could be coming, and he’s dirt cheap with a lot of flexibility.