Hopefully, you’ve already checked out our 2025 Consensus Third Base Rankings. If not, make sure you head on over there after you get done with this article. My initial rankings are there as well but in doing my projections and profiles, I have updated my third base rankings and will display them here. If you didn’t catch them, I’ve already done my projections and profiles for Catcher, First Base, and Second Base.
The accompanying profiles were written by a variety of our MLB staff. I did all the projections with a little help from a system called Projecting X. The system was developed by Mike Podhorzer, one of the top analysts in the industry for about as long as I can remember. I created a spreadsheet using the system, with guidance from Tanner Bell and Smart Fantasy Baseball. Smart Fantasy Baseball features a whole bunch of incredible tools that help you be the expert you already thought you were. Tanner is also one half of the duo that wrote The Process, one book I would recommend to anyone who wants to get really good fantasy baseball.
You’ll find that the third base projections below are pretty conservative. Hot takes and bold predictions get attention but most of the time they don’t pan out and they rarely win leagues. Accurate projections do, and I’ll put these up against any in the industry. For now, we’ve profiled just the third basemen in our Top 30 consensus rankings. As the season draws closer we’ll add some names when playing time starts to get a little more clear. Don’t worry, I’m one of those 12-team mono-league types so you know we’ll go deep.
Have fun and feel free to call us out in the comments. If there’s a third baseman missing that you’d like to see profiled, let us know and we’ll move them to the top of the to-do list. By the way, you can get these projections and profiles, along with a lot more fantasy baseball goodness on Amazon in our 2025 Fantasy Baseball Primer.
Third Base Rankings, Projections, and Profiles
1. Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians
Jose Ramirez finished at the top of the position in 2024, popping 39 home runs and racking up a career-high 41 stolen bases across 682 plate appearances. While we shouldn’t expect a repeat, a 30/30/.280 season is doable, as his underlying metrics are still intact. Ramirez’s pop and speed combo is a rare find at the position, and there’s little not to like heading into his age-32 season. Ramirez is a first-round draft pick in 2025. – Lauren Auerbach
2. Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves
Injuries limited Austin Riley to just 110 games in 2024 but he still managed to hit 19 home runs. All of the underlying data suggests Riley was as good as ever last season and he remains an elite third base option for fantasy managers. 2024 seemed like a lost season for the Braves which could create some value for Riley on draft day in 2025. – Matt Heckman
3. Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox
Rafael Devers has been a standout at the position. Like clockwork, he can be counted on for 28-33 home runs, 180+ runs and RBI, 3-5 steals, and a .270+ batting average. However, some cracks started to show in 2024 as Devers dealt with shoulder issues in both shoulders. While he still finished with a Devers-esque stat line, he struggled in the second half with a .727 OPS (career .856) and 95 wRC+. Devers should still be considered a top option, but be mindful of the shoulders. – Lauren Auerbach
4. Jazz Chisholm Jr., New York Yankees
What a difference a healthy season made for Jazz Chisholm Jr. He hit 24 home runs, stole 40 bases and logged 147 games — all career-highs. Chisholm also improved his contact rates from 2023 and cut his strikeout rate by six points to a career-best 24.5% mark. There’s a ton of power/speed upside with Chisholm, but be mindful that he’s played more than 125 games only once in the previous four seasons. Depending on your risk tolerance, Chisholm could be worth taking as early as the second round in drafts this season; just know that the injury risk is real. – Lauren Auerbach
5. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
Don’t overthink this one, folks. Manny Machado is a top-five option at the position. Plan for 30 home runs, 180+ runs and RBI, to go with a .275+ batting average. The nit to pick with Machado is that you never know how many steals he’ll have. But pencil in eight and consider anything more as a bonus. Overall, it’s tough to find a more durable player in the league. Machado has logged 600+ plate appearances for nine consecutive seasons, minus COVID-shortened 2020. Machado is a straight-up fantasy stud. – Lauren Auerbach
6. Jordan Westburg, Baltimore Orioles
Jordan Westburg came into the season as someone who was holding down the fort until the Orioles’ high-profile prospects were ready to take over. What happened instead was that Westburg tore the cover off the baseball and was a big reason for the team’s first-half success. He finished the season with a .284 xBA and a .498 xSLG, leading some to believe that he could improve on last year’s breakout numbers. Still, he does play half of his games at Camden Yards and typically goes opposite field on just over 20% of his balls hit. Still, at the end of the day, his final line of 2024 looks in sync with his Minor League days, so this could be who he is, and that’s not a bad thing. Playing time could be an issue with so many productive players in the mix, but there is some upside, given the aforementioned expected stats. – Dave Funnell
7. Mark Vientos, New York Mets
Mark Vientos had a coming out party in 2024, smacking 27 home runs across 454 plate appearances. He also smoked the ball to the tune of a 46.6% hard-hit rate and 14.1% barrel rate. Vientos strikes out close to 30% of the time, and his contact rates could be better. But his 30+ home run potential is too juicy to ignore. Vientos won’t help you out on the steals front, but his power potential in a solid Mets lineup warrants a top-eight draft pick at the position in 2025. – Lauren Auerbach
8. Alex Bregman, Boston Red Sox
We know who Alex Bregman is at this point: A contact-first hitter who can be counted on for 20-25 home runs, a couple of steals, and a plus batting average. Bregman signed late with the Red Sox but the new ballpark will suit him just fine. He should continue to be a solid run production source. Bregman brings an elite plate approach to the fantasy table, although it’s worth noting that his walk rate dipped into the single digits for the first time since 2017. There’s no upside here, but Bregman is a high-floor, four-category contributor who shouldn’t be overlooked in 2025 drafts. – Lauren Auerbach
9. Jake Burger, Texas Rangers
The new Khris Davis, Jake Burger has hit .250 in three consecutive seasons. After a dreadful start to 2024, Burger was one of the best hitters in baseball across the back half of the season, slashing .279/.339/.562. His 19 home runs in the second half ranked sixth in all of baseball and fantasy baseball managers should be confident in his power sustaining into 2025. With the trade to Texas, Burger joins a lineup that should help maximize his production. He enters 2025 as one of the more underrated power options at first base for fantasy baseball managers to target. – Matt Heckman
10. Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants
Matt Chapman rebounded nicely in his first season in the Bay Area. Chapman saw his home run total rebound to 27 again but the real surprise for fantasy managers was his 15 stolen bases. Despite never stealing more than four bases in a season, Chapman’s 81st-percentile sprint speed makes this outburst believable. The Giants have seemed to have gotten Chapman back to the player we saw in 2019 which is a great sign for fantasy managers. He is an undervalued veteran option for fantasy managers to target. – Matt Heckman
11. Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays
There is good reason that Junior Caminero was one of the top prospects in baseball over the past two years. He got a decent taste of big league action last year, and it was solid debut for Caminero. Between a barrel rate of 11.8% and a 45.7% hard-hit rate, the quality of contact was there for the third baseman. Caminero struggled to make contact, at a rate of 70.3%, and he did focus on getting the ball in the air with an average launch angle of just 6.8 degrees. Prior to his promotion, Caminero hit 13 home runs in 53 games, so we know that he can hit the ball out of the park. It’s important to remember Caminero’s youth as he slots into the middle of Tampa Bay’s lineup. What we see in 2025 likely won’t be the finished product, so don’t overpay. However, it should be a strong season even if 30 home runs might not be a certainty, but they are a possibility. – Ray Kuhn
12. Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies
Alec Bohm looked primed for a career season before a back injury led to a rough second half and now has many questioning what his future value is. Bohm’s hit tool is great, but he prioritizes contact over power and may never be able to top 20 home runs. RBIs are another big part of Bohm’s fantasy value ,but with rumors of a trade swirling, Bohm may no longer have the luxury of batting behind Trea Turner and Bryce Harper in 2025. Bohm’s is a high-floor, low-ceiling option and could see his fantasy take a hit if he is no longer on the Phillies this year. – Matt Heckman
13. Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins
Royce Lewis has as much upside as any player on this list. However, Lewis has been unable to stay healthy. Injuries continued to plague Lewis in 2024, and counting on him to play in more than 110 games is extremely aggressive. Even when healthy, Lewis no longer runs and he hit just .207 in the second half. Lewis represents a high-risk high-reward option for fantasy managers in 2025. – Matt Heckman
14. Isaac Paredes, Houston Astros
After posting a 132 wRC+ in 101 games with the Rays, Paredes saw his numbers drop off significantly after being traded to Chicago. Wrigley Field is a much more difficult place for right-handed pull hitters to hit the ball out of the park compared to Tropicana Field and that showed in Paredes’ home run splits. Paredes still has plus game power and some of those home runs will likely return with his move to Houston. There is however some platoon risk here as Paredes slashed .218/.336/.360 against righties last season. – Matt Heckman
15. Josh Jung, Texas Rangers
Josh Jung had an injury-riddled season in 2024, as he was unable to fully heal from a wrist fracture suffered early in the year. After surgery, he went through setbacks in the summer before finally being shut down. As of the end of the year, he is fully expected to be ready for Opening Day after going through offseason rehab. His value is completely dependent on his health, and he is not someone with a track record of maintaining that. For now, assuming he is healthy in the spring, a repeat of his 2023 breakout is possible. That said, fantasy owners need to be prepared to find a replacement. – Dave Funnell
16. Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
Was 2024 the beginning of the end for one of the game’s premier third base options for the past decade? Nolan Arenado saw his power output evaporate in 2024 as he posted the lowest barrel rate, exit velocity, and max exit velocity of his career. For fantasy managers, Arenado still has strong contact skills and should hit for decent average. He is likely to be a productive player in 2025, but fantasy managers should not be paying up for Arenado based on name value. He is not the same player he once was lowering his fantasy ceiling. – Matt Heckman
17. Luis Rengifo, Los Angeles Angels
If you take Luis Rengifo’s 2024 season and prorate it across 600 plate appearances, he would have finished with 47 stolen bases, 12 home runs, and a .300 batting average. So, why are we not talking more about his potential for 2025? Despite never playing in more than 127 games, Rengifo has shown flashes of being an excellent fantasy asset with both corner and middle infield eligibility. Fantasy managers should not expect a .300 batting average in 2025, but 15 homers and 40 stolen bases is certainly in the realm of possibilities. Rengifo could turn into one of the biggest draft-day steals in 2025. – Matt Heckman
18. Eugenio Suarez, Arizona Diamondbacks
After a slow start to the season, Eugenio Suarez exploded in the second half. Suarez hit .307 with 20 homers in the back half of the season and finished with his highest batting average since 2019. Suarez was primed for positive regression in 2024 and there is nothing in his profile that indicates he will see his numbers decline in 2022. He is a strong source of power late in drafts and the numbers he posted last year prove he is not an automatic negative in the batting average department. Suarez is a great player to target based on his early draft price. – Matt Heckman
19. Willi Castro, Minnesota Twins
Will Castro had himself a 2024 season that was more reminiscent of his career prior to his 2023 breakout. What makes that breakout year even more alarming is the fact that he finished with the lowest xBA of his career, seeing his output crater in 2024. With that in mind, he does still have some value, due to his double-digit power and speed output. Even more, he should provide fantasy owners some versatility, given that he has positional eligibility everywhere except at first base and catcher. That being said, he should be thought of as a secondary bench bat for when injuries possibly take over your team. – Dave Funnell
20. Matt Shaw, Chicago Cubs
Shaw seems set to begin the 2025 season as the Cubs’ starting third baseman. Because of his games played in the minor leagues, he will offer eligibility at second base as well. Despite his limited time in the minors, Shaw has the pedigree and tools to come in and immediately produce, both for the Cubs and fantasy baseball managers. Strikeouts are not much of a concern and Shaw also took plenty of walks during the 2024 season. His upside likely tops out around 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in 2025 but there’s certainly room for growth in the next few years. Matt Shaw is not getting the hype a lot of top prospects usually get and I think that’s a mistake. It’s not hard to see him end the 2025 season as a top-10 second baseman.
21. Christopher Morel, Tampa Bay Rays
The talent is obvious and at times Christopher Morel has appeared to break out, only for the strikeouts to rear their ugly heads and derail any progress. 2024 was more of the same for Morel. The power was there but a .233 BABIP took his batting average under .200 and things didn’t get better after his arrival in Tampa Bay. Morel enters 2025 pencilled in as the Rays left fielder but playing time is far from guaranteed. If you’re late in a draft and find yourself short on power, Morel is not a bad lottery ticket. Just expect damage to your batting average and be quick with the hook if he struggles as badly as he did in the second half of last season.
22. Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies
Ryan McMahon has been consistently solid and unspectacular for four straight seasons. McMahon has hit between 20-24 home runs, scored 67-80 runs, hit in 65-86 RBIs, and hit between .240 and .256 in every one of those seasons. McMahon has never been able to solve his strikeout issues which has prevented him from ever living up to his full potential. Even still, he is a reliable option that fantasy managers can rely on late in drafts even if he is unlikely to finish as a top option at the position. – Matt Heckman
23. Maikel Garcia, Kansas City Royals
From May 28 forward, Maikel Garcia was one of the worst offensive players in baseball slashing .207/.261/.278 with a 49 wRC+. Still just 24 years old, Garcia has the potential to continue developing. He has plus raw pop, strong contact skills, and plus speed but is far from a finished product. Another prolonged slump like we saw in 2024 could land Garcia on the bench for a Royals team looking to compete in 2025. Right now, he should be viewed as a plus base stealer with upside, but not a reliable starter for fantasy managers. – Matt Heckman
24. Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers
Max Muncy has been productive in the past, and his injury-riddled 2024 season could be thought of as a chance to buy low for 2-25. The problem here is that there seem to be more and more instances of him either playing through an injury or recovering from one off the field. Still, he’s someone that can be counted on for power, and his spot in a talented Dodgers lineup gives hope for help in runs and RBI. All that being said, he will be 35 years old next year, so time is running out for him to be considered someone who should be drafted. – Dave Funnell
25. Jeimer Candelario, Cincinnati Reds
The batting average took a significant step back last year for Jeimer Candelario, but with his BABIP following suit, it’s truly a lost cause. Based on injuries and what the Reds do in the off-season, there will be some playing time concerns here. At this point, we know what we are getting from the solid veteran as a replacement value corner infielder. The dual eligibility is valuable, but Candelario is likely best used as a platoon option. Of his 20 home runs last year, 15 came at home and 17 were against right-handed pitching. – Ray Kuhn
26. Connor Norby, Miami Marlins
Connor Norby came into the Major Leagues last season as a highly-touted prospect. Despite some inconsistent playing time after his initial call-up, he was deemed good enough to be a major part of a trade with the Marlins in their quest to rebuild for the future. Once he found himself with an (almost) everyday role, he played much better and gave Miami some hope. This season, he will be the team’s everyday third baseman, but may retain 2B and MI eligibility in other leagues. While he does have back-to-back 20+ home run seasons in the Minor Leagues, it’s worth noting that he doesn’t hit the ball hard, so expectations might be dampened here. That being said, he’s talented enough to provide enough pop to make him a worthy CI in leagues with the potential for more. – Dave Funnell
27. Matt Vierling, Detroit Tigers
Matt Vierling’s biggest value is his versatility, as he will be eligible to play in both the infield and outfield. While that real-world value is big for the Tigers, it remains to be seen if he can take that next step and be as valuable in fantasy. He’s grown into a dependable backup for fantasy purposes, but as a starter, he remains viable in only the deepest of leagues due to his uninspiring counting numbers. – Dave Funnell
28. Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates
The sad season of Ke’Bryan Hayes concluded the same way that most of his career has – with questions about his health. For years, Hayes has dealt with a back issue that has hampered his ability to not just stay on the field, but remain productive. His value going forward is directly tied to his health, as he’s been productive when the back isn’t an issue. Known for playing through the pain, it’s been easy decipher, as when he’s unable to produce, it’s likely because he is working through some sort of injury. Until something is done for that back (likely surgery), he remains a sketchy player to draft simply because he cannot be trusted to be a viable fantasy option. – Dave Funnell
29. Jose Caballero, Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays signed Ha-Seong Kim to be their starting shortstop but he’ll likely be out for at least the first month of the season. Jose Caballero likely gets the nod to start the season but at-bats could get scarce real fast if everybody is healthy. Caballero will get some time at second and third as well as shortstop, so he will get some time, but the AB projection above is probably the extreme ceiling. Through his first two Major League seasons, Caballero owns an 88 wRC+ and slashed just 209/.255/.324 in the back half of last season. Caballero’s base-stealing ability is legit, but fantasy managers should not enter 2025 with the expectation Caballero will play in 139 games again. – Matt Heckman
30. Joey Ortiz, Milwaukee Brewers
Joey Ortiz had a tremendous start to the season, as he found himself batting .292 early in June with five home runs. Unfortunately, what transpired after that was uninspiring, as he hit .211 the rest of the way with minimal power. Unfortunately, the underlying metrics support his lack of power due to the fact that he didn’t really hit the ball hard, leading to an xBA similar to his final batting average. Even more concerning is his age, as he will be 28 next July and he has just 157 games under his belt. While a productive future shouldn’t be ruled out completely, this is more of a profile that others in your league should look to gamble on while you take either a more proven asset or someone with more upside. – Dave Funnell
For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.
