Dewey Finn VS King Billy Royal: Examining the Thirdbase Prospects

by King Billy Royal on Aug 21, 2025 12:57 PM EDT Comment 44 comments

Dewey Finn and King Billy Royal have decided to rank the best players at each position in the minor leagues. However, after spending days trying to come to a consensus, both men agreed that this attempt was futile. Therefore, King Billy Royal and Dewey Finn have decided to go head to head and let the community decide who has chosen the better players at each position. Today we will examine the top thirdbase prospects.

The following are some important notes regarding the criteria we used to determine who is eligible:

*Current prospects at the Major League level were not taken into consideration.

*Rankings on the assumption that the player will remain at their current position long-term.

*Rankings done according to the position the player is currently playing in the minor leagues, and not necessarily the projected future position (i.e. Montero at catcher instead of first).

*Some of the prospects have been re-evaluated since the release of the DF & KBR Top 25 list.

KING BILLY ROYAL:

1. Pedro Alvarez (PIT) - Absolutely destroying AA pitching and will be a force in the NL by 2010.

2. Brett Wallace (OAK) - Could hit .300 with 20+ homeruns in the majors.

3. Josh Vitters (CHC) - Great hitter raked in High A before stalling since his promotion.

4. Mike Moustakas (KC) - Rough year for hyped prospect, but I still love his upside.

5. Matt Dominguez (FLA) - Imagine Brian Giles (good version) at thirdbase.

DEWEY FINN:

1. Pedro Alvarez (PIT) - Offensive juggernaut should have been drafted #1 overall in '08.

2. Lonnie Chisenall (CLE) - Proving critics wrong by hitting for both average AND power.

3. Joshua Bell (BAL) - Very underrated; quietly putting together an impressive campaign.

4. Logan Forsythe (SD) - Provides good power and excellent judgment of the strike zone.

5. Dayan Viciedo (CWS) - Slowly improving and showing glimpses of his tremendous upside.

Poll

Which list more accurately reflects the feelings of the community?

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Comments

i actually just voted for dewey's list

sorry KBR…. no Chisenhall lost you that one.

it was tough tho…. Dewey’s lack of Wallace and Dominguez had me on the fence… i am guessing he doesn’t include Wallace because he expects him to be moved off the position… while I’m not sure the list is intended to guess that… i guess chisenhall and bell made enough of a case for me to go with dewey this time.

Alvarez
Chisenhall
Wallace
Bell
Vitters
Dominguez

would be my my ranking. the last 3 names are real close though. I worry about Vitters more than Bell and Dominguez… but he has the upside going for him

by daveh33 on Aug 21, 2025 1:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’d put Bell ahead of Vitters and Dominguez instead of lumping them together… otherwise that’s identical to what i would choose

by gorilla_baller on Aug 21, 2025 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i did put Bell ahead of them

just noted that it was close. but Bell is definitely ahead.

by daveh33 on Aug 21, 2025 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was really close to adding Chis

I never realized how deep 3B was till we started this project. I love Chis and Forsythe but couldn’t justify them over the 5 guys I selected.

"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 21, 2025 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1 dave

Feel the exact same way.

Ridiculous not to have Wallace there, and Viciedo shouldnt be anywhere near the list IMO, but Bell and Chisenhall are both good calls.

Solace: Law says he's a fourth OFer
PaulThomas: I think Keith Law is only a fourth analyst

by hero66 on Aug 21, 2025 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

Both Bell and Chisenhall should be on a top 5 3B list IMO. Even though I may not agree with the exact order, and the lack of Vitters does hurt Dewey’s list a bit, Dewey’s list at least comes more close to how I would rank them.

by guru4u on Aug 21, 2025 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually didn't mind the omission of Vitters

Not a fan. Another reason I voted for Dewey.

Solace: Law says he's a fourth OFer
PaulThomas: I think Keith Law is only a fourth analyst

by hero66 on Aug 21, 2025 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by PhillyFriar on Aug 22, 2025 12:14 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

I went with KBR, but I liked two things on Dewey’s list…

A) I’m partial to Indians and therefore I like the high ranking of Chiz… that said I’m not sure his power is real. At the very least let’s just say it’s pleasantly unexpected

B) I like the aggressive ranking of Viciedo, but I have a hard time excluding Wallace from the list

Actually, now that I’m going through some of the stats on these guys, I’m starting to like Dewey’s list more than I originally did…

I’m glad Josh bell was on there

by gorilla_baller on Aug 21, 2025 1:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Voted for KBR

Though its closer than at first glance. The omission of Wallace is pretty glaring in Dewey’s list, even if he thinks he won’t stay at 3B. Right now he is, and you can’t say he WILL move off when making this type of list.

I like the inclusino of Bell and Chisenhall as both were personal favorites going in (and coming out), but I can see the argument for them being omitted. But, I like Forsythe, but he lacks the upside of some of the other candidates and really hit a wall somewhere in his AA season. To me, there is an argument that Darnell may be better thought of than Forsythe by season’s end.

Personally, mine goes something like:
1) Alvarez
2) Wallace
3) Vitters
4) Chisenhall
5a) Dominguez
5b) Bell

by thudean on Aug 21, 2025 1:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

That is exactly what mine would look like.

by joegonzo on Aug 21, 2025 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem is that he leaves Wallace off the list, presumably because he won't stay at third

But I think there’s about as much chance of Willie Bloomquist having a 50 HR season as there is of Viciedo actually sticking at third. He just…can’t. He might eat third base, but he won’t be playing there.

by thejd44 on Aug 21, 2025 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Voted Dewey this time

I dont really like Vitters and I cant suffer a list that excludes Chisenhall.

by alskor on Aug 21, 2025 1:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

KBR,

Gnarly comp of Brian Giles for Matt Dominguez, brosephine.

Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.

by Frederick0220 on Aug 21, 2025 2:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nearly voted for Dewey this time,

first time it’s even been close actually. For me, while Chisenhall is a big omission on KBR’s list(I’d replace Vitters with him and be 100% satisfied I think) it came down to preferring 80% of KBR’s list to only 40% of Dewey’s list. That’s not really anything against Bell or Forsythe, both of whom I do like, but I can’t imagine putting them ahead of Wallace/Moustakas/Dominguez. Viciedo is another story for me. While I’ve casejud say he believes Dayan might be the next MCab, I’m not sold on the kid yet. It could be a big mistake on my part, but I think it’s as likely if not more likely he ends up average or a tick better offensively/below average defensively(or moved) than he becomes a beast.

One thing I find a bit off with Dewey’s list is Wallace’s exclusion. Maybe I missed it, but unless Dewey just doesn’t think Wallace will hit at all, how does he not make the top 5? If Montero makes the catchers list with such a small chance of sticking there, Wallace should get the same consideration here I think.

RIP Nick Adenhart

by gatling on Aug 21, 2025 2:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bell

is ahead of Vitters and easily ahead of Dominguez who isnt very good at all. I see no reasoning for either being rated higher. Who cares where they were drafted, Bell has as much upside as any of the 3B. His lefty splits keep him behind Alvarez/Chisenhall/Wallace.

by bravitos5122 on Aug 21, 2025 2:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Need some clarification

On the flawed assumption that both Alvarez and Wallace will stick at the position long-term, which neither likely will long-term.

If Dewey provides me with who he would take out to replace Alvarez, and KBR for both Alvarez and Wallace, I will vote.

by MightyMoose on Aug 21, 2025 2:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

For me

It would be Neftali Soto and Mike Moustakas.

I personally don’t believe in Matt Dominguez’s upside being all that high.

Dewey Finn = Dylan McKay, King Billy Royal = Zack Morris, RedSoxFaithful = Millhouse Van Houten, Paul Thomas = Steve Urkel, Galt = Screech Powers, Bravesin07 = Richard Stabone, Hero66 = Beavis, Slurve = Phoebe Buffay

by Dewey Finn on Aug 21, 2025 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Soto

is an interesting inclusion… big power potential but he looks pretty overmatched right now (22:85 BB:K in 451 AB)… he’s only 20 in hi-A, so he has time to develop in that category… but he looks pretty raw

by gorilla_baller on Aug 21, 2025 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting

I think it’s interesting that most of the top 3b prospects now days will most likely not stick at 3rd. Alvarez and Wallace are basically 1b masquerading as 3bs. I do think that alvarez will eventually make everyone forget about his rough start to the season, and not just because I knew him in high school. And call me crazy, but i still believe in the moose

by Mets2k9 on Aug 21, 2025 3:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I still believe in Moose as well

Tough season, but he’s awfully young. Certainly, the 2nd half struggles are disappointing, but I’m willing to give it time.

by toonsterwu on Aug 21, 2025 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pittsburgh's FO...

is saying they may not send Alvarez to winterball, instead they would put him on a training program to lose 10 or more pounds so he has a better chance sticking at third.

by joegonzo on Aug 21, 2025 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he's still pretty darn young

and this moose nickname needs to catch on, as does mm bop for tommy hanson

by Mets2k9 on Aug 23, 2025 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

RE: Brett Wallace

TOTAL BRAIN FART ON MY END.

I completely forgot about Wallace when I was making this list. Let this be proof that KBR and I don’t compare notes when making these rankings, haha.

Anyways, FWIW, Brett Wallace would be #2 on my list. Also, after further consideration, I would bump off Forsythe instead of Viciedo, due to the upside I see in Viciedo.

by Dewey Finn on Aug 21, 2025 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

do you actually think

Wallace stays there long-term though? I thought that’s why he wasn’t included.

by MightyMoose on Aug 21, 2025 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well it's not any guarantee

That Alvarez, Bell, or Moustakas stay there either.

Solace: Law says he's a fourth OFer
PaulThomas: I think Keith Law is only a fourth analyst

by hero66 on Aug 21, 2025 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Went with KBR mainly because of the Wallace obmission

Would have been a lot closer if you had remembered to put Wallace in, and I might even have ended chosing your list as I liked the inclusion of Chisenhall.

by DeJay on Aug 22, 2025 8:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Josh Vitters = Jeff Francoeur

Not good.

by Dewey Finn on Aug 21, 2025 3:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Voted KBR

I think Chisenhall is a tad overhyped long run. I like him, but 3rd best 3rd base prospect in baseball (since Dewey noted that he would’ve put Wallace in there at 2 but forgot). You gotta really love that bat, and I’m not sure I do.

Personally, I think my top 5 would go Alvarez, Wallace, Bell, Vitters, Moustakas, so I guess the two lists are fairly close. Viciedo would probably be a close 6th for me, with Chisenhall probably 7th. I like Chis, I think he can start in the bigs, but I don’t love his bat enough to think he’s the third best hot corner guy in the minors right now

by toonsterwu on Aug 21, 2025 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i do love his bat.

realize he was in the carolina league… and now in AA, i know not many PA, but his ISOP is steady.

by daveh33 on Aug 21, 2025 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would go with:

1. Alvarez
2. Wallace
3. Chisenhall
4. Bell
5. Moustakas

HM: Forsythe, Dominguez

Viciedo would probably be next, followed by Vitters but I don’t really love either of them.

by supermets on Aug 21, 2025 5:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Brandon Wood and Mat Gamel

are in the minor leagues and have done nothing to say they are established vets or anything. Best 3b prospects in the minors? IMO

1 Pedro Alvarez
2 Mat Gamel
3 Dayan Viciedo
4 Brandon Wood
5 Mike Moustakas
6 Lonnie Chisenhall

Brett Wallace moves to 1B and becomes an All-Star- Josh Bell has a big league career but not a great one- Vitters reminds me more of Jim Presley than Jeff Francoeur, also not good My money is on 6 of the guys I listed having pretty good careers.

Viciedo is a LOT better than people are giving him credit for- I think he’ll really show his skils more starting next season- he reminds me of Miguel Cabrera, though he’s a year late to start to rake like him- he’ll catch up next year and move to first in a few years. This was a VERY tough league (AA) and park for a 20 year old kid in his first pro season.

I also stand almost completely alone in saying Gamel will make himself into a pretty solid 3b.

I also really think Mous will come around as a hitter but because Brandon Wood is a potential GG winner at 3b- I give him the nod there

I have less of an idea of how good Lonnie Chisenhall is than any of these other players but, I sure like what I see- hitter, moved from SS, improving power, 20 years old.

by casejud on Aug 21, 2025 7:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

how can viciedo remind people of Cabrera?

he owns a terrible BB% at 4.2, a high GB% at 56, and a Thole-like ISOP of .108….

in comparison…
Cabrera at age 20 in AA: BB/K 31/49, SLG of .609, OPS of 1.038
Viciedo at age 20 in AA : BB/K 20/80, SLG of .383, OPS of .695.

am i missing something?

by daveh33 on Aug 21, 2025 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

what was cabreras GB % in AA at 20?

by matthewmafa on Aug 21, 2025 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i looked all over

can’t find it. sure its much better than 56% tho

by daveh33 on Aug 21, 2025 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I admit

It looks crazy onthe surface but, the year before in A- ball Cabrera didn’t look great either- .754 OPS
Which is pretty good in ther FSL at age 19 also.

You MAY be missing a few things though D33…maybe… consider

Cabrera had 3 years of professional cooaching and expierience before his awesome step forward at age 20

Viciedo came from Cuban ball and went straight to the pros to a tough league where he is young for AND in a tough park to hit AND playing a defensive position that is challenging to him AND has held his own there.

I believe his size and ability to put the bat on ball are pretty special and I wouldn’t be at all surprized if he were the best hitter inthe Southern League next year if given a chance to repeat.

Iactually defy you guys to watch the clips of him available on youtube and not see a tremendous hitting talent. i think the fact that he has gotten better as the season has gone along says a lot about him too.

My liking of Viciedo is more based on what I have seen than the numbers but there is some logic to it as well- just have to look at the numbers closer and the context- his age.

by casejud on Aug 22, 2025 2:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

re: his age

i think thats mostly just mis-management. i don’t consider his numbers “holding his own”… and I don’t think he’s going to stay at 3B… so as a first-baseman/LF prospect, i’m not too impressed. i am impressed by his size and swing, but i thought the same of Wily Mo Pena. Viciedo hasn’t done anything to make me believe he’ll be anything more than Joel Guzman/Mo Pena. and the more I look at the numbers, the less I am interested.

he had a good July, and a decent June… he’s been abysmal in august. he just needs a lot of work. I’d much rather have a Juan Francisco at this point. same skillset, but with actual power numbers. I realize Viciedo is just starting, but I doubt his numbers can hope to look better than Francisco’s next year. and Francisco is not a top 60 prospect… maybe 80-100

by daveh33 on Aug 22, 2025 2:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have it your way

A guy becoming a decent player at AA at age 22 and a guy who is a league average player there are 2 WAY DIFFERENT things though. I think you know that though.

You’ve seen Dayan play 3b this year? Wow, I heard from a guy on here who had benn to a lot of Birminham games that he was pretty decent at 3b actually. The amount of BAD info about defense on here is AMAZING- I’m glad I don’t listen to it much.

i wasn’t expecting to find ANY similarity between Dayan and Wily Mo Pena but, I guess there is. Wily had a similar season in the same league at the same age as him - .735 OPS. Of course, again, Wily had 3 years of pro instruction before his AA season.

BTW, Viciedo hasnt hit for much power this month but,in the last 10 games he has had two 3-hit games, two 2-hit games and gone hitless only twice - .325 and .298 for the month. Even if its an empty .298 its hardly abysmal. Might want to find another adjective there. Since the break his OPS is .847

Is Andrew Lambo no prospect too? His OPS is .721

by casejud on Aug 22, 2025 3:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

his ISOP in august is .035

his BABIP is .370… the average is empty and a bit lucky. essentially worthless.

his July was good tho, I did give you that.

as for Lambo, his BB%, LD%, ISOP, and GB% look much better than DV’s… so yes, he looks like a better candidate to have a decent season next year

by daveh33 on Aug 22, 2025 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Answers

Wood doesn’t qualify as he is over the 130 at bats limit.

Personally, I am not as high on Gamel as I am on the other guys on my list.

"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 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough

I respect that. I would have to ask WHY though? It certainly can’t be his bat- he’s raked at AA and AAA- only now tapering off out of “sent to the minors depression syndrome” as I call it- still doing well.

The major doubts about him here are the myth that he is the worst 3b ever or some such nonsense- he has good athletic abiltity- pretty good range- starts DP well- strong arm. He just needs to yron out the throwing errors. Which, is ANYBODY WOULD BOTHER TO NOTICE he’s been doing the last couple years now.

Personally I don’t see any reason why Alvarez should be considered a better hitting prospect than Gamel- or with the glove either- i like then equally, which meens i like Alvarez quite a bit actually.

by casejud on Aug 22, 2025 2:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Question...

If people had to rate the top third basemen 25 years of age and under, how would it look? Would Wood be in the top 10? Anyone want to take a stab at a top 15 list for minor/major league third basemen under 25?

by McClutch on Aug 22, 2025 11:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll try bud...

…because you asked 2 separate questions there- 25 and under and under 25-

1. Ryan Zimmerman
2. Evan Longoria
3. Pablo Sandoval
4. Pedro Alvarez
5. Alex Gordon
6. Mat Gamel
7. Gordon Beckham
8. Brandon Wood
9. Ian Stewart
10. Andy LaRoche

I suppose an argument could be made to put Chisehall, Moustakas, or maybe Darnell higher than LaRoche but, remember LaRoche hit well in the minors and has NO defensive questions- he’s basically a league average 3b which aint bad.

by casejud on Aug 22, 2025 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Based on my Top 100

Posted here:

1.) Pedro Alvarez
2.) Mat Gamel
3.) Brett Wallace
4.) James Darnell
5.) Josh Vitters
6.) Lonnie Chisenhall
7.) Mike Moustakas
8.) Logan Forsythe

The top 3 on the list are going to be poor defensive 3B. My favorite true third baseman is definitely Darnell. Good power, great plate discipline. I really like his chances of being a productive MLB 3B, and he’s one of the safer bets around. Vitters K/BB scares the shit out of me, so his being ranked so high is mainly projection at this point. I actually like Chisenhall a lot, and don’t really like Moustakas at all. Forsythe is a pleasant high-OBP pick, but he needs to add some power. I’d probably rank Brandon Wood third, just behind Gamel.

by RedSoxFaithful on Aug 22, 2025 6:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs