This isn't the most exciting position for fantasy prospects, but there are a lot of options, and it's already a deep position in the majors. Some of these players still have a chance to stick at shortstop but I'm betting they won't. Some of them could also still slide to first base, but I'm not quite ready to pigeonhole them there.
TIER ONE
1. Carter Kieboom, Nationals
2. Jordan Groshans, Blue Jays
Of all the third base prospects, Groshans has the highest realistic ceiling, but he is a couple years away from the majors. Kieboom is in this tier partly because of his proximity to the majors, but he also has the upside to be a .275 hitter who hits 25-plus home runs.
TIER TWO
3. Nolan Jones, Indians
4. Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pirates
5. Abraham Toro, Astros
At one point early in the ranking process, I had these three back-to-back-to-back on the top 400. Jones has the most power and OBP potential. Toro has the best hit tool. Hayes has a chance to do a little bit of everything and is the best defensive third baseman in the minors, which makes him very safe from a playing time standpoint.
TIER THREE
6. Nick Solak, Rangers
7. Orelvis Martinez, Blue Jays
8. Kody Hoese, Dodgers
9. Nolan Gorman, Cardinals
Third base is my best guess for where Solak ends up, but he could easily be confined to left field and designated hitter
This isn't the most exciting position for fantasy prospects, but there are a lot of options, and it's already a deep position in the majors. Some of these players still have a chance to stick at shortstop but I'm betting they won't. Some of them could also still slide to first base, but I'm not quite ready to pigeonhole them there.
TIER ONE
1. Carter Kieboom, Nationals
2. Jordan Groshans, Blue Jays
Of all the third base prospects, Groshans has the highest realistic ceiling, but he is a couple years away from the majors. Kieboom is in this tier partly because of his proximity to the majors, but he also has the upside to be a .275 hitter who hits 25-plus home runs.
TIER TWO
3. Nolan Jones, Indians
4. Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pirates
5. Abraham Toro, Astros
At one point early in the ranking process, I had these three back-to-back-to-back on the top 400. Jones has the most power and OBP potential. Toro has the best hit tool. Hayes has a chance to do a little bit of everything and is the best defensive third baseman in the minors, which makes him very safe from a playing time standpoint.
TIER THREE
6. Nick Solak, Rangers
7. Orelvis Martinez, Blue Jays
8. Kody Hoese, Dodgers
9. Nolan Gorman, Cardinals
Third base is my best guess for where Solak ends up, but he could easily be confined to left field and designated hitter as well. Martinez could be a .275 hitter who hits 30-plus homers, but he is several years away. Hoese has a chance to have a plus hit tool with plus power. Gorman could be a .245 hitter who hits 35-plus home runs.
TIER FOUR
10. Sherten Apostel, Rangers
11. Josh Jung, Rangers
12. Brett Baty, Mets
13. Bobby Dalbec, Red Sox
14. Keoni Cavaco, Twins
15. Kevin Padlo, Rays
Apostel and Baty will have to work hard to stay at third base, but both have massive power potential. Jung is more floor than ceiling. Dalbec is a good defender at third base, but may have to debut at a different position. He has big power, but needs to show a more patient approach in a return to Triple-A. Cavaco has the highest ceiling from this bunch but the lowest floor. Padlo is big-league ready but probably needs an injury to Yandy Diaz to get a shot.
TIER FIVE
16. Arol Vera, Angels
17. Isaac Paredes, Tigers
18. Jonathan India, Reds
19. Aaron Schunk, Rockies
20. Luis Toribio, Giants
21. Miguel Vargas, Dodgers
22. Alexander Mojica, Pirates
23. Julio Carreras, Rockies
24. Reggie Preciado, Padres
Paredes and India are pretty boring, but they may do enough offensively to make it as second-division starters. The rest of these guys have pretty high ceilings but are very far from the majors.
Honorable Mention: Gabriel Rodriguez, Mark Vientos, Rece Hinds, Alex De Jesus, Adinso Reyes, Hudson Potts, Ryan Vilade, Miguel Hiraldo, Elehuris Montero, Jesus Parra, Marcos Cabrera, Kendall Simmons, Enger Castellano, Davis Wendzel, Jordan Diaz, Brady McConnell, Jose Bonilla, Ronny Polanco, Shervyen Newton, Christopher Morel, Peniel Brito, Jaylen Palmer, Bryan Ramos, Tristin English, Brandon Lewis, Jake Burger, Joe Rizzo
