B/R Fantasy Baseball 300: Ranking the Top 25 Third Basemen
With the top 150 fantasy baseball players all ordered and ranked on the initial 2015 Big Board, it's time to get into the individual position rankings. All told, there will be (count 'em) 300 players ranked.
After providing some sequencing to the outfielders last time out, next up is third base, a position where the talent is rather clumped together, making it difficult to parse these players.
The hot corner arguably is the one fantasy position that lacks a definitive best player. Is it Anthony Rendon or Adrian Beltre or Josh Donaldson? Those three are the top candidates, but a strong case could be made for any one of them.
And even the tiers seem to bleed into each other without many easy-to-spot cutoffs. Is it so crazy to think that Chris Davis or Carlos Santana could outperform Kyle Seager or Evan Longoria? Not at all.
The point, then, when it comes time to draft a third baseman, is either 1) target one or two that you like in particular, regardless of the general consensus, or 2) aim for value by letting other owners snatch up the initial bunch, knowing there will still be a few very quality options from which to choose.
And while you could look to land two hot cornermen, one of which for your corner infield spot, chances are you'll go with a first baseman for that, anyway.
Let's run down the top 25 overall fantasy third basemen and a few others you should watch, including potential impact rookies.
These rankings consider three factors:
First, everything is based on 10- or 12-team mixed leagues with standard 5x5 rotisserie scoring (BA, R, HR, RBI, SB for hitters; W, ERA, WHIP, K, SV for pitchers).
Second, lineup construction accounts for 22 active roster positions consisting of: one each for catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, corner infield, middle infield and utility, along with five outfielders and nine pitchers.
And third, to be eligible at a particular position, players either must have played at least 20 games there in 2014 or be in line to start there in 2015.
The Third Base 'Watch List'
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Luis Valbuena, 2B/3B, Houston Astros
Valbuena, 29, gets overlooked because he spent the past three years not doing all that much with the irrelevant Chicago Cubs, but he actually wasn't half-bad in 2014, scoring 68 runs to go with 16 homers and 51 RBI. Joining the Astros power-laden club could boost his stock, especially if he continues to walk at the 12.6 percent rate he has since 2013. Still just an AL-only play.
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, New York Yankees
Yep, A-Rod. While he's now 39 years old and, following his season-long PED/Biogenesis-related suspension, won't have played in a meaningful game in 18 months at the time the 2015 regular season begins—that is, if he even makes the Yankees out of spring—Rodriguez just might hit enough to be worth rostering as a reserve in 14-team formats. Sure, he could flame out fast, but he also could provide enough power for double-digit homers, and he's going to be motivated to prove he still can hit in the big leagues.
Maikel Franco, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies
Franco, 22, should have opportunities with the Phillies this year, perhaps splitting his time between first and third base, particularly when a left-hander is on the mound. That way the righty-swinging rookie can be put into situations that present the best possibility of success as he transitions to the majors after last September's cameo.
Jake Lamb, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks
Lamb looked to be the D-backs potential starting third baseman at the outset of the offseason, but then Arizona went and spent $68.5 million on Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas, who projects as a corner outfielder but has been working out at the hot corner, too. Lamb is going to spend time in the big leagues again this year, but just how much action the rookie gets will depend on Tomas' ability to handle third.
Matt Davidson, 3B, Chicago White Sox
Still a prospect, albeit one whose luster is just about wiped off entirely, Davidson would have spent a large part of 2014 in Chicago had he not played terribly at Triple-A in his first year with the White Sox organization. Despite the down year, the 23-year-old owns plenty of power, having hit at least 20 homers each of the past four seasons (including three in his 76 at-bat debut in 2013). If Conor Gillaspie falters at all, then look for Davidson to finally get a shot.
Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota Twins
After missing all of 2014 due to Tommy John surgery, Sano might make his MLB debut at some point in 2015, but it's going to come in the second half, if at all. Keeper leaguers need to be aware of him for his massive 30-homer power, but the 21-year-old Sano also strikes out a ton, so expect an adjustment period that could temper his performance until he gets the hang of facing big league pitching. In other words: Try back again in 2016.
Joey Gallo, 3B, Texas Rangers
Almost exactly everything you just read about Miguel Sano can be applied to Gallo, save for the part about TJ surgery. Gallo is the same age (21) and has the same high-risk/high-reward profile because of his immense power—including 40-plus homers each of the past two years in the minors—and ridiculous strikeout rate (33.9 percent career). With Adrian Beltre ahead of Gallo on the Rangers' depth chart, there's no need to rush the lefty masher.
