Who is the best third base prospect in baseball? My top 10

by the pinstripes on Aug 22, 2025 11:15 AM EDT

Please find a list below of several top third base prospects which I have attempted my best to rank. For the purpose of this exercise I have left out 08' draftees (which you can feel free to opine as to where they should rank on this list) as well as players that look to have graduated to the bigs.

Also, bear in mind that my rankings are based solely on fantasy value/hitting ability so whether or not they are good defensively makes no difference as I believe most leagues do not use defensive categories.

If I've left anyone else off the list whether by mistake or otherwise please comment below.

1. Mike Moustakas - Kansas City (28 yrs old) - .266/.326/.463 for low A burlington - 21 homers, 36/81 bb/k ratio - got off to a slow start but is tearing it up over the last 2 months. officially moved off of ss.

2. Matthew Gamel - Milwaukee (23 yrs old) - .332/.399/.544 for AA huntsville - 19 homers, 55/109 bb/k ratio - questions loom as to where he'll end up playing but the bat is for real.

3. Matt Dominguez - Florida (18 yrs old) - .291/.357/.469 for low A greensboro - 14 homers, 28/63 bb/k ratio - got off to a slow start in the power dept. but has made up for it nicely. pd should improve as it's already respectable for such a young player.

4. Josh Vitters - Chicago (19 yrs old) - .333/.369/.522 total minors - currently playing for boise low A SS - 5 homers, 11/42 bb/k ratio - scouting reports indicate this kid is a pure hitter with a picture perfect swing. the power is expected to develop.

5. Luke Hughes - Minnesota (24 yrs old) - .313/.374/.538 total minors - currently playing for AAA rochester - 18 homers, 34/94 bb/k ratio - has had a very good year overall. he should get a cup of joe when rosters expand.

6. Taylor Green - Milwaukee (21 yrs old) - .289/.382/.443 for high A brevard county - 15 homers, 61/59 bb/k ratio - i totally missed this guy. terrific plate discipline w/ decent power numbers. a little smallish in stature so we'll see just how much power he ultimately develops.

7. Allen Craig - St. Louis (24 yrs old) - .301/.371/.489 for AA springfield - 21 homers, 46/85 bb/k ratio - this is his second solid season in a row posting more than 20 homers. has shown respectable pd and should eventually get a shot at the 3b position. a solid overall prospect.

8. Wes Hodges - Cleveland (23 yrs old) - .284/.352/.435 for AA akron - 14 homers, 51/100 bb/k ratio - same situation as hughes in that he should be a sept. callup. blocked only by the underachieving andy marte.

9. Michael Almanzar - Boston (17 yrs old) - .263/.319/.358 total minors - currently playing for low A greenville - 1 homer, 13/40 bb/k ratio - extremely young for the league in which he plays, scouting reports rave about what he will become. very intriguing prospect.

10. Neftali Soto - Cincinnati (19 yrs old) - .336/.360/.545 total minors - currently playing for low A dayton - 8 homers, 11/39 bb/k ratio - good looking hitter, should add power as he fills out.

HM - Kevin Ahrens, Neil Walker, Mike Costanzo, Billy Rowell, Joshua Bell, Jamie D'Antona, David Freese, Josh Fields

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Comments

Mike Moustakas = 1

ProjectProspect.com - Sullivan10x@yahoo.com

by sully10x on Aug 22, 2025 12:03 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Without question

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on Aug 22, 2025 12:15 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Mousie...

I haven’t kept up with him, but it seems his at bats have been split pretty evenly between SS and 3B. Has he been playing both all season or was he playing one position early in the year and moved to another since?

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Aug 22, 2025 12:40 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Moose

Started the year at SS, moved to third base in June. So, yea, he should be on this list.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Aug 22, 2025 12:43 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

agreed

i didn’t realize he had switched to third full time. i’ll make the change w/ mcpherson getting pulled due to non eligibility.

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Aug 22, 2025 12:44 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

hmm

I dunno he is 28 in Low A…

by hybrid on Aug 22, 2025 7:48 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

LOL

Somebody really needs to put his correct age down.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Aug 22, 2025 8:16 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

+1

For some reason I see a bit of Troy Glaus in him.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Aug 23, 2025 12:38 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Pedro Alverez

His abilities speak volumes about the star he will become. It isn’t even close in my opinion.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Aug 22, 2025 12:22 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Kinda worried about his high K%

Alverez has all the makings of a stud, but considering he has a pretty high K% in college, its something to keep an eye on.

by laxtonto on Aug 22, 2025 12:25 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Maybe

But honestly I would take him over any other hitter on this list. His upside is higher and being a college hitter means he should move through the minors very quickly. I would be shocked if he isn’t starting in 2010.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Aug 23, 2025 9:11 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Gamel too doubtful a 3B

Does anyone see any chance for him playing third in the bigs? Every scouting report makes him out to be worse than Braun was there. The bat is nice, but even there, he’s had a down second half. I would just slide Moustakas into that number one slot and leave Gamel for some other list—maybe even the 1B list.

by aap212 on Aug 22, 2025 12:26 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

There's no need to exaggerate

He’s bad, but in no way does “every scouting report [make] him out to be worse than Braun.” He has better range than Braun, but similar problems with footwork and the yips. Now, this is not to say that he’ll stick at third; I don’t think he will, but the Brewers will probably give him some more chances. FWIW, this is what his manager Don Money, who was an excellent defensive third baseman, had to say about Gamel:

Footwork. Footwork is involved with both sides of it. You have to be light on your feet, and he isn’t really light on his feet right now. He is more of a plant guy than nimble, but it is better than it was, as I have been told, because I had never seen him before this year. He had about 55 errors last year and they were about 50/50 throwing and fielding, but this year he had mostly fielding errors until about a week ago. He had only one or two throwing errors, but it all reverts right to his footwork. If his footwork gets out of sync, then this [points to his arm] gets out of sync. You can ask him, and he feels much better about it, but it is still a work in progress. Can he make the turn and become a consistent Major Leaguer? I think he can. Derek Jeter made 30 to 40 errors in the minors, but once he got confidence he made the turn, and now look at him.

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Aug 22, 2025 2:38 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

And Brian Cashman claimed Jesus Montero is a catcher

I’d rather listen to what scouts say than what a guy’s own manager says.

by aap212 on Aug 22, 2025 3:01 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

+1

Scouting reports coming from the team who own the rights to a player tend to be very inaccurate as they only want to paint the player with positives.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Aug 22, 2025 3:05 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Actually

If you read the series of interviews with Money and WV pitching coach John Curtis, you’ll find they’re surprisingly forthright.

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Aug 22, 2025 3:09 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Well...

How about you cite some of these mythical scouting reports claiming Gamel is even worse than Braun then?

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Aug 22, 2025 3:11 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Let's see...

These are just some easy tidbits to google while at work.

Baseball America this season referred to him as “Defensively-challenged,” saying, “Poor footwork and an inaccurate arm led to Gamel leading the minors with 53 errors last season, so a move to corner outfield position or first base could be in the cards for Gamel.”

Kevin Goldstein referred to him as a “horrible defender” before the season, quoting scouts during the season who wondered if he even had the athleticism for a corner outfield position (which was never true of Braun). This week, when asked who the more viable third baseman was between Gamel and Bret “The Walrus” Wallace, he responsed: “: What’s the fastest car? Yugo or AMC Pacer?”

Keith Law said, “Gamel’s got power, no idea where you could play him on defense.”

by aap212 on Aug 22, 2025 3:33 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

K, so those don't support your position at all, but thanks for playing

Next time just cut the cuteness and quote the prevailing opinions without editorializing.

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Aug 22, 2025 5:23 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

What grade are you in?

You say we should listen to a kid’s manager about his defensive potential, and I sample a group of people who each draw their opinions from talking to scouts. If you don’t think people like that are valid, you probably shouldn’t be on John Sickels’ website. The Braun point may have been overstated, but he always was cited as having a good arm and the athleticism to possibly handle third, even while he stunk it up there. Gamel doesn’t have those same tools. Your argument of “The guy’s minor league manager says he could be a good third baseman, so it must be true.” What are you going to do next, quote Jim Leyland for spring training about Miguel Cabrera being a solid third baseman.

More to the point, “Those don’t support your position at all, but thanks for playing”? You’re like a 12-year old who just saw some crappy David Spade sketch from 1993 and thought it was the funniest thing ever. I quoted three experts who all think Gamel isn’t a viable third baseman in the bigs. What did you show?

Actually, nevermind. No questions. I don’t want to encourage you to say things.

by aap212 on Aug 22, 2025 6:27 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Gamel v. Braun

Braun was literally the worst 3B defensively in the last 100 years. To say that Gamel is WORSE than him would not be the same as saying, “He’s below average defensively at present.” And the fact that Gamel has pretty much cut his errors in half this year speaks volumes about his emphasis on his defense. As the Fighting Bovine opined, Gamel’s footwork is the root of his evils. And it would seem he has exorcised many a wraith this year. As for his bat, there is nary a hot corner piece of wood that would lead me to prefer any other to the sweet sound of Mat’s thwack.

by ILuvDaBush on Aug 24, 2025 7:00 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

+ One on the bat brother

Another point I’d like to add is that there isn’t ANYBODY out there that I trust when it comes to evaluations of a minor leaguers defense., my advice is to take a LONG, educated look at defensive statistics. You’ll be surprised what they can tell you about a guy. For instance, Gamel has started (or finished i suppose) 27 double plays and has a 2.65 RF.

I can tell you that whether i think he’ll win a Gold Glove or Don Money think he may be good or Goldtein and his scout buddies think he sucks or that other “expert” thinks he’ll be worse than Ryan Braun that this is a FACT…

It takes some athletic skill as a third baseman to turn 27 double plays…even in AA ball. I’m not even worried about him that much.

Same deal as Lowrie last year to me…much ado about NOTHING. I don’t hear Goldstein and the others coming out with appologies about misleading people about his defense. I saw Lowrie play 2 games in a row at SS and I KNEW it wasn’t going to be a problem, not great but not bad….about like Stephen Drew or any # of guys.

The 3b Gamel sorta reminds me of is Aramis Ramirez. Very decent athlete but really inconsistent and error prone for a few years but totally fine now isn’t he?

BTW, the double play totall ranks 2nd in the Southern League out of 8 teams and the range ranks 4th.

BTW 2, Ryan Braun’s range was 1.86 in his time in Huntsville. thats a whole play per game worse than Gamel.

If I was you guys I’d start trusting a carefull look at defensive numbers way more than guys like Law, Golstein , or the team’s GM or manager.

by casejud on Aug 24, 2025 9:58 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Then how come no one who's seen him play buys it?

by aap212 on Aug 24, 2025 10:07 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Buy's what?

Turning 27 double plays is such a skill that can’t be explained that I know he can play a little over there. Far better than the debacle that was Braun over there,

Don Money is an honest man. He counts for me. I saw him play at the futures game also and he looks to have decent quickness, anticipation, reactions, and arm.

He has some things going for them over there. i think he’ll turn out OK.

by casejud on Aug 24, 2025 10:14 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

If McPhereson is eligible...

What about Andy LaRoche or Brandon Wood? They certainly have more promise as big leaguers going forward and they have fewer games played in the majors.

Also, if you’re going to include someone as young as Almazar (not knocking the choice), what about someone like Triunfel?

by aap212 on Aug 22, 2025 12:33 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Wood and Triunfel

are shortstops right now, not 3B. Also LaRoche is in the majors right now and will likely surpass the AB limit to be considered a prospect after this season… McPhereson probably not.

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Aug 22, 2025 12:36 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

McPherson

He already has passed the AB limit. The man has 360 at bats to date in his MLB career.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Aug 22, 2025 12:40 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

King Billy’s point is what I was getting at. Calling McPherson a prospect now is almost like calling Hee Seop Choi a prospect when he got to the Dodgers.

by aap212 on Aug 22, 2025 12:42 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

+1

AAAA players aren’t considered prospects.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Aug 22, 2025 12:50 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

mcpherson has been chopped

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Aug 22, 2025 12:54 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Taylor Green

should be on the list. Lots of speculation about him being the PTBNL in the Sabathia deal and that Cleveland wanted to see him at 2B to decide, but checking out Minorleaguesplits.com he has taken 364 of his 416 at bats as a 3B… and none as a 2B. He hits both sides well, has decent pop, and walks more than he strikes out. Not sure about his glove, but his batting line reminds me of Mike Lowell.

I also like the fact that his path to the majors is pretty clear. Neither Milwaukee nor Cleveland has anyone that is immovable at the position.

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Aug 22, 2025 12:33 PM EDT reply reply 1 recs

Forgot to mention....

I would personally slide Green into the #5 spot ahead of Allen Craig. Green has put up a very similar statline to Craig, but has done it while being three years younger than Craig and only one level behind him.

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Aug 22, 2025 12:37 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

so it is written, so it shall be done

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Aug 22, 2025 12:53 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

how about

How about Todd Frazier? He’s not going to stay at SS.

by pst2 on Aug 22, 2025 1:47 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

1B

I think he has played some 1B too.

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on Aug 22, 2025 2:12 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

he's been all over.

while in dayton, he played, 3B, 1B, and RF regularly, but since moving up to sarasota, he’s been playing mostly SS with some 3B thrown in.

he’s at worst, just behind hughes, but i also think both players are better than dominguez and vitters, so take it for what it’s worth.

it also should be known that sarasota is a pretty horrid park for RH hitters. while his power numbers since moving up look only OK, they could be held down by that fact.

ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't

by variablesdont on Aug 22, 2025 2:48 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

curiosity

just curious. is it that you like them both a lot or are you down on vitters & dominguez?

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Aug 22, 2025 2:56 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

i like dominguez a lot. i like frazier a lot.

i’ve got no affinity for vitters, though. i understand what people think they see, but either i don’t see it, or i don’t value it.

i’m new to giving a shit about hitting, but i value highly versatility and competency in the field, and i don’t see that from vitters, either.

ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't

by variablesdont on Aug 22, 2025 3:06 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

i should add that i'm loving these lists (especially since i've got three guys who will figure prominantly)

and i hope that you do separate lists for centerfielders and corner outfielders.

ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't

by variablesdont on Aug 22, 2025 3:09 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

i'll do centerfielders on monday

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Aug 22, 2025 4:03 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

What troubles me

Vitters’s fans often compare his talents to Howie Kendrick’s. Put Howie Kendrick’s production on a guy who’s no lock to stay at third and you don’t have a star.

by aap212 on Aug 22, 2025 3:10 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

A 360 BA is a star anywhere on the field.

by GuyinNY on Aug 23, 2025 12:31 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Yeah, but...

Kendrick hasn’t done that in the majors. He did that in the minors, often in favorable hitters parks. He’s been very good in the majors, but not for someone who’s not playing middle infield.

by aap212 on Aug 23, 2025 3:38 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

+1

if kendrick played any position other than middle infield he would not be thought of nearly the same.

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Aug 23, 2025 5:09 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Vitters

Isn’t quite 19 yet.

He'll never be half the man I was.

by kerry'sotherwife'sotherhusband on Aug 22, 2025 2:00 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Chris Carter?

He’s been bouncing around the field; don’t know if he would classified as a third baseman.

Procrastinators unite....tomorrow

by muffinpryde on Aug 22, 2025 2:53 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Absolutely

I would have him top three and perhaps first. Really. A guy who is that patient and hits for that much power… He’s almost guaranteed to be a plus major leaguer. I liked him at 1B… and I NEVER like 1B prospects.

