After exploring both the team top 10 lists, overall top 150, and system rankings in our MLB Top Prospects series, we finish with a look at positional rankings. Today, we look at the top 10 third base prospects for 2018.
Our MLB Top Prospect series at Call to the Pen is spearheaded by Benjamin Chase. Today, he gives us the top ten third base prospects for 2018.
We will explore each position with a top 10 list, and then after we get to #1, don’t leave as we will also highlight one player who is “on the rise” and could factor into the positional rankings after the 2018 season if they hold their current trajectory.
Each of these MLB Top Prospect rankings have come through the hundreds of games each summer Ben watches as well as speaking with multiple people throughout the game and gauging their opinions as well on players he has not had a good look at. This is a personal opinion, and a ranking position higher or lower than industry standard does not indicate “liking” or “hating” a certain player more or less – by just showing up on this list, there is a degree of appreciation of the talent a player brings!
We will start each position list with an overall look at the position itself within the game and the strength of the position.
Position overview
With 3 players graduating off of the top 10 list from last year and 13 third basemen on the CTTP top 150 prospects list, it’s a very good time at the position, with plenty of talent throughout the game at the position, both offensively and defensively, and from the major leagues all the way down to complex leagues, there are quality players at the position.
With an emphasis more and more on shifting, third basemen are often expected to handle either work up the middle in the shift or to cover the entire left side of the infield during an infield shift for a left-handed hitter. That has put a premium on defense at the position, taking away the days of the plodding, hulking immobile guy with good reactions that can pass at third but couldn’t handle any of those shift positions.
The offensive requirements for a power bat or at least an impact offensive player still remain at the position, however, with each player on this list having a significant offensive ceiling.
Let’s take a look at the third basemen….
Next: #9 and #10