Ranking the Top 25 Third Basemen of 2023 MLB Season
It's time to put a bow on the 2023 MLB season with Bleacher Report's final positional rankings.
Throughout the year, we released monthly updates to our position-by-position player rankings, selecting the top 10 players at each spot. Now it's time to finalize those rankings while expanding the list to the 25 best at each position.
Just like the regular-season rankings, past production and future expectations played no part in deciding the order—this is simply a rundown of the best and brightest of 2023.
To qualify for inclusion, a player simply had to have at least 200 plate appearances. Each player was only included at the position where he played the most innings.
Now let's dive into the top 25 third basemen of the 2023 season.
Catch up on the Top 25 in 2023 series: Catchers, First basemen, Second basemen, Shortstops, Outfielders
Nos. 25-21
1 of 13
25. Yoán Moncada, Chicago White Sox
Stats: 92 G, 97 OPS+, .260/.305/.425, 32 XBH (11 HR), 40 RBI, 1 SB, 0.7 WAR
Moncada signed a five-year, $70 million extension prior to the 2020 season after posting a 140 OPS+ with 64 extra-base hits and 5.2 WAR during the 2019 campaign, but he has failed to replicate that level of production in the years since. The 28-year-old has a 98 OPS+ and 6.1 total WAR over the past four seasons, and he will need to earn the starting third base job next spring.
24. Zach McKinstry, Detroit Tigers
Stats: 148 G, 79 OPS+, .231/.302/.351, 34 XBH (9 HR), 35 RBI, 16 SB, 1.0 WAR
McKinstry was one of baseball's best utility players in 2023, making multiple starts at second base, shortstop, third base and all three outfield spots. He was a Gold Glove finalist at the utility spot, and with 34 extra-base hits and 16 steals, he also provided some nice under-the-radar offensive value.
23. Maikel Garcia, Kansas City Royals
Stats: 123 G, 88 OPS+, .272/.323/.358, 28 XBH (4 HR), 50 RBI, 23 SB, 1.1 WAR
The No. 6 prospect in the Kansas City farm system at the start of the 2023 season, Garcia ended up starting 100 games at third base, and he spent much of the second half penciled into the leadoff spot in the lineup. The 23-year-old ranked in the 93rd percentile with a 50.6 percent hard-hit rate, so there is potential for more offensively going forward.
22. Ramón Urias, Baltimore Orioles
Stats: 116 G, 98 OPS+, .264/.328/.375, 29 XBH (4 HR), 42 RBI, 3 SB, 1.8 WAR
The AL Gold Glove winner at third base in 2022, Urias moved into more of a utility role following the emergence of Gunnar Henderson on the left side of the Baltimore infield. The 29-year-old did not show the same power he did during a 16-homer, 51-RBI season the year before, but his plus defense again helped make him a valuable player.
21. Jared Triolo, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stats: 54 G, 116 OPS+, .298/.388/.398, 12 XBH (3 HR), 21 RBI, 6 SB, 2.1 WAR
A second-round pick in 2019 and the No. 15 prospect in the Pittsburgh farm system entering the year, Triolo made his MLB debut on June 28 and split his time between third base (309.1 innings), second base (87.0 innings) and first base (52.1 innings). The 25-year-old was one of only 19 rookie position players to post a 2-WAR season, and he could compete for a starting job at first base or second base next spring.
Nos. 20-16
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20. DJ LeMahieu, New York Yankees
Stats: 136 G, 96 OPS+, .243/.327/.390, 40 XBH (15 HR), 44 RBI, 2 SB, 1.3 WAR
Since winning the AL batting title with a .364/.421/.590 line during the abridged 2020 season, LeMahieu has been roughly a league-average offensive player, posting a 101 OPS+ in 1,782 plate appearances over the last three seasons. With Josh Donaldson out of the picture, he could be the Yankees' everyday third baseman in 2024.
19. J.D. Davis, San Francisco Giants
Stats: 144 G, 103 OPS+, .248/.325/.413, 42 XBH (18 HR), 69 RBI, 1 SB, 0.9 WAR
With a 113 OPS+ in 594 career games in the big leagues, Davis has always been a solid offensive player, but his middling defense has made it difficult to find him an everyday role on the infield. The 30-year-old was a poor defender at the hot corner (-11 DRS, 0.8 WAR) but still managed positive overall value thanks to his bat.
18. Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies
Stats: 145 G, 108 OPS+, .274/.327/.437, 51 XBH (20 HR), 97 RBI, 4 SB, 0.4 WAR
It has taken some time for Bohm to live up to the expectations that came with being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft and a top prospect during his time in the minors, but he has steadily improved over the past three seasons. His 31 doubles, 20 home runs and 97 RBI last season all represented career-best marks, though his defense (-10 DRS, 3.2 UZR/150) still leaves a lot to be desired.
17. Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies
Stats: 152 G, 93 OPS+, .240/.322/.431, 57 XBH (23 HR), 70 RBI, 5 SB, 2.9 WAR
McMahon has averaged 29 doubles, 22 home runs, 74 RBI and 3.3 WAR over the past three seasons since taking over as Colorado's everyday third baseman following the ill-fated trade that sent Nolan Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals. The 28-year-old has three seasons remaining on his six-year, $70 million contract and is one of the few legitimate building blocks on the Colorado roster.
