Not like different positions which have already skilled an invasion of younger stars, third base is simply now getting into the very early levels of a makeover.
A number of the high names on this listing have been superstars on the place for the previous decade. Now that these stars are in several levels of profession declines, third-base rankings will look utterly completely different in just some years. There’s an opportunity for newcomers (a few whom are on this listing) to climb as much as the top-five earlier than the last decade is over.
Our eight-part collection continues right here with the highest 10 third basemen getting into the 2025 season.
2024 stats: .232/.358/.494, 15 HR, 135 wRC+, 2.4 fWAR
2025 ZiPS projection: .214/.341/.434, 21 HR, 119 wRC+, 2.4 fWAR
It looks like yearly Muncy enters the season with expectations that he’ll decline, however in addition to his missed time with accidents, he is stayed constant on the plate. With the Dodgers, Muncy would not have the posh of shifting to designated hitter with Shohei Ohtani batting leadoff, so give him credit score for posting up at third in his mid-30s, all whereas carrying a excessive ceiling of 35 house runs, which he is achieved 4 instances since 2018.
2024: .264/.312/.481, 18 HR, 125 wRC+, 2.8 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .256/.317/.437, 17 HR, 116 WRC+, 3.6 fWAR
Coming off a breakout 2024 season that earned him his first profession All-Star nod, Westburg is a first-timer on our third-base rankings with the potential for an enormous 12 months in entrance of him. He cut up his time between second and third final 12 months and now has the inexperienced mild to start settling into the new nook full-time. He is not as flashy of a younger O’s star as Adley Rutschman or Gunnar Henderson, however that is in no way a knock on his gifted talent set. Westburg, with a quieter disposition, has the identical potential to make a giant leap in his second full season within the large leagues this 12 months.
2024: .266/.322/.516, 27 HR, 133 wRC+, 2.9 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .250/.313/.459, 26 HR, 116 WRC+, 3.1 fWAR
It is unimaginable to assume Vientos did not make the Mets’ 2024 Opening Day roster given the best way he rose to prominence by the All-Star break. Now he enters 2025 with the beginning third-base job and a ton of strain to duplicate final 12 months’s numbers in a Juan Soto-powered offense. Vientos’ manufacturing trailed off by September, so the important thing for the 25-year-old might be to make in-season changes to proceed constructing off his early-career success.
2024: .272/.325/.394, 16 HR, 102 wRC+, 3.1 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .264/.321/.423, 18 HR, 107 wRC+, 3.1 fWAR
Let’s be trustworthy: Arenado’s down 12 months in 2024 was a bit overemphasized within the context of the Cardinals lacking the playoffs for a second consecutive 12 months. He nonetheless hasn’t missed greater than 20 video games since 2014, and he nonetheless completed the 12 months as an above-average participant. The veteran is beginning to decline, little question. But it surely’s time for us to regulate our expectations of Arenado. His days of being a perennial MVP candidate are seemingly behind him, however he nonetheless had the sixth-highest fWAR amongst certified third basemen final 12 months.
2024: .247/.328/.463, 27 HR, 121 wRC+, 5.5 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .241/.328/.438, 23 HR, 115 wRC+, 4.1 fWAR
Chapman fell simply wanting turning into the Giants’ first 30-home run hitter since Barry Bonds in 2004. Getting into his age-32 season, he nonetheless has the possibility to interrupt that document in 2025. Energy numbers apart, Chapman went from trying to steal 3–4 bases per season to efficiently swiping 15 luggage in 17 makes an attempt final 12 months on his strategy to recording the second-highest WAR amongst his friends on the sizzling nook.
2024: .260/.315/.453, 26 HR, 118 wRC+, 4.1 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .252/.333/.430, 22 HR, 119 wRC+, 3.9 fWAR
Bregman and the Inexperienced Monster look like a match made in heaven given how a lot the veteran likes to tug fly balls, so it will be fascinating to see how he hits in his new house, with a bump in batting common all however sure after singles flip into doubles at Fenway. A dramatic drop in his stroll fee (12% in 2023, to six.9% in 2024) stays regarding, and he now not performs on the degree of his MVP-caliber days. However he certain appeared like classic Bregman within the second half of final 12 months (.266 BA, 14 HR, .833 OPS). We’re not counting him out of our top-five simply but.
2024: .256/.322/.461, 19 HR, 116 wRC+, 2.4 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .275/.343/.499, 29 HR, 131 wRC+, 4.4 fWAR
Riley was trying to document a fourth consecutive 30-homer season when a success by pitch led to a fractured wrist and ended his season in August. However when he is wholesome and at his greatest, he deserves to be moved up our rankings. A 3rd baseman with an OPS+ within the 130-140 vary would not come round all that always, and that is the kind of manufacturing the Braves predict from the 28-year-old energy hitter for a minimum of the following a number of years.
2024: .272/.354/.516, 28 HR, 134 wRC+, 4.1 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .269/.349/.505, 30 HR, 131 wRC+, 4.0 fWAR
As of this writing, Devers hasn’t performed a single recreation at third base throughout spring exhibition video games — making it clear he’ll be taking on designated-hitter duties in Boston’s perfect lineup development. Nonetheless, he is the most effective and most constant offensive third basemen within the recreation, he is been adamant about eager to play third (evident defensive woes apart), and there is not any telling how the roster will look subsequent season. With 9 years left on his contract, this figures to be an ongoing subject inside the Crimson Sox group.
2024: .275/.325/.472, 29 HR, 122 wRC+, 3.5 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .266/.323/.462, 26 HR, 119 wRC+, 4.0 fWAR
Machado appeared sluggish and was a below-average hitter to begin the 2024 season, solely to show it on with a .900 OPS in June and by no means look again. When you look intently at his yearly manufacturing, that is simply what Machado does. However his Baseball-Reference web page paints the higher image: a constant, 30-ish homer dude with 90-105 RBIs per 12 months. Machado continues to be as reliable as they arrive on the sizzling nook.
2024: .279/.335/.537, 39 HR, 141 wRC+, 6.5 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .270/.342/.496, 29 HR, 131 wRC+, 5.6 fWAR
Ramirez’s brilliance and sturdiness can typically be taken without any consideration. He did, in any case, fall one house run wanting a 40/40 season final 12 months and hardly anybody exterior of Cleveland was speaking about it. Now getting into his age-32 season and thirteenth 12 months within the large leagues, Ramirez has completed within the high 10 in MLB voting in seven of the previous eight years. He stays the very best of the bunch among the many high third basemen within the league.
Honorable mentions: Eugenio Suarez, Arizona Diamondbacks; Isaac Paredes, Houston Astros; Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins; Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies; Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays
Deesha Thosar is a MLB reporter and columnist for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand coated the Mets for 4 years as a beat reporter for the New York Every day Information. Comply with her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
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