And we’ve reached our final top 20 recap for the infield, and, if you exclude the top 20 catchers, because who cares, shortstops are the shallowest position. I know I said I was shocked when I went over them, but, guess what? Still shocked! Shortstops used to be a stacked position. Welp, this is the 3rd basemen, and they’re not much better, if we’re being honest, which my shrinks says I have to be. To recap my recap before the recap, this final ranking is from our Fantasy Baseball Player Rater with my comments. This is not for next year. Anyway, here’s the top 20 3rd basemen for 2023 fantasy baseball and how they compare to where I originally ranked them:
1. Bobby Witt Jr. – Already went over in the top 20 shortstops for 2023 fantasy baseball recap.
2. Austin Riley – Like a horny dogcatcher, I screwed a lot of pooches this past preseason when it came to the Braves, but I was on Riley. Drafted him, ranked and projected him well; overall, not much to say. I might’ve nailed Riley’s projections more than any other hitter. I also kinda nailed Olson, and had Olson and Riley on multiple teams. By the by, not sure I realized how “Set it and forget it” Snitker’s lineup was for most of the season. Did they have any guys who didn’t start 155+ games? Rhetorical! Preseason Rank #4, 2023 Projections: 96/37/104/.276/2 in 589 ABs, Final Numbers: 117/37/97/.281/3 in 636 ABs
3. Jose Ramirez – Genuinely curious, did more guys get 600+ABs this year or is it me? It could be me, hence the latter option. So, we’ve been down this road before about thinking the end is upon us for JoJoRam, as two years in a row now his Hard% is kinda dogshizz. His fly balls are super iffy, but his line drives are fine. His walks and Ks are fine and his steals are up. Gleaming something very negative (or positive) from his numbers feels like a reach. He just had a down year because his runs and RBIs were bad. Preseason Rank #1, 2023 Projections: 88/33/109/.269/22 in 549 ABs, Final Numbers: 87/24/80/.282/28 in 611 ABs
4. Rafael Devers – Because I just point you towards another post in Yandy’s blurb, allow me to say, Yandy was 6th overall for 1st basemen, so not much difference at the top of the position, but Brandon Drury was 25th at 1B, and 17th at 2B, but is 18th here, i.e., position depth went 1B, 3B, 2B, SS, and catchers. It doesn’t hurt that 3rd basemen were often eligible at other positions. As for Devers, you thought I nailed my Riley projections? Check out these Devers projections! Preseason Rank #5, 2023 Projections: 94/34/108/.286/5 in 572 ABs, Final Numbers: 90/33/100/.271/5 in 580 ABs
5. Yandy Diaz – Already went over in the top 20 1st basemen for 2023 fantasy baseball recap.
6. Alex Bregman – So, I was openly critical of my 2nd basemen projections, as I should’ve been, but, c’mon, these 3rd basemen projections are so money, and, that tells me, 3rd basemen are super predictable, which is a good thing. You want predictability. You know what you’re getting from Bregman, and you got it. Preseason Rank #7, 2023 Projections: 97/24/90/.266/2 in 559 ABs, Final Numbers: 103/25/98/.262/3 in 622 ABs
7. Gunnar Henderson – Already went over in the top 20 shortstops for 2023 fantasy baseball recap.
8. Max Muncy – Already went over him at the top 20 2nd basemen for 2023 fantasy baseball.
9. Justin Turner – Already went over in the top 20 1st basemen for 2023 fantasy baseball recap.
10. Ha-Seong Kim – Already went over him at the top 20 2nd basemen for 2023 fantasy baseball.
11. Spencer Steer – Already went over in the top 20 1st basemen for 2023 fantasy baseball recap.
12. Manny Machado – My takeaway from my Machado projections and end-of-the-year ranks is I was too high in my preseason ranking. He basically hit my projections, and I had him ranked so much higher. Give him 20 more runs and five more steals and he ends up higher here, but nowhere near the 2nd ranked 3rd baseman. So, the position ended up deeper than I expected, and I don’t know how Machado gets much higher than, say, Bregman next year. Preseason Rank #2, 2023 Projections: 94/30/106/.266/8 in 569 ABs, Final Numbers: 75/30/91/.258/3 in 543 ABs
13. Isaac Paredes – Already went over in the top 20 1st basemen for 2023 fantasy baseball recap.
14. Alec Bohm – Already went over in the top 20 1st basemen for 2023 fantasy baseball recap.
15. Nolan Arenado – Put my Arenado fantasy value by this open window and–NOOOO!!! Torenado! This past preseason I said, “So, last year, I goofed up on Arenado in an all-timer goof-up. I called him a preseason schmohawk and he bounced back in a pretty dramatic way.” And that’s me clearly being a year early! Arenado was about to fall-off, but I called it in 2022, and it was actually this year. My schmohawk call on him two years ago was because he seemed to be aging poorly, and: Second verse, same as the first. He aged poorly. Preseason Rank #6, 2023 Projections: 77/30/101/.268/3 in 576 ABs, Final Numbers: 71/26/93/.266/3 in 560 ABs
16. Jake Burger – This guy had the audacity of being the lone bright spot on the White Sox, so he was sent packing. Put Burger in some styrofoam and get him outta here! You might think Burger is gonna be In-and-Out of our lives, but his numbers back up his power. Maybe don’t call Burger King, but he’s at least better than Five Guys you can think of. Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 71/34/80/.250/1 in 492 ABs
17. Jeimer Candelario – Similar to Arenado but on the positive side, because I wrote a sleeper for Jeimer two years ago, and turned out to be a year early. Though, if we’re being honest, he is kinda boring. Though, Part II: Another One Of Though’s, if he hit 600 ABs and went 27/12/.260 (within his grasp), he would’ve went from boring to interesting very quickly. Also, it’s wild how the rule changes took a guy who had one steal in three years, and allowed him to rack up eight. I can remember a few years ago when eight steals was huge from a non-basestealing threat. Preseason Rank #45, 2023 Projections: 52/15/56/.220 in 477 ABs, Final Numbers: 77/22/70/.251/8 in 505 ABs
18. Brandon Drury – Already went over him at the top 20 2nd basemen for 2023 fantasy baseball.
19. Josh Jung – He was so close to breaking out, but an injury derailed him, which you could apply to so many of his years. Since 2019, his highest plate appearances in professional ball was 342 in 2021. 2020 was a lost year, obviously, but four years and he’s never played anywhere close to a full season. Meh, will write it off as bad luck for now, but if he gets a three-month oblique injury next year, then Daddy’s gonna be unhappy. As for his projections and rankings, I once again nailed the stats. I am a wizard! Seriously, I did well on the 3rd basemen. Preseason Rank #16, 2023 Projections: 64/24/75/.242/4 in 538 ABs, Final Numbers: 75/23/70/.266/1 in 478 ABs
20. Ryan McMahon – Already went over him at the top 20 2nd basemen for 2023 fantasy baseball.
