Fantasy Baseball: Top 10 Third Baseman for 2019
Who are the top 10 Third Baseman for Fantasy Baseball in 2019?
We are rounding the bases as we take a look at the top options in fantasy baseball for the 2019 season. If you’ve missed any of the previous position breakdowns you can find them all right here. We’ll provide their stats from the 2018 season and give you the Steamer projection for each player to give you an idea of what they may produce in the coming season. Today, we are going to take a look at the top 10 options at third base for fantasy baseball in 2019.
Third base has some of the best run producers in the game. There are plenty of prospects coming to add to the depth at the position. Third base should be a run production position on your fantasy squad.
You may see some names from other lists on this as well. It gives you an idea of how many teams value players that can play multiple positions on the diamond with so many pitchers on rosters. Don’t be afraid to take a player with third base eligibility and able to play another position. As the season wears on and little injuries happen, it will be to your advantage. You won’t be seeing veteran mainstays like Evan Longoria or Todd Frazier on this list. The position has really turned over in recent years.
So let’s begin taking a look at the top 10 third base options for 2019 at third base for fantasy baseball. We are going to begin our list with a player who hasn’t even appeared in a major league game yet and who may not be on his team’s opening day roster thanks to the service time rules in the current CBA. He’s got Hall of Fame genetics and may be the best prospect in the game today.
10. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.- Toronto Blue Jays
2018 Stats- 95 games .381/.437/.636 20 homers 78 RBI at four minor league levels
2019 Steamer- 124 games .306/.368/.511 22 homers 78 RBI
Talk about the ultimate draft and stash option for your fantasy baseball team in 2019. Yes, the Toronto Blue Jays will say he has to go work on his defense after spring training. Yes, he’ll stay in AAA for a couple of weeks. Before May 1, the 19 year old will be manning the hot corner or at least some spot in the Toronto Blue Jays lineup and mashing.
He’s probably the favorite right now for the AL Rookie of the Year and is someone that gives you the stop and must watch at-bat if you have the MLB package or watching MLB Tonight during the season.
It wouldn’t shock me if in 2020 you see him much, much higher on this list as he impales his way through the major leagues in 2019. Any scouting report you read will get you excited to watch him. If you draft him, you do need someone to keep the seat warm for the first couple of weeks, however, you should reap the rewards for the rest of the season. Like with any rookie, there could be a learning curve, but I don’t think it will be that steep for him.
9. Justin Turner– Los Angeles Dodgers
2018 stats- 108 games .312/.406/.518 14 homers 52 RBI
2019 Steamer- 136 games .286/.370/.476 21 homers 80 RBI
Turner started out last year on the DL after being hit on the hand during spring training. He came back with a vengeance, and the Dodgers, and your fantasy baseball lineup are a better team with a healthy Turner than without.
During the second half of last season, only Christian Yelich had a better batting average, OPB, and WRC+ than Turner did. At-bat for at-bat you could make the argument that Turner was the second best hitter in the game in the second half of the season. Not a bad weapon to have on your fantasy baseball squad.
Over the past three seasons, Turner is tied for the lead among all third baseman in batting average. He’s third in OBP and WRC+, sixth in slugging and fifth in wOBA. The issue with Turner is health. During that time, he’s only 17th in games played. Over the past two years, he’s missed 71 games.
I’m a big Turner fan. I think he’s one of the most underrated players for not only fantasy baseball, but in the game. However, he’s a bit injury prone and entering his age 34 season. If he is your third baseman this season, I’d expect him to miss time at some point during 2019. Something to keep in mind.
8. Eugenio Suarez– Cincinnati Reds
2018 stats- 143 games .283/.366/.526 34 homers 104 RBI
2019 steamer- 148 games .257/.348/.466 28 homers 91 RBI
Speaking of underrated players, look no further than Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez. He’s the kind of guy you draft in fantasy baseball kind of late and two people in the room go damn nice pick and the rest shrug and move on. The two people in the room is who you should listen to.
