Top-10 Third Basemen in Baseball

When you think third base, the first thing that comes to mind is probably names like Wade Boggs, Mike Schmidt, Chipper Jones, and George Brett. But when you look around today´s league you may find that some of the greatest talents to ever graze the hot corner are right on your TV screen. Over the past few years, Third Base has gradually become one of the best positions in Baseball when it comes to high-caliber players. Never has there been a time where there was so much talent at third base, and so today I will count down the top 10 best Third Basemen in Baseball.

10. Los Angeles Angels, Gio Urshela: 501 AB, 143 H, 64 RBI, 13 HR, .285 BA, .767 OPS, 3.1 WAR

The former New York Yankee, Gio Urshela continued to be one of the most reliable Third Basemen in the game last year following a trade to the Minnesota Twins. Urshela batted .285 with a .767 OPS, all the while maintaining an above-average glove at the bag. When compared to the top names in the league, Urshela certainly isn’t the flashiest however he has gotten the job done for multiple teams across the past few seasons. Since 2019 Urshela has maintained a .290 BA with an OPS nearly surpassing .800. One of the most underrated names in the league, Gio Urshela will continue to produce at a high level even without all the publicity. After being sent to the Los Angeles Angels this offseason it will be intriguing to see how Urshela can help a lineup that has been dormant without the likes of Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout.

9. Toronto Blue Jays, Matt Chapman: 538 AB, 123 H, 76 RBI, 27 HR, .229 BA, .757 OPS, 3.5 WAR

A former All-Star during his days in Oakland, Matt Chapman has continued his reign as one of the best defensive Third Basemen in the game. Though his offensive numbers may not be those of a Silver Slugger, Chapman´s Gold Glove play at the hot corner was more than enough to keep him within the top ten for yet another year. Chapman ranked amongst the best in the league at third with a .988 fld% while surrendering just 5 errors. All this isn´t to say that Chapman supplies no offensive production, as in 155 games the former Cal-State Fullerton product blasted 27 home runs with a .433 SLG, though the contact isn´t there the power certainly is and Chapman puts it on display for all to see year in and year out. Coming into a contract year it wouldn´t be far-fetched to see Chapman put up some offensive numbers reflective of his early career.

8. Los Angeles Angels, Brandon Drury: 518 AB, 136 H, 87 RBI, 28 HR, .263 BA, .813 OPS, 2.6 WAR

Another Angels off-season addition, Brandon Drury is coming off the best season of his career. The 30-year-old batted .263 with a .813 OPS for the Reds and Padres, also playing an integral part in the Friars playoff run last October. Before last year, Drury, held a mere .249 BA with an OPS barely eclipsing .700. While not bad by any means, the steps Drury was able to make in only one season are drastic and truly admirable. Coming into 2023 Brandon Drury has a chance to solidify himself as one of the top Third Basemen in all of Baseball.

7. Houston Astros, Alex Bregman: 548 AB, 142 H, 93 RBI, 23 HR, .259 BA, .820 OPS, 4.5 WAR

It was another year of continued dominance for Alex Bregman who has ranked amongst the best third basemen in oWAR every year since being called up in 2016. The now 28-year-old Bregman slashed .259 with a .820 OPS and 133 OPS+, helping the Astros to another World Series title. Though his bat is nothing to scoff at, Breggy´s arm at the hot corner is one of the best in Baseball and was put on display time and time again in 2022 as he ranked at the top of the league in assists, fld%, and dWAR. Despite never winning a gold glove, Bregman´s defense is always among the best at his position, becoming a gold standard for players across the league.

6. Cleveland Guardians, Jose Ramirez: 601 AB, 168 H, 126 RBI, 29 HR, .280 BA, .869 OPS, 6.0 WAR

One of the most consistently underrated and overlooked players in the game; Jose Ramirez led a young unproven Guardians team all the way to an AL Central title in 2022. The 4-time Silver Slugger had one of the best years of his veteran career last season, batting .280 with a .515+ SLG as he led the league in doubles with 44. Ramirez was also Cleveland´s best run producer, adding 126 RBIs and 90 runs scored for the Guards. Heading into 2023 Ramirez will look to continue his reign as one of the best Third Basemen in the game as he hopefully helps his club to another division crown.

5. Tampa Bay Rays, Yandy Diaz: 473 AB, 140 H, 57 RBI, 9 HR, .296 BA, .824 OPS, 3.5 WAR

Possibly the best-least talked about player in Baseball; Yandy Diaz broke out as one of the premier Third Basemen in the game for the Rays in 2022. Diaz supplied Tampa with top-tier offensive production, batting .296 with a .824 OPS and an outstanding .401 OBP which led the Rays on their way to their fourth straight playoff berth. Diaz’ sudden leap in production didn’t just come on the offensive end as the Cuban product showcased one of the best arms in Baseball time and time again making for an ultra-reliable infield duo when paired with All-Star Second Basemen Brandon Lowe. Diaz will now look to prove that 2022 was no fluke as he signed a 3-year $24 million dollar extension with the Rays through 2026.

4. Boston Red Sox, Rafael Devers: 555 AB, 164 H, 88 RBI, 27 HR, .295 BA, .879 OPS, 4.4 WAR

Now four years removed from his breakout season during which a young Rafael Devers helped the Boston Red Sox to the 2018 World Series championship, the Beantown Third Basemen earned himself one of the most lucrative contracts in Baseball signing a 10-year $313.5 Million dollar contract to keep him in the Northeast through the 2033 season. Devers is coming off a career year during which he batted .295 with a team-high.879 OPS and 141 OPS+. Devers’ skills at the bag aren’t always the best but his big bat seems to be enough to get him by each year as he ranked among the best in XBH% at his position while also ranking tops in SLG and 2B hits. 2023 is a year full of question marks for the Red Sox, Rafaey is not one of them, look for the Dominican export to continue his dominant play come summer.

3. Atlanta Braves, Austin Riley: 615 AB, 168 H, 93 RBI, 38 HR, .273 BA, .878 OPS, 6.5 WAR

One of 2022´s biggest breakout stars, Austin Riley added more pop to an already fiery Braves lineup. The former Atlanta top prospect came in 6th in NL MVP voting while also earning the first All-Star bid of his young career. The 25-year-old batted .273 with a .878 OPS, 6.5 WAR, and 5.5 fWAR which ranked him fourth amongst all Third Basemen in Baseball. Riley´s 2022 was powered by a red-hot July which saw the Memphis Tennessee product put up an insane batting line of .423/.459/.885 taking home NL Player of the Month honors in convincing fashion. It is yet to be seen how Riley will react to yet another increased workload with the subtraction of Dansby Swanson this offseason. If his production jumps anything like what we saw after all-world First Basman Freddie Freeman left for LA the season prior.

2. San Diego Padres, Manny Machado: 578 AB, 172 H, 102 RBI, 32 HR, .298 BA, .898 OPS, 6.8 WAR

2022 may have been the year that Manny Machado solidified himself as ¨The Guy¨ in San Diego, in the absence of Fernando Tatis Jr, Machado put up career numbers across the board with a batting line of .298/.366/.531 totaling up to a .898 OPS. Machado helped his team all the way to the NLCS where they would lose to the Phillies in five games, it was however not for lack of trying on Machados part, the now 30-year-old batted .271 with a .910 OPS filing four homers into the seats. 2023 will prove to be a different story as Tatis will make his return to the Friars lineup, leaving question marks as to what fielding arrangement we may see from the Dres.

1. St. Louis Cardinals, Nolan Arenado: 557 AB, 163 H, 103 RBI, 30 HR, .293 BA, .891 OPS, 7.9 WAR

Nolan Arenado helped to form possibly one of the deadliest duos in recent memory with Paul Goldschmidt out in St. Louis last summer. Arenado, who was traded to ¨Baseball heaven¨ before the 2021 season, took off in 2023 on both sides of the baseball. The former platinum glover ranked as the best defensive Third Baseman in nearly every single eligible category, while also taking off on the offensive side of the ball blasting 30 homers with a .293 BA and .891 OPS. Heading into 2023, the best guy at the hot corner will reside in St. Louis, look for Arenado to continue his dominance for years to come as the Cards continue to climb into contention.