Nos. 25-21
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No. 25: Will Middlebrooks, 3B, San Diego Padres
Although he's only 26, this might be Middlebrooks' last chance to make something of himself in the majors. After breaking in to huge initial success in 2012, Middlebrooks wore out his welcome in Boston with injury and contact-making issues.
No owner is going to get uber excited about a guy who has hit just .213 the past two years and now moves to Petco Park, but NL-only owners might want to take a last-round flier here in case something clicks with his powerful bat amid several other new Padres.
No. 24: Mike Moustakas, 3B, Kansas City Royals
Another 26-year-old who once had a steep ceiling, Moustakas fooled many an owner for the final time with his boffo spring last year, only to wind up batting all of .212 during the games that counted.
Of course, some owners might bite again this season after his five-homer postseason, but this is a lefty swinger who can't touch same-side pitching and who won't post a quality average if he keeps hitting fly balls more than 45 percent of the time. The best-case scenario here is a few more of Moose's flies leave the yard and he hits .250 with 20-ish homers.
No. 23: Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers
With a .285 average, 15 homers and 66 RBI, Ramirez had yet another not-half-bad year in 2014, but he's clearly entering the it-could-go-at-any-moment phase of his career now that he's embarking on his age-37 season. And while he actually stayed relatively healthy (133 games), he somehow managed to score only 47 runs in a year where the Brewers were a slightly above-average offense. Be wary: The downside far outweighs the upside.
No. 22: Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B, Cleveland Indians
Chisenhall finally started to show some signs of life after three wildly disappointing years for the 2008 first-rounder. At 26, he should still be on the upswing and is coming off a .280 average with just enough runs (62), homers (13) and RBI (59) to have been mildly roster-able at times in 2014.
There may not be much more, though, especially if his awful second half (.218 BA, 4 HR, 18 RBI) is any indication. In other words, treat Chisenhall as a 12- or 14-team reserve option with a small chance to play his way into starting at third or, more likely, corner infield.
No. 21: Trevor Plouffe, 3B, Minnesota Twins
This 28-year-old is completely overlooked in fantasy, but he shouldn't be. Now 28, Plouffe was the Twins first-round pick all the way back in 2004, so he's finally providing a little bit of a return. The righty does have pop, enough to have totaled 52 homers and 81 doubles the past three years.
While his average hasn't been great—last season's .258 was a career best—Plouffe's walk and strikeout rates both are going in the right direction. A sneaky under-the-radar grab with maybe a little more upside than you thought about 30 seconds ago.
Nos. 20-16
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No. 20: Chase Headley, 3B, New York Yankees
Be careful not to get too caught up in the storyline that Headley was much better upon joining the Yankees via trade from the San Diego Padres last July—at least for fantasy purposes. Headley was better, because he had nowhere to go but up (.229 BA, .651 OPS as a Padre in '14), but it wasn't that much of an improvement, as he hit .262 with a .768 OPS. The only offensive areas he was noticeably more productive in (on a per-game basis) were runs and walks, neither of which plays up that well in the non-real version of baseball.
It seems possible the switch-hitting Headley, 30, could put together his best season of his eight-year career—outside of that ridiculous 2012—now that he's swapped out Petco Park for Yankee Stadium. Then again, that's not exactly saying all that much, either.
No. 19: Josh Harrison, 3B/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
Harrison's 2014 was a complete out-of-nowhere—and out-of-character—campaign. That doesn't mean the 27-year-old doesn't have any fantasy value, only that he's likely to be bitten by the regression bug, especially in batting average (.353 BABIP). And as good as he was last year, his .315 mark was the only really standout category. Own him for his versatility and a shot at 10-12 homers and 15-20 steals, but that's more of a plug-in option than a starter.
No. 18: Nick Castellanos, 3B, Detroit Tigers
Squint, and you can see how the soon-to-be 23-year-old could become a poor man's Anthony Rendon in his second full season. Both were once elite prospects, and while Rendon displayed better patience and contact rates in his rookie year of 2013, his .265/.329/.396 line with power that was more doubles (23) than home runs (seven) looks not entirely dissimilar to Castellanos' 2014 rookie season: .259/.306/.394 with 31 doubles and 11 homers.
Plus, Castellanos had the second-best line-drive rate in baseball last year (28.5 percent), meaning he makes a lot of hard contact, which is never a bad thing.