Suarez posted career highs in every category except for OBP and has become one of the best third baseman in the National League today. The Reds have to move top prospect Nick Senzel to the outfield to make room for him because Suarez has been so good and got himself a nice contract extension prior to last season.
Over the past three seasons, Suarez is tied for fourth among all third baseman in homers and seventh in runs and RBI.
Suarez is a run producer in a lineup that should be pretty deep this season with the additions that the Reds have made. I would expect his success to continue in 2019 and maybe after this season, he won’t be so underrated.
2018- 156 games .257/.324/.523 36 homers 81 RBI
2019 steamer- 143 games .251/.380/.471 25 homers 71 RBI
Our number five first baseman is also our number seven third baseman for fantasy baseball in 2019. Carpenter will be moving across the diamond to third base with the arrival of Paul Goldschmidt in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Carpenter started the 2018 season and ended the season hitting under .200 in each month, but the damage was done in the middle. July saw him hit .333 with 11 homers and 21 RBI. Hopefully, in 2019 he will be more of a consistent threat on offense rather than a roller coaster.
Over the past three seasons, Carpenter ranks sixth in homers, fourth in runs and OPB, first in walk percentage, ninth in RBI and slugging percentage, and sixth in WRC+ among third baseman.
If you draft Carpenter as your fantasy baseball third baseman, you’ll have some high highs and some low lows. The positional flexibility will be very useful throughout the season as players deal with day to day injuries. If he’s not eligible at third base, he will be rather quickly. Carpenter is constantly undervalued in fantasy baseball. You may be able to get him later than you think.
6. Javier Baez– Chicago Cubs
2018 stats- 160 games .290/.326/.554 34 homers 111 RBI
2019 steamer- 147 games .269/.313/.488 29 homers 96 RBI
With Kris Bryant battling injuries last year (more on him shortly), Javier Baez will be eligible at third base this season in fantasy baseball. He’s going to be one of the best multi-positional infielders to have this season.
Going now into his age 26 season, Baez has officially taken his place among not only the game’s elite infielders, but among the stars of the game.
Baez is someone you’re going to have to take pretty early in fantasy baseball drafts this season. If you can deal with the strikeouts, you’ll reap the rewards. He struck out a little over 25% of the time last year, but he just recorded his first 30 homer, 100 RBI season and it shouldn’t be his last either.
Over the past three seasons, Baez is fifth in homers, 10th in runs scored, fourth in RBI, and third in slugging percentage and just outside the top 10 in steals and WRC+ among second baseman. Even as your third baseman, he’ll still provide excellent production there.
The former first round pick is just entering his prime. He’s one of the most fun players to watch in the game today. Draft with confidence and enjoy the elite production at second and the eligibility all over the infield for your fantasy baseball team in 2019.
5. Kris Bryant- Chicago Cubs
2018 stats- 102 games .272/.374/.460 13 homers 52 RBI
2019 steamer- 143 games .275/.382/.504 29 homers 89 RBI
Let’s face it. If you drafted Kris Bryant in fantasy baseball you weren’t thrilled in 2018. Injuries. A strikeout rate that rose four percent while his walk rate dropped four percent. Career lows across the board. I wouldn’t be as concerned going into 2019. I think he should get back to his normal, productive self this year.
He was able to get a full winter of workouts in and his shoulder should be good to go. This is a player who’s entering his age 27 season, which is smack dab in his prime. This is a player who has been an MVP in the past.
Over the past three seasons, Bryant is tied for fourth in homers, third in runs, tied for sixth in batting average, first in OBP, fourth in slugging and second in WRC+.
I expect Bryant to dip a little bit in fantasy baseball drafts this year. He was top pick over the past couple of years, but won’t be this year. I would take the chance on him and expect a rebound in production for 2019.
4. Anthony Rendon– Washington Nationals
2018 stats- 136 games .308/.374/.535 24 homers 92 RBI
2019 steamer-139 games .287/.373/.487 22 homers 83 RBI
2019 is going to be a very important year for Anthony Rendon. It’s a contract year, and he, like so many others around the game can’t be thrilled with the free agent freeze out that’s gone on of bigger names thus far as Spring Training has begun. That could easily happen to him next off-season, as he will be one of the bigger names to enter the market.
With Bryce Harper gone, (potentially, maybe, he’s still unsigned as of this posting) Rendon is going to get more attention from opposing pitching staffs when they face the Nationals. He and Juan Soto are going to be the guys on the team now with targets on them. How will they handle it?
Rendon has been one of the more consistent third baseman in the game. Since 2014, he’s homered 20 or more times with 80 or more RBI each season except for the injury plagued 2015 season.
Over the past three years, Rendon is third in RBI, ninth in steals, sixth in walk percentage and OBP, fifth in average, seventh in slugging and WRC+.
Even with Harper possibly gone, I expect good things from Rendon this year, typical Rendon numbers. Draft with confidence and be relaxed with your production on your fantasy baseball team this year if he’s your guy at third.
3. Alex Bregman– Houston Astros
2018 stats- 157 games .286/.394/.532 31 homers 103 RBI
2019 steamer- 148 games .279/.370/.495 26 homers 91 RBI
If he’s not one of the faces of Major League Baseball yet, the 24 year old Bregman soon will be as quite possibly the best offensive player on one of baseball’s top teams. Bregman broke out the power production in his second full season in the major leagues and became one of the best infielders in the game today. He even had to play some shortstop last season with the injuries to Carlos Correa, which could help you if you draft him on your fantasy baseball team this year if he is eligible there.
Since coming up to the majors, Bregman is eighth in runs and OBP and slugging, fifth in steals and WRC+.
I think his projections are a little bit low, and I think Bregman should produce numbers close to if not exceeding his production from last season. He’s cut his strikeout rate in half since breaking into the majors and has doubled his walk rate all the while increasing his contact rates. If he does that, he could be a steal depending on where you draft him in 2019.
2. Nolan Arenado– Colorado Rockies
2018 stats- 156 games .297/.374/.561 38 homers 110 RBI
2019 steamer- 150 games .286/.357/.549 37 homers 110 RBI
Arenado will turn 28 within the season’s first month and even though he plays his home games at Coors Field, he’d probably be one of the top third baseman in the game and for fantasy baseball no matter where he played his home games.
Arenado delivered his fourth consecutive 100 RBI season along with his fourth straight season of 35 or more homers. His K rate increased a couple of percentage points last year, but so did his walk rate. I wouldn’t be too concerned about that if you are drafting him, with what would be a first or early second round pick.
Over the past three seasons, Arenado leads all third baseman in homers, runs, RBI, average, and slugging and is seventh in OBP.
This is Arenado’s contract year, even though he may very well sign a lucrative extension with the Rockies before the season starts. No matter. This is an elite fantasy baseball bat and it wouldn’t matter what position you had him at. He will certainly be an anchor for your team, and I would expect that 35 homer 100 RBI plus production to continue.
1. Jose Ramirez– Cleveland Indians
2018 stats- 157 games .270/.387/.552 39 homers 105 RBI 34 steals
2019 steamer- 150 games .284/.374/.513 28 homers 99 RBI 24 steals
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A third baseman with power and speed is a rare combination. The 26 year old Ramirez is that, and that’s why he is the number one third baseman in fantasy baseball for 2019 and will be a top 10 pick in drafts. The Cleveland Indians bet on him before his 2017 breakout and have him locked in through 2021 with 2 option years after that.
Not only did he go 30-30 last year, but he also had 38 doubles, and that was his lowest double output in three years, as some of those doubles are starting to leave the park now.
Over the past three seasons, Ramirez is tied for seventh in homers, second in runs, fifth in RBI and OBP, first in steals, tied for first in average, third in slugging, and fourth in WRC+.
Is it too much to expect another 30-30 season out of Ramirez? Probably. I think it’s more likely he hits 30 homers than steals 30 bases again, but he’ll still get his stolen bases and his extra base hits and beat up on the weak pitching in his division.
Next. Top ten second basemen for fantasy baseball. dark
So there you have it. The top 10 third baseman for fantasy baseball in 2019. Good luck to you in your league this year.