16. Eugenio Suárez, Seattle Mariners
Stats: 162 G, 101 OPS+, .232/.323/.391, 51 XBH (22 HR), 96 RBI, 2 SB, 2.3 WAR
Suarez recorded the sixth-highest strikeout total in MLB history when he struck out 214 times in 2023 to lead the AL in that category for the second year in a row. Despite all of the whiffs, he has been a 6.2-WAR player during that stretch thanks to his power production and quality defense, and he is also an invaluable veteran voice in a young Seattle clubhouse.
Nos. 15-11
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15. Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins
Stats: 58 G, 150 OPS+, .309/.372/.548, 22 XBH (15 HR), 52 RBI, 6 SB, 2.4 WAR
A series of injuries have derailed Lewis since he was taken No. 1 overall in the 2017 draft, but he finally broke through during a healthy 2023 campaign. The 23-year-old hit .313/.410/.612 with six home runs and 23 RBI in 18 games over the final month of the season, then homered four times in six games during the postseason. He will be a popular pick for a full-blown breakout season in 2024.
14. Josh Jung, Texas Rangers
Stats: 122 G, 109 OPS+, .266/.315/.467, 49 XBH (23 HR), 70 RBI, 1 SB, 2.4 WAR
Between a variety of injuries and the cancelled 2020 minor league season, Jung played only 179 total games from the time he was taken No. 8 overall in the 2019 draft through the end of the 2022 season. The 24-year-old won the starting third base job in spring training, played well enough to earn a starting nod in the All-Star Game, and even after slumping to a .229/.271/.366 line during the second half of the season, he still finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting.
13. Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
Stats: 144 G, 109 OPS+, .266/.315/.459, 54 XBH (26 HR), 93 RBI, 3 SB, 2.4 WAR
Keep in mind, these rankings are based solely on the 2023 season, so previous performance and career track record are not a factor. Arenado is one of the best third basemen of his generation, but the 2023 season was arguably the worst of his career. His 109 OPS+ was his worst over a full season since his rookie year in 2013, and middling defensive metrics (1 DRS, -1.8 UZR/150) snapped his run of 10 straight NL Gold Glove wins.
12. Jake Burger, Chicago White Sox/Miami Marlins
Stats: 141 G, 120 OPS+, .250/.309/.518, 63 XBH (34 HR), 80 RBI, 1 SB, 2.5 WAR
After going No. 11 overall in the 2017 draft, Burger spent three full years on the sidelines recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, a heel injury and the cancelled 2020 minor league season. He shuttled between Triple-A and the majors in 2021 and 2022 before finally breaking through in 2023 with a 34-homer campaign. The White Sox dealt him to the Marlins at the deadline, and he hit .303/.355/.505 with nine home runs and 28 RBI in 53 games following the trade.
11. Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers
Stats: 135 G, 115 OPS+, .212/.333/.475, 54 XBH (36 HR), 105 RBI, 1 SB, 2.6 WAR
Muncy has a .204 batting average over the past two seasons, and he doesn't have the range to be a plus defensive third baseman (-3 DRS, -14.8 UZR/150 in 2023) since the Freddie Freeman signing pushed him across the diamond. However, he continues to be a productive power hitter with solid on-base skills.
10. Jeimer Candelario, Washington Nationals/Chicago Cubs
4 of 13
Stats: 140 G, 119 OPS+, .251/.336/.471, 64 XBH (22 HR), 70 RBI, 8 SB, 2.9 WAR
The Detroit Tigers non-tendered Jeimer Candelario at the start of last offseason rather than paying him a projected $7 million in his final year of arbitration, and the rebuilding Washington Nationals scooped him up on a one-year, $5 million contract. That ended up being one of the best bargain signings of the winter.
Candelari considerably raised his free-agency profile following a strong season at the plate. The Nationals flipped him to the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline for a pair of quality prospects, and he is one of the top bats on a thin free-agent market this winter.
9. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
5 of 13
Stats: 138 G, 115 OPS+, .258/.319/.462, 51 XBH (30 HR), 91 RBI, 3 SB, 2.9 WAR
The 2022 NL MVP runner-up, Manny Machado saw his OPS drop by more than 100 points this year. He still finished with the seventh 30-homer season of his career, while his 2.9 WAR ranked sixth on the San Diego Padres roster.
The 31-year-old signed an 11-year, $350 million extension in February to override an opt-out in his previous contract, so he'll continue to build his potential Hall of Fame case in San Diego over the next decade.
8. Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates
6 of 13
Stats: 124 G, 105 OPS+, .271/.309/.453, 53 XBH (15 HR), 61 RBI, 10 SB, 4.0 WAR
Ke'Bryan Hayes has piled up 61 Defensive Runs Saved at third base over the past three seasons, and he brought a decade-long streak of NL Gold Glove wins by Nolan Arenado to an end this year with more elite glove work at the hot corner.
The 26-year-old also took a significant step forward at the plate, