Perennial MVP contenders, some of baseball’s rising stars and one of the game’s best defenders of the past decade, land on the top 10 third basemen for 2024.
1. José Ramirez
José Ramirez has been one of baseball’s most underrated sluggers since his 2016 breakout campaign. The 11-year veteran is a five-time American League All-Star, including three consecutive campaigns, and a four-time Silver Slugger. Over the past four seasons, Ramirez has finished top 10 in AL Most Valuable Player award voting. The AL Central is one of the easiest divisions in baseball. If the Cleveland Guardians win the AL Central title in 2024, Ramirez will be a big reason for that.
2. Austin Riley
Since 2021, the Atlanta Braves’ third baseman Austin Riley has been one of the position’s best hitters. Slotting in the middle of the Braves’ powerful lineup, Riley has dominated. He has smashed 108 home runs over the past three seasons, including 37 during the 2023 campaign. Riley finished seventh in the 2021 National League MVP race — when Atlanta won the World Series. He has followed that breakout campaign with two additional top-10 finishes and his first two All-Star nods. While his play may be overlooked in a lineup consisting of 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. and 2023 home run leader Matt Olson, Riley is a critical member of the team’s success.
Nolan Arenado completed his third season with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2023, and he mildly disappointed. Still, he made his third consecutive NL All-Star appearance and continues to provide stellar defense. Out of all players on the list, Arenado has the greatest track record. He is an eight-time NL All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner and has performed at a Hall of Fame level. 2023 was a down year, but it’s likely he’ll bounce back to MVP-caliber play. Arenado finished third in MVP voting the season prior and has placed in the top 10 six separate times. St. Louis struggled in 2023, and Arenado’s play will have huge implications for the 2024 season.
12-year MLB veteran Manny Machado comes in at No. 4 on the list for top 10 third basemen. Similar to Arenado, the six-time All-Star experienced a down year in 2023. Still, the previous three seasons with the San Diego Padres were some of the best baseball we’ve seen from Machado. He earned two of his All-Star nods, which includes two top-3 NL MVP voting finishes. While he may have lost a step defensively — he hasn’t won a Gold Glove since 2015 — Machado still provides 30+ home runs and 100+ RBI to the Padres’ lineup.
5. Alex Bregman
A critical member of the 2017 and 2022 Astros World Series teams, Alex Bregman still remains one of baseball’s best third basemen. Bregman’s eight-season career peaked from 2018 and 2019, when he earned his only two AL All-Star appearances. In 2019, Bregman led MLB in walks (119) and barely placed second in MVP voting behind Mike Trout. Bregman has been an above-average hitter in every season, including the 2023 campaign when he added 4.9 Baseball Reference Wins Above Replacement for a dominant Astros squad.
The 2023 AL Rookie of the Year slots in at No. 6 on baseball’s top 10 third basemen for 2024. Alongside one of baseball’s best catchers, Adley Rutschman, Henderson is pushing the youth train forward for the Baltimore Orioles. Baltimore won 100+ games in 2023 — the most in a single season since 1979. At only 22 years old, Henderson provided 6.2 bWAR for Baltimore, while torching 28 home runs and 29 doubles. The Orioles play in a difficult AL East Division, and Henderson will be important to a repeat division win.
Boston Red Sox third baseman, Rafael Devers, is the seventh shortstop on the list. Devers has been one of the best slugging third basemen since his 2019 breakout season. A two-time AL All-Star and Silver Slugger, Devers has smashed 25+ home runs in the past four full seasons. While Devers doesn’t defend like some others on the list, his offensive upside outmatches any defensive inefficiencies.
8. Matt Chapman
Unlike Devers, the recently-signed San Francisco Giant Matt Chapman provides elite defense at third base. Chapman took home his fourth career Gold Glove award in 2023. In addition, Chapman is a two-time Platinum Glove winner at the hot corner, alongside winning the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2018. His availability is another positive. In full seasons since 2018, Chapman has played in 747/810 games. He has contributed average to above average offensive value at the plate since his debut, although his power numbers have taken a dive in recent years. If his offense can return to pre-COVID level numbers, Chapman could jump back up the top 10 third basemen rankings.
9. Royce Lewis
Minnesota Twins’ third baseman Royce Lewis is an interesting case. The 24-year-old former No. 1 draft pick has only played in 70 MLB games over two seasons, mainly due to trips to the injured list. However, when healthy, Lewis cracks the ball at an impressive rate. Four of Lewis’ 15 home runs in 2023 came with the bases loaded, which is a single-season Twins franchise record. He continued his dominance in the postseason for Minnesota. Lewis homered in his first two at-bats of the AL Wild Card Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. By his sixth postseason game in 2023, Lewis’ home run counter reached four — tying Kirby Puckett for the most home runs in a single postseason by a Minnesota Twin. A fully healthy 2024 season could see him jump up in the third basemen rankings.
10. Josh Jung
The final player on the top 10 third basemen list is the Texas Rangers’ Josh Jung. The 26-year-old Jung made the AL All-Star game in his first full season. Additionally, he placed fourth in the 2023 AL Rookie of the Year race behind Henderson, Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee and Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas. Jung hit 23 home runs in 2023 and helped the Rangers win the World Series. 2024 will be his second full season, so it’s likely Jung will continue to rise up the list.
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