I cant wait to see PECOTAs take on him this winter… because guys with the skills he has developed at his age - I would wager they are overwhelmingly likely to develop better contact rates as they age. He is too good a hitter right now to not develop further… and if he developed a little and hit for a higher average no one would care about the K’s(and they dont matter anyway - theyre directly proportionate with HRs). If he hit for a higher average and did everything else he’s been doing people would be singing his praises around here.

You look at how he hits now and see a Richie Sexson or a Chris Davis, but Carter is way ahead of their curve. I think he’s an excellent bet to start hitting for a higher average as he progresses. We’ve already seen some incredible skills that are basically locks to translate to the MLB level. BUY BUY BUY!

by alskor on Aug 25, 2025 12:16 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Austin Gallagher?

Young and playing well in Advanced A. He might be a future 1B, but he is a 3B right now…

by soccerman0 on Aug 22, 2025 3:18 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Neftali Soto

What kind of potential does he have? And both Vitters and Soto seem to be close in development and level so I don’t see why there’s such a big difference in ranking.

by Take3 on Aug 23, 2025 12:04 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

true enough

the vitters ranking was based more on potential and scouting reports. based on a few opinions in this thread there are those that feel vitters is too high on the list.

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Aug 23, 2025 5:07 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

call me a homer

but I think Vitters deserves to be #3, at least. Dominguez hasn’t hit nearly well enough to justify being ahead of guys like Vitters, Green, or Soto IMHO. I even think it’s debatable ranking Moustakas ahead of Vitters—Mous is only hitting 270/331/470, and Vitters has a much better frame to add/maintain power (6’3 200 vs 6’0 190.) I guess I don’t think it’s nearly so clear cut. that said, I thought you had a solid top 10.

by PrincetonCubs on Aug 27, 2025 5:23 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

okay

you’re a homer, and a pathetic one at that.

by deezle on Aug 28, 2025 11:02 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Wait

I want to hear more about how Moustakas’ upside with the bat is limited because he’s built like David Wright.

by aap212 on Aug 28, 2025 11:15 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

didn't say it was limited

only that Vitters has a bigger frame. certainly didn’t say it was limited, don’t know where you got that from.

by PrincetonCubs on Aug 28, 2025 8:05 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

right

that helped a lot, thanks. I’ll go on the assumption that you don’t have anything to add of value.

by PrincetonCubs on Aug 28, 2025 8:06 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Brett Wallace

You’ve got to include him. He is probably the best pure hitter out of all of these guys, and there’s a fairly decent chance that he can stick at third.

by binjamin on Aug 23, 2025 10:57 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Really?

I advocated putting him on the 1B list.

by aap212 on Aug 23, 2025 1:33 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

response

i’m leaving it to you guys to tell me where the recent draftees should be relative to the list. wallace & alvarez would be at or near the top imo.

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Aug 23, 2025 5:05 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Alverez

I would put him at the top of the list. He has the most upside and I would be shocked if he weren’t ranked highest by the major prospect publications.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Aug 23, 2025 5:51 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Blake Dewitt

Where’s the love?

Touch em all Joe...

by FisherCat on Aug 23, 2025 1:19 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

he's moved back to 2b

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Aug 23, 2025 5:04 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Chris Carter

I can understand leaving Carter out as it is unlikely that he sticks at 3B, but you left him out of the 1B list as well. He seems to be in limbo and should be on one of the lists.

by DeJay on Aug 24, 2025 9:00 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Daniel Valencia

What about Valencia for the Twins? He seems to have some pop in his bat and is in AA New Britian now.

by murraygd13 on Aug 24, 2025 3:49 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Yea I doubt

Chris Carter sticks at 3B, but I am hoping for the best.

How about making a list of the top ten future DH’s, there are a lot of guys who just can’t field. Sadly Carter is one of those. However, I bet he’d be # 1 on the DH list.

2010 can't come soon enough

by deportesfan on Aug 24, 2025 11:54 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

By all reports he looks good at 3B and has impressed the Stockton staff

He’s definitely a 1B or 3B in my opinion. I dont think he needs to DH. He’s big and strong and its easy to imagine him as a DH, but he is much more athletic than people think. Guy is a freak.

by alskor on Aug 25, 2025 12:18 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

He is still

young so he can develop into a pretty decent 3B. I’m encouraged that he’s been impressing in the field and if he could stick at 3B that would be huge considering Chavez may never play 3B again. I haven’t been able to see him in person, so i’ll take your word on his athletic ability.

2010 can't come soon enough

by deportesfan on Aug 26, 2025 7:44 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

carter is playing dh and the outfield

or so i thought. this is the reason i didn’t rank him. is that not correct? hell, it’s hard to keep track he moves around so much.

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Aug 27, 2025 2:20 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Looks somewhat weak

Not counting the 08 draftees, but IMO the overall depth of impact players at this position seems somewhat weak to me.

Not sure if this has been mentioned, as I haven’t read every post.

by barlow078 on Aug 25, 2025 7:43 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Perhaps

its because were coming off a stretch of years with incredible prospects at 3B… Gordon, Longoria, etc… many of whom were considered the best prospect in baseball.

by alskor on Aug 25, 2025 2:39 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Good point

We might currently have the greatest crop of 3B in major league history (no matter how hard the Twins make it look), and many of them are still pretty young. Wright, Zimmerman, Longoria, Blalock, Beltre, Gordon, Encarnacion, Atkins, Reynolds, and Kouzmanoff are all under 30. That’s leaving out that before this year, Cabrera would have been around the top of the list, even taking into account defense. And considering guys like A-Rod, Chipper, Glaus, and Rolen are still around, it’s really the strongest position in baseball.

by aap212 on Aug 25, 2025 3:02 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Right

Though it bears mentioning that George Brett and Mike Schmidt were picked with consecutive picks in the 2nd round of the 1971 amateur draft. That’s a pretty good 2nd round. Boggs was a contemporary or near contemporary, too.

by alskor on Aug 25, 2025 10:16 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Absolutely

But my point was largely about depth at the position, as that would affect how we look at the current crop of prospects. I mean, Josh Fields is one of the better prospects at the position, but he never really breaks through to starting or is a valuable enough trade chip to be pried away. And to be fair, the current crop is probably going to yield two or three hall of famers (A-Rod, likely Chipper, and hopefully either Wright or Longoria will have a great next decade, but it’s obviously too soon to know).

by aap212 on Aug 25, 2025 11:53 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Honorable Mention

Jovan Rosa the Cubs 3rd baseman in Peoria should deserve some mention. The 6’4 215 3rd baseman played all year as a 20 yr old and is hitting 289 (450 at bats) with 40 doubles and seven home runs with 78 rbi’s. Sounds like range is the question, suppose to have a great arm and pretty decent hands what he can get to.

by Slamdog on Aug 26, 2025 8:29 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

+1

don’t know if he sticks there, he’s split time between 3b and 1b at Peoria and has Vitters in line behind him, but Rosa has had an awesome season. he does strike out a good bit, but it’s hard to argue with the power and projectability.

by PrincetonCubs on Aug 27, 2025 5:26 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

A guy to keep an eye on is Whittleman at AA Frisco

Is one of those guys that seemed to be a little to patience at the plate for High A, is killing AA right now.

Too early to put him on the list, but might be a guy to keep an eye on for next years list.

by laxtonto on Aug 26, 2025 11:26 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

any chance of jeff baisley

being decent, maybe above avg type 3b?
he’s 25 solid in AAA, but has had injuries off and on. but when healthy has been productive.
just tired of chavez injuries and the very marginal hannahan. baisley, at least until carter/cardenas is ready is the only thing they have anytime soon at 3b

by Asfan4ever723 on Aug 29, 2025 1:21 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs