The Top 10 Third Basemen in 2024
Third base is currently one of the deepest positions in fantasy baseball. However, drafting a top third baseman is still a great way to gain an edge. Listed below are the ten best players with hot-corner eligibility this season (in my opinion). There are three tiers: premier, elite, and great.
Tier One – The Premier
This tier contains the best third basemen in fantasy baseball right now. Across various websites and formats, there are little-to no disputes over these three being ranked at the top. They are all proven, consistent, and reliable options heading into 2024. Expect them to be drafted in the first two or three rounds.
1. José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
Ramírez has been great for almost a decade, producing at least 23 home runs and 20 stolen bases every year since 2018. Considering how he finished 2023 with the same amount of walks and strikeouts, he may be more reliable than Austin Riley in points leagues. Hitting in the Guardians’ lineup might hold hurt his run production, but his ability to steal 25-30 bases easily makes him the best third baseman in fantasy.
2. Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves
Since 2021, Austin Riley is averaging 36 home runs, 99 RBIs, and 99 runs scored, with a .286 batting average and an .878 OPS. Now entering his age twenty-seven season, he will likely continue hitting third for the Braves, baseball’s best lineup. Surrounded by Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies, and Matt Olson, few hitters are better positioned to put up over 100 runs scored and 100 RBI. He probably won’t steal any bases, but you shouldn’t be looking for steals from your third baseman anyway. As a result, Riley is the complete package in both points leagues and rotisserie leagues.
3. Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox
Devers and Austin Riley are freakishly similar. They have practically identical career slash lines; they will be twenty-seven years old this season; they flat-out rake. Devers makes insanely hard contact and strikes out less than the league average. Hitting in an inferior lineup makes producing runs a bit tougher, but he still combined for 190 runs and RBI in 2023. Based on his track record, 2024 shouldn’t be much different.
Tier Two – The Elite
The elite third basemen are outstanding in their own right, but not quite good enough to be considered “premier.” Some are proven veterans; others are promising youngsters. They tend to be drafted in the fourth or fifth round.
4. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
After finishing runner-up in the 2022 National League MVP race, Manny Machado had a disappointing 2023. However, it can likely be attributed to a nagging elbow injury that he finally got surgery on in October. There is plenty to suggest that, if fully healthy, he will return to his usual self in 2024. While his OPS dropped from .898 to .782., his strikeout rate dropped from 20.7% to 18.1%, his lowest in a full season since 2018. Most of the underlying numbers were consistent with his career norms. If his shoulder isn’t an issue, drafting Machado in the fourth round could be a steal.
5. Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
After struggling for the first two months of 2023, Gunner Henderson was one of the best hitters in the American League, ultimately winning Rookie of the Year. At just twenty-two years old, hitting 28 home runs and swiping 10 bases is a great sign. One could argue that he should be in the top tier, but his .210/.293/324 slash line against lefties holds him back. Regardless, he has proven himself to be a worthwhile fantasy asset.
6. Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds
De La Cruz may be the most puzzling player in fantasy baseball. On one hand, he could hit 30 home runs, steal 60 bases, and finish as the top third baseman. On the other hand, he could be back in the minors by May. He hits the ball exceptionally hard and is the fastest runner in the league, but he strikes out 33.7% of the time and hits a lot of ground balls. Drafting him is certainly a risk, and there are more reliable options being drafted around him. Overall, he could be worth the gamble, but you should still prepare for the worst.
Tier Three – The Great
If you miss out on drafting the players listed above, you can still hang your hat on these guys. For the most part, they are being drafted in the top 100.
7. Alex Bregman, Houston Astros
In points leagues, Alex Bregman’s top-notch plate discipline is invaluable (he walks more than he strikes out). He isn’t quite as productive in roto, but you still can’t go wrong with his ability to produce runs. He has only missed seven games over the last two seasons, and he hits in one of the league’s best lineups. He likely won’t rise to the top tier after 2024, but you know exactly what he will provide. That peace of mind alone might justify drafting him in the sixth or seventh round.
8. Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins
After years of injuries and setbacks, Lewis finally made a name for himself in the majors, slugging 15 home runs with a .309/.372/.548 in 58 games. He may not recreate this type of production over a full season, but he is absolutely capable of maintaining an OPS above .850. His injury risk is something to look out for, but he is poised to emerge as a top third baseman if he stays healthy.
9. Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
Like Machado, Nolan Arenado had a rough 2023 (maybe all of the Cardinals should just have a mulligan). He was still really good, but his underlying numbers indicate that he may finally be aging. His walk rate dipped from 8.4% to 6.7% and his strikeout rate jumped from 11.6% to 16.5%. On top of that, his ground ball rate last season was 38.8%, a noticeable increase from 30.5% in 2022. For someone in the bottom six percent for sprint speed, it would be nice to see him hit the ball in the air more. Regardless, both his underlying and surface-level numbers are good enough to stay in the top ten. He may not be an MVP candidate anymore, but he should still contribute positive fantasy value.
10. Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates
This list wouldn’t be very exciting if it had the same ten players as every other list. Plus, Hayes was one of the best third basemen in the second half last season. He finally increased his launch angle, raising it from 5.2 degrees in 2022 to 13.2 degrees in 2023. After returning from a back injury in early August, he combined for 15 doubles and 10 home runs over the last two months. He is also an above-average baserunner, stealing 10 bases in 2023 and 20 in 2022. Hayes will be twenty-seven this season, and he looks poised for a breakout. The fact that he is currently being drafted after the fifteenth round makes him even more enticing.
Honorable Mentions
There were a few guys in consideration for the last spot on this list, but I wanted to take a bit of a risk with Ke’Bryan Hayes. There are lots of good third basemen, and I would rather not ignore them completely. That being said, here are my honorable mentions, along with the reason I left them out.
Ha-Seong Kim, San Diego Padres
Kim was great last year, and being eligible at multiple positions is really helpful. After looking into some underlying data, however, I cannot justify taking him in the seventh or eighth round. He might steal a lot of bases, but I don’t think his power numbers from last season will carry over into 2024.
Noelvi Marte & Spencer Steer, Cincinnati Reds
Marte and Steer are both outstanding young players, but there are playing time concerns with almost everybody on the Reds. Neither of these guys have the same upside as Elly De La Cruz, so I decided to keep them off the list. If Marte and Steer get consistent starts, they are both capable of outperforming their current draft stock.
Jake Burger, Miami Marlins
Jake Burger made a name for himself last season, but I don’t think he deserves being top ten quite yet. He had a .198 batting average and .658 OPS on the road, and he slashed .385/.440/.593 at LoanDepot Park. I doubt his home splits will carry him this year like they did in 2023. However, he should still be a solid option.
Josh Jung, Texas Rangers
If I had to make a prediction, it would be that Jung’s numbers and Burger’s numbers will look pretty similar this season. Jung has a lot of upside because he mashes lefties and hits in a great lineup. I know it was probably because he was coming back from an injury, but his .638 OPS in the second half makes me cautious.
