Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
The 3rd base position is very top heavy to me. You can get a certifiable superstar if you want to choose one of the top 3 right away, but after that you have pretty good players to the 10 spot, and it really drops after that. The one thing I love about this position is the young stars on the horizon. There are some great prospects that should make their major league debut later this season.
The Top 20:
1. Alex Rodriguez - Yankees
2. Evan Longoria - Rays
3. David Wright - Mets
4. Mark Reynolds - Diamondbacks
5. Kevin Youkilis - Red Sox
6. Pablo Sandoval - Giants
7. Aramis Ramirez - Cubs
8. Jeff Zimmerman - Nationals
9. Chone Figgins - Mariners
10. Michael Young - Rangers
11. Jorge Cantu - Marlins
12. Ian Stewart - Rockies
13. Chipper Jones - Braves
14. Gordon Beckham - White Sox
15. Jhonny Peralta - Indians
16. Mark DeRosa - Giants
17. Kevin Kouzmanoff - A's
18. Garrett Atkins - Oriols
19. Alex Gordon - Royals
20. Adrian Beltre - Red Sox
The Elite:
Alex Rodriguez - We all know Arod is a super star and the best option, by far, at this position. He's about as steady as they come and really took off last year when he and Mark Teixiera became the 3-4 hitters for the Yankees.
Evan Longoria - If you know me, then you know I'm a huge fan of Evan Longoria. I'm such a huge fan that when my wife asked about naming one of my boys Evan, I immediately said yes. He's entering his 3rd full season in the bigs, so look for him to improve on his .281, 33 HR and 113 RBI this season.
The 2nd Tier:
David Wright - Citi Field absolutely killed Wrights offensive production last season. He still hit .307, but dropped way down to 10 home runs and 72 RBI, and a .447 slugging percentage in a whopping 535 at bats.
Mark Reynolds - Reynolds took great strides at the plate last season, and really put himself on the fantasy map. He doesn't hit for average (.260 last year and a career average of .257 in 3 major league seasons), but has plenty of power, 44 home runs, and drove in 102 RBI in a very weak lineup.
Kevin Youkilis - As you might know, I am no fan of the Boston Red Sox, but I certainly do respect Youkilis as a professional hitter. He's an extremely patient hitter, sometimes too patient for my liking, who can hit for average (.305), is an on base machine (.405) and has good power and the ability to drive in runs. His stats have gotten better each year and he had a career high OPS of .961 in 2009.
On the Rise:
Gordon Beckham - In about a half of season, the youngster hit .270, 14, 63. Look for him to have a solid first full season as he's settled into the big leagues. He's an intriguing player who's still learning to man the position.
Brett Wallace - Wallace, who's now with the Blue Jays will eventually get the chance to play full time later this season. He'll most likely play first for the Jays, but is also eligible at third. He's a good hitter, with the potential to hit 25+ home runs in the bigs and will be a good addition to the Jays young lineup.
Josh Bell - Bell, who was stolen from the Dodgers in the George Sherrill deal last season will most likely be a September call up, but keep an eye on this youngster. He has legitimate big league power, and is at the most a year away. He's the reason why the O's signed Garrett Atkins to a one year deal.
Pedro Alvarez - Alvaraz, the best prospect at the position, will most likely start the season at AAA, but will soon be up. He's just too good to keep down in the minors, especially since Andy Laroche is the player holding his position for him.
On the Slide:
Mike Lowell - As of right now, Lowell is relegated to the bench. He's still a good hitter, but will he be able to play full time if he gets traded? Only if he spends most of his time at first or DH.
Melvin Mora - Mora, now a utility infielder with the Rockies, is certainly on the downside. After a good 2008, he took a major step back in production in 2009. His average dropped 24 points, he hit 15 less home runs and 56 less RBI in only 63 less at bats.
Pedro Feliz - Feliz, now with the Astros will not have a power surge hitting in Minute Maid Park. Here's why. I thought he'd hit more home runs in a small field like Citizens Bank Ball Park, but he never did. Now he's three years older.
Placido Polanco - Read my second base rankings.
Make sure to for my Shortstop rankings coming either later on today or tomorrow.
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