Baseball season is almost back! Pitchers and catchers have reported, and spring training is in full swing. But for many people, the more exciting thing is fantasy baseball is back. Third base is a position that is easy to forget about. A savvy pick in a later round could swing the tide of your fantasy season. Let’s take a look at the projected top five for the position in fantasy baseball.
Fantasy Baseball: Top-10 Third Basemen and Projections (1-5)
Jose Ramirez (Cleveland Guardians)
It is hard to deny the production Ramirez can put out. Getting 172 hits in a season is no small feat. Many of his numbers were down due to the lineup around him. Cleveland had one of the worst hitting lineups in baseball last season. While an individual can overcome that to a degree, at some point, the stats suffer.
Ramirez is a tough one in fantasy baseball. I have him as the top-ranked third baseman despite the team around him. The home run and stolen base numbers are solid, and he does not strike out a lot. While the team around him may not translate to wins, that doesn’t matter in the fantasy world. He may not win your league, but you can plug and play him at third base.
2024 Projections per FantasyPros:
BA.280, OBP .357, SLG.501, OPS.858, 27 HR, 95 RBI, 93 R, 162 H, 37 2B, 4 3B, 70 BB, 77 K, 25 SB
Austin Riley (Atlanta Braves)
Riley will get you some power numbers in fantasy baseball. The Braves boast one of the best offenses in the league giving Riley plenty of opportunities to score points. From the 2022 season to the 2023 season, he saw an increase in 27 runs scored.
The only disadvantage you have with Riley is the same as most power hitters. He strikes out more than you would like. 172 strikeouts in a season isn’t great, but with most power hitters, you take the good with the bad. He’ll win you some weeks if he gets hot.
2024 Projections per FantasyPros:
BA.279, OBP .343, SLG.525, OPS.867, 37 HR, 106 RBI, 99 R, 167 H, 32 2B, 2 3B, 57 BB, 160 K, 2 SB
Rafael Devers (Boston Red Sox)
Devers will not be anyone’s top target in fantasy baseball. However, he provides something all fantasy managers crave: a player you can set in a position and forget about. He has played in 140+ games for three straight seasons, putting up solid numbers. While the rest of your league scrambles to fill the third base roster spot, you can worry about other things.
He isn’t perfect. The low stolen base numbers aren’t ideal, but he makes up for it with his power numbers. Don’t be afraid to grab Devers earlier than others might. He will give you peace of mind at third base this fantasy season.
2024 Projections per FantasyPros:
BA.283, OBP .350, SLG.529, OPS.879, 35 HR, 103 RBI, 96 R, 165 H, 36 2B, 1 3B, 60 BB, 125 K, 4 SB
Gunnar Henderson (Baltimore Orioles)
If you drafted Henderson last year in fantasy baseball, the first two months probably gave you some gray hairs. If you were patient, you got rewarded. He ended the season with well over 100 hits and scored 100 runs despite batting .189 in April.
The Orioles have one of the best young lineups in the game, providing many opportunities for all players to rack up stats. For Henderson, the only question in fantasy baseball is whether last season’s slow start was him adjusting to the majors or the beginning of a pattern for his career.
2024 Projections per FantasyPros:
BA.261, OBP .338, SLG.476, OPS.814, 26 HR, 84 RBI, 91 R, 143 H, 29 2B, 6 3B, 64 BB, 154 K, 12 SB
Elly De La Cruz (Cincinnati Reds)
Do you want to have fun this fantasy baseball season? Draft Elly De La Cruz. There isn’t a more fun player to cheer for. In fewer games, he had more stolen bases than the three people ahead of him in these projections. The combination of speed and power makes him electric on the base paths. The concerns are there. A .235 batting average isn’t ideal, and 144 strikeouts in 98 games is not a great ratio.
You can point out all the flaws, and I will not care. His stats should improve since he will play a full season and have experience under his belt. If nothing else, the stolen base numbers will be excellent, and he will have some huge games that could propel your team to victory.
2024 Projections per FantasyPros:
BA.248, OBP .309, SLG.442, OPS.751, 21 HR, 71 RBI, 78 R, 126 H, 25 2B, 6 3B, 45 BB, 176 K, 35 SB
That rounds out the top five of second basemen in fantasy baseball for 2024. Stay tuned to Total Apex Fantasy Sports all season for advice and analysis.
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Matt has been following sports since he was a kid. While football is his primary focus, Matt can talk about any sport anytime. He is a banker in Wisconsin and hosts two podcasts, Beers and Ears & Discontinued on Display.
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