No. 17: Pedro Alvarez, 1B/3B, Pittsburgh Pirates
Many will have soured on Alvarez coming off a brutal year in which he hit .231 with exactly half as many homers as he hit in 2013, when he led the NL with 36, and turned into a defensive mess at the hot corner due to his throwing problems.
Thing is, Alvarez's counting numbers were depressed in part by losing the final five weeks to a stress reaction in his left foot, and a 16.2 HR/FB rate well below his 20.9 career mark. Only 28 and still possessing as much power as he has always had, Alvarez could bounce back nicely (think: 25-30 homers, 80-plus RBI), now that he's healthy and shifting to first base (but still eligible at third).
No. 16: Yasmany Tomas, 3B/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
While the expectation is that Tomas really is a corner outfielder, he is ranked here at third base primarily because the D-backs seem intent on trying him out there this spring with the hopes that he can cut it, as Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports. Fantasy owners won't mind, as long as the Cuban slugger gets enough action at third to pick up eligibility there, which would only up his stock.
The 24-year-old Tomas' power is the reason Arizona handed him $68.5 million this offseason, and it's also why fantasy folk will want to invest in an exciting rookie who has the potential for 25 homers and could follow the path of the impressive Cuban bats who have made immediate impacts in MLB.
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No. 15: Manny Machado, 3B, Baltimore Orioles
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .278 BA, 38 R, 12 HR, 32 RBI, 2 SB (354 PA)
This ranking feels about right for Manny Machado, who still has as much upside as any third basemen in baseball but who also has yet to develop into a fantasy star because his game has been better in real life than in fantasy so far—and because he's had his past two seasons end early due to knee injuries that required surgery.
The 22-year-old, who got off to a late start in 2014 because of his first procedure, then injured his knee while swinging last Aug. 11, costing him the final six weeks. The shame of it is Machado had bounced back from a poor May and June to get on a roll with a .351 average over the 28 games leading up to the second injury.
The good news is Machado enters his fourth season ahead of where he was on the recovery spectrum at this time last year.
"I think everything has been going smooth, knock on wood," Machado said, per Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com. "Everything's been going good. I've just got to keep my strength up. I've got two brand new knees now, so it's just time to go out there and play and keep doing what I've been doing, stay on it."
There's a lot riding on Machado's bat. He's shown flashes of power, including a league-high 51 doubles in 2013, and he likely would have approached 20 home runs had he not missed half of 2014. At some point, Machado is going to take a leap, but he might need a full year of good health first.
No. 14: Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .325 BA, 118 R, 43 HR, 110 RBI, 15 SB (594 PA)
Kris Bryant is a consensus top-five prospect in all of baseball, and in most cases, he's either No. 1 or No. 2, alongside Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton. That makes Bryant, the Chicago Cubs' third baseman of the future (and very near present), arguably the most enticing rookie in 2015.
The stats you see up top are what Bryant, 23, did between Double-A and Triple-A last year, his first full season as a pro after being the No. 2 overall selection in 2013. While there's obviously a rather large gap between even the high minors and the majors, it's not crazy to think that Bryant could produce 50 percent of his counting numbers—about 60 runs, 22 homers, 55 RBI and eight steals—in his first MLB campaign.
That type of production would be worthy of a near top-10 fantasy third baseman, making Bryant a borderline starter at 3B in deeper leagues and a capable corner infielder in most formats, provided his batting average doesn't suffer too much from his tendency to swing and miss (162 strikeouts in '14).
The rub here is that Bryant may not break camp with the Cubs, mainly because keeping him in the minors for a couple of weeks allows the organization to gain what amounts to an "extra" year of team control. So if you happen to draft him—and really, don't go overboard by getting too caught up in the hype—just realize that you should exercise a little patience. And probably grab another quality third base option, too.
No. 13: Matt Carpenter, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .272 BA, 99 R, 8 HR, 59 RBI, 5 SB (709 PA)
Matt Carpenter fell victim to the regression monster after his incredible 2013, but he was still a perfectly starter-worthy fantasy option, although one whose primary value came from his eligibility at second base and his scoring 99 runs. The former, unfortunately, no longer applies.
Carpenter, 29, is strictly third base-only in 2015, which does dock his value some, especially since he plays a position from which owners typically seek power production. Carpenter, however, doesn't do much of that, and if he's not hitting close to .300, he's not doing all that much outside of circling the bases, thanks to his elite 13.4 percent walk rate.
That said, Carpenter does make for a steady starter at third, especially for owners who recognize the value of his durability and prowess in the often-overlooked run-scoring category. Just know that you'll have to get your homers and steals elsewhere.
No. 12: David Wright, 3B, New York Mets
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .269 BA, 54 R, 8 HR, 63 RBI, 8 SB (586 PA)
Plenty of folks will see David Wright outside the top 10 at this position and react involuntarily as if someone happened to sneeze while standing over their shoulder.
But while we can—and should—appreciate Wright for being a perennial fantasy stud often worth snatching up in Round 1, he's now a 32-year-old who has missed significant portions of three of the past four seasons. Last year, he was plagued by stretched-out ligaments in his left shoulder that caused his socket to loosen, ultimately shutting him down in early September.
Also last year, Wright managed all of eight homers and eight stolen bases, marking the first time in his 11-year career that he failed to get to double digits in the former category and the second time doing so in the latter (after stealing just six bases in 69 games as a rookie in 2004).
Wright himself recently admitted that staying healthy has become his top priority, as Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com writes, even if that means expecting to have some extra days off in order to make it through the grueling, six-month season.
The guess here is Wright bounces back some, but expecting more than 15-18 homers and 12-15 steals with a solid .290-ish average is asking for too much at this stage of his career. And it wouldn't hurt to factor in a DL stint as well.
No. 11: Pablo Sandoval, 3B, Boston Red Sox
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .279 BA, 68 R, 16 HR, 73 RBI, 0 SB (638 PA)
Pablo Sandoval is going to be a quality starting third baseman for fantasy yet again, but there's also a very good chance he'll be overrated and over-drafted based on two factors that have nothing to do with our fake game.
One, Sandoval had another monster October, hitting .366/.423/.465 in helping the San Francisco Giants win their third title in five years. He's shown more than a knack for performing at his peak in the postseason by now.
And the second point, which is related to the first: Sandoval landed $95 million from the Boston Red Sox, the largest contract awarded to a free-agent hitter this offseason.
Sure, it's possible that Sandoval could have another tick in his stick, considering not only that he's 28 years old but also that he's moving from a pitcher's park to a hitter's one in Fenway. Not to mention, the Red Sox offense should be better than what Panda had been working with in the Bay Area.
But color us at least a little hesitant when Sandoval has averaged a good-not-great 59 runs, 16 homers and 71 RBI the past four years.
No. 10: Ryan Zimmerman, 1B/3B/OF, Washington Nationals
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .280 BA, 26 R, 5 HR, 38 RBI, 0 SB (240 PA)
Right smack in what was supposed to have been Ryan Zimmerman's prime over each of the past four seasons, he has hit the DL at least once a year. Last year, however, brought the worst of it, as the 30-year-old played just 61 games—easily a career low—due to a fractured thumb and then a hamstring strain. Bummer.
Except...maybe not? Because now Zimmerman has become more or less a forgotten man in fantasy circles, written off as if he were some sort of invalid. On the contrary, between 2012-13, he still hit at least 25 homers, scored at least 84 runs and drove in at least 79. Yes, even while spending some time on the shelf.
Now that he gets to shift to first base permanently, Zimmerman could have an easier time staying healthy for 130-plus games, which would be more than enough to produce a top-10 season among third basemen, especially hitting in the middle of the Washington Nationals lineup. That he's eligible at two other spots is a nice little bonus, too.
No. 9: Carlos Santana, 1B/3B, Cleveland Indians
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .231 BA, 68 R, 27 HR, 85 RBI, 5 SB (660 PA)
If you drafted Carlos Santana last year, you might be surprised by his final numbers, especially if you traded him away—or worse, outright dropped him—following yet another molasses-slow start.
To wit, Santana was still hitting under .200 as late as June 20. And while he did have 30 runs, 10 homers and 28 RBI in those 64 games, that was far from enough to offset the average.
But the soon-to-be 29-year-old turned things around, just like he always does. Over his final 88 games from June 21 on, Santana batted .256 with 38 runs and a whopping 17 homers and 57 RBI. When all was said and done, he had tied his career high with 27 homers and set a new mark with 85 RBI.
Because of his dalliance at the hot corner at the outset of 2014, Santana is eligible there this year, making him a sneaky draft choice to use at third base when most other owners will see him as a first baseman (his actual position).
Just promise us one thing: If you take Santana, be prepared to wait out a possible slow start, because in the end he'll get his numbers and be worth it.
No. 8: Chris Davis, 1B/3B, Baltimore Orioles
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .196 BA, 65 R, 26 HR, 72 RBI, 2 SB (525 PA)
As incredible as the 2013 season was for Chris Davis, who hit an MLB-best 53 homers that year, the 2014 campaign was a comedy—no, a tragedy—of errors.
First came a left oblique strain in April, an injury that pushed him to the DL for two weeks but seemed to bother Davis, who turns 29 in mid-March, throughout much of the season.
Then came the anchored-down batting average that hovered in the low .200s for several weeks and ultimately dropped below the Mendoza line in late July—and stayed there the rest of the way. Yes, Davis finished 2014 with a .196 mark that was the lowest in baseball.
The final straw came in mid-September when Davis was hit with a 25-game suspension for violating MLB's drug policy for using Adderall without a therapeutic-use exemption. For that, he still has one game left to serve.
And despite all of the above, Davis still went for 65 runs, 26 homers and 72 RBI in just 127 games. As for that sub-.200 average, well, Davis' .242 BABIP was the third-worst in the sport, and nearly 80 points below his career mark (.320).
While it can't be expected, the hope is that a healthy, highly motivated Davis returns something close to his 2012 numbers, when he hit .270 with 75 runs, 33 homers and 85 RBI. And as 2013 showed, there's always the possibility for more.
No. 7: Todd Frazier, 1B/3B, Cincinnati Reds
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .273 BA, 78 R, 29 HR, 88 RBI, 20 SB (660 PA)
If you buy into Todd Frazier more, specifically those 20 stolen bases he pulled off, then he ranks higher than this, very likely firmly in the top five at this position. After all, he did finish 2014 as the No. 2 third baseman, according to ESPN's Player Rater.
But Frazier didn't show any evidence of running in years past. His career high in a single season as a pro was 17, but that came in the minors back in 2011; in the majors, he had totaled 10 thefts in his first three years. This is a 29-year-old who is 6'3" and 220 pounds—not exactly the type to suddenly become a base stealer.
In other words, while Frazier isn't a zero in the SB category, he's more likely to go for 5-10 at most rather than 20 again. Even if the other four categories stay roughly the same, that knocks a large chunk off his fantasy value.
Frazier is a starter, and he should be a good one again, as long as owners draft him based on his power numbers, and consider any contributions in the baserunning department to be gravy.
No. 6: Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .253 BA, 83 R, 22 HR, 91 RBI, 5 SB (700 PA)
Used to be, fantasy owners wanted merely to see what the injury-prone Evan Longoria could do if given 150 games. The past two years, the 29-year-old has done that, playing in 160 games in 2013 and then a full 162 last year.
Funny, though, that Longoria's performance dipped enough to the point where he actually needed to get in a full slate in order to compile enough counting stats to offset what looks to have become the beginning of his decline.
While Longo never was an elite power hitter, he does have three 30-homer campaigns to his credit, including 32 in 2013. But his average fly-ball distance has declined three straight years to a career low of 279 feet last year, according to Baseball Heat Maps. Meanwhile, his ground-ball-to-fly-ball ratio was the highest in his seven seasons. Longoria is hitting the ball on the ground more, and when he does get it in the air, it's not going quite as far anymore.
That doesn't mean the sky is falling here, but it is something to recognize. Also worth pointing out? The Tampa Bay Rays don't have a hitter with above-average power outside of Longoria on the roster, so it's fair to question the surrounding lineup, too.
Longoria still will be productive, maybe even a top-five third baseman, but don't go treating him like the second- or third-round draft pick he had been for years.
No. 5: Kyle Seager, 3B, Seattle Mariners
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .268 BA, 71 R, 25 HR, 96 RBI, 7 SB (654 PA)
Admit it: Kyle Seager's statistics were better than you thought, which is why, after initially doubting this ranking, you're now seeing the merit behind his being No. 5 at third base.
Seager set career highs in batting average, homers and RBI in 2014, and at 27 he's just now entering what is generally accepted as a player's prime.
Plus, while there's always some trepidation in investing heavily in a Seattle Mariners hitter, it's worth remembering that the club's offense actually should be average—and very possibly above-average—in 2015, thanks to Seager, Robinson Cano, a full season of Austin Jackson and the big-ticket addition of reigning home run champ Nelson Cruz, as well as the smaller, more strategic pickups of Seth Smith, Justin Ruggiano and Rickie Weeks.
Even if Seager merely repeats his 2014, he'll be on the outskirts of the top five at this spot. And there's a chance that he still has another click in his stick.
No. 4: Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .287 BA, 58 R, 18 HR, 61 RBI, 2 SB (467 PA)
There's a fair amount of "huh?" to ranking Nolan Arenado in the top five at a relatively deep position filled with proven fantasy studs, but there's reason to believe the Colorado Rockies third baseman can become a stud himself. Like, this year.
Arenado is just 23 years old, and he's clearly getting better. Despite playing 22 fewer games in 2014—which, don't forget, was his first season being in the majors on Opening Day—Arenado racked up five more doubles (34 to 29) and nearly doubled his homer total from 10 to 18.
Had it not been for a fractured finger in May and then a case of pneumonia in September, Arenado's final numbers would have looked a heck of a lot better. And the righty swinger makes all kinds of contact, which is a perfect profile for Coors Field, where offense plays up like nowhere else.
Beyond that, the Rockies lineup is still one of the best around, and Arenado should hit right in the middle of it. Sometimes, it's worth buying into a player before the really big breakout, and Arenado has the skill set and is in the right situation to be that player at this position this year.
No. 3: Adrian Beltre, 3B, Texas Rangers
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .324 BA, 79 R, 19 HR, 77 RBI, 1 SB (614 PA)
Although he's still a top-three pick at third base, Adrian Beltre actually might be higher elsewhere. And that's fine; he's earned a placement as the first- or second-ranked hot cornerman. But having him third here is more about being excited over the top two than any real negativity toward Beltre.
That said, this is someone who will turn 36 on April 7 and who benefited from a .345 BABIP last year that was the highest in his 17-year career.
And granted, Beltre's counting numbers, particularly runs and RBI, might have been muted some by the fact that just about every one of his teammates got hurt at some point last year, but he still failed to top 80 in either of those categories or even 20 home runs. So a lot of his value was tied to that .324 average that (gasp) could come down a tick.
But don't take all of the above as if we're hating on Beltre, because he's been super steady and super productive for five years running now. So draft him with confidence—just maybe don't draft him ahead of these next two guys.
No. 2: Josh Donaldson, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .255 BA, 93 R, 29 HR, 98 RBI, 8 SB (695 PA)
Admittedly, there was some apprehension (including from yours truly) over Josh Donaldson's ability to repeat his breakout 2013. Last year, though, he proved he is for real. And now that he's been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays to hit amid a dynamic, dangerous one-through-nine, he's in line to get even better.
Consider this: A former Oakland A, Donaldson goes from the 10th-worst stadium for home runs to the third-best in that aspect, according to ESPN's park factors.
Taking that even a step further, Rogers Centre has allowed 29 percent more home runs to right-handed batters than the league average over the past three seasons, according to Stat Corner, whereas O.Co Coliseum has deflated righty home runs by 13 percent compared to average.
So if Donaldson, 29, can hit 24 and then 29 homers the past two years—including 13 and 11 at home, respectively—while playing half his games at O.Co, just imagine how many he'll go for at the Rodge.
The possibility of a 30-homer, 100-run, 100-RBI season exists here, and only two players pulled that off in 2014: One of 'em was Mike Trout, and the other was Donaldson's new teammate, Jose Bautista.
No. 1: Anthony Rendon, 2B/3B, Washington Nationals
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2014 Fantasy Stats: .287 BA, 111 R, 21 HR, 83 RBI, 17 SB (683 PA)
There's so, so much to like about what Anthony Rendon did in 2014. And even more to be geeked up about what he could do—and do better—in 2015.
The Washington Nationals breakout star was a true five-category beast, finishing third in MLB in runs scored while approaching a 20-20 campaign, to boot. No wonder he completed the year as the top 3B-eligible player on the board.
As for his upside in 2015, Rendon is just 24, which means it's possible he's only scratched the surface of what he can do, especially considering he also smacked 39 doubles, some of which could turn into homers as he grows into his power.
Throw in that Rendon has eligibility at both third base and second base and also gets to hit in a sweet spot in the Nationals deep, damage-doing order, and well, aren't you geeked up by now? Feel free to take Rendon late in Round 1, and if he falls a few spots and you score him in Round 2, you're off and running.
Statistics are accurate through the 2014 season and courtesy of MLB.com, Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.
Need more fantasy baseball help? Have a comment about the rankings? Come pepper me with your questions on Twitter today at 2 p.m. ET: @JayCat11
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