Jose Ramirez Max Muncy Rafael Devers

There are many stars right now at the hot corner across MLB, including Platinum Glove winners and MVP finalists. But, who are the best third basemen in MLB heading into 2025? Our latest power ranking list goes over our top 10, starting with a two-time World Series champion in SoCal.

10. Max Muncy

Max Muncy

We start our top 10 with Max Muncy, who beats out Jordan Westburg and Mark Vientos to make the list. Muncy missed a healthy chunk of 2024 thanks to an oblique strain, playing just 73 games. However, the 34-year-old looked just fine in the 2024 MLB Postseason, when Muncy broke the playoff record for consecutive plate appearances (12) to end up with him getting on base.

Despite the missed time, Muncy still ranked ninth among third basemen in total home runs (51) between 2023-24 and fourth in walks (130). Muncy hit 36 home runs for the Dodgers in 2023.

9. Royce Lewis

Royce Lewis

Injuries have held back Royce Lewis over the last three years. Knee surgery shut him down in 2022, and the Twins third baseman has played only 140 games over the last two seasons. But when Lewis has been healthy, his numbers have been unreal. Over those 140 games, Lewis slashed .265/.328/.493 (.821 OPS) with 31 home runs and 99 RBI, numbers that would be exceptional over a 162-game sample.

Lewis is a specimen, a player with plus pop, speed, and athleticism. Unfortunately, the Twins haven’t been able to reap the benefits of his talent over a full season just yet.

8. Eugenio Suarez

Eugenio Suarez

Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez had a strong comeback campaign in 2024, after positng the highest K% of his career and second-lowest OPS in 2023. Suarez hit 30 home runs and 60 extra-base hits, most of which came in the second half. The 33-year-old batted .307 (.943 OPS) with 20 home runs after the All-Star break.

Suarez has long been an adept defender at third base, and that’s been reflected in Outs Above Average. The D-Backs infielder recorded a +15 Outs Above Average between 2023-24.

7. Alex Bregman

Alex Bregman of the Houston Astros

Alex Bregman‘s offensive numbers have been in a decline over the last three seasons. Bregman can still hit for pop; the 30-year-old hit 26 home runs in 2024, his most in a single season since 2019 (41). However, his OBP and OPS have dipped each of the last three seasons. Nonetheless, very few hitters make as consistent contact than Bregman, who whiffed just 12.8% of the time in 2024. He also won his first AL Gold Glove last year.

As of this writing, Bregman is the lone third baseman on this list who’s a free agent. The Astros replaced Bregman with Isaac Paredes, who was 10th in SLG (.438, min. 1000 PA) and ninth in home runs (50) among third basemen over the last two years.

6. Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Last year, Jazz Chisholm Jr. started the year in center field with the Marlins. However, Chisholm Jr. took to third base just fine, after the Yankees acquired him last summer. The 26-year-old posted a +8 Outs Above Average at third base over two months. And at the plate, Chisholm Jr. cracked 24 home runs — 11 of which came as a Yankee — and stole 40 bases overall.

One major question mark heading into 2025 with Chisholm Jr. is where will he play. The Yankees were active in the third base market earlier in the offseason, which could have pushed him to second base. But for right now, it looks more likely that DJ LeMahieu could play second, with Chisholm staying at third. It wouldn’t be a bad idea, given his performance from 2024.

5. Austin Riley

Austin Riley

Offensively, Austin Riley‘s metrics were just fine in 2024. The 27-year-old ranked in the 90th percentile in bat speed and 94th percentile in Barrel%, as Riley showcased the plus pop Braves fans have seen over the last six years. However, Riley’s 19 home runs in 2024 were the fewest he had in a full season, a byproduct of the fact he fractured his right hand and missed the last few weeks.

Defensively, Riley has good foot speed but it often doesn’t translate to plus range. His -4 Outs Above Average was below the league average.

4. Rafael Devers

Rafael Devers

It wouldn’t be hyperbole to say that aside from one other name on this list, Rafael Devers may be the best bat on this list. Over the last two years, Devers was third among third basemen in home runs (61) and total bases (561). His .860 OPS is also best among players at the hot corner (min. 1000 PA) over that span.

While Devers is an offensive juggernaut, the Red Sox has long had troubles at third base. Devers doesn’t have good range at the position, leading to a lot of gaps in his play there. His -14 Outs Above Average was tied for second-worst at the position from 2023-24, behind only Ramon Urias (-19).

3. Matt Chapman

Matt Chapman

The Giants locked up former Platinum Glove winner Matt Chapman in September after a strong 2024 in San Francisco. Chapman ended 2024 with a .247/.328/.463 (.790 OPS) with 27 home runs and 15 stolen bases, as well as superb defense. That year ended with him winning his fifth Gold Glove, as well as finishing second in total bWAR (7.1) among all NL hitters.

Chapman has long graded as an elite defender, thanks to a strong arm and range at the position. Heading into 2025, he’ll look to replicate his 2024 numbers for a Giants team looking to make it back to the playoffs.

2. Manny Machado

Manny Machado

Manny Machado‘s proven to be the total package at third base over his career. That remained somewhat true in 2024, as his bat was valuable yet again. Machado hit .275/.325/.472 with 29 home runs and 59 extra-base hits, coming just shy of his eighth 30+ home run campaign. Since the start of 2023, Machado is fourth among third basemen in home runs (59) and total bases (531).

Defensively, Machado has graded as a plus defender — but not in 2024. The two-time Gold Glove winner’s metrics (-1 OAA) were below-average, in a campaign that saw him spend roughly a third of it in the DH slot.

1. Jose Ramirez

Jose Ramirez

Much like in 2024, Guardians infielder Jose Ramirez is our top-rated third baseman heading into 2025. It hard not to put “J-Ram” at the top, as his offensive numbers exceeded his peers significantly over the last two years. No third baseman had more runs scored (201), hits (345), or total bases (623) from 2023-24. And, Ramirez tied with now-Rangers infielder Jake Burger for first in home runs (63).

Defensively, Ramirez can hold his own. He’s a +9 in terms of OAA from 2023-24, thanks to good overall speed that’s served him well on the basepaths, as well. Ramrez also led all third basemen in stolen bases (69) over the last two years.

Be sure to check out our list of the best catchers and first basemen heading into 2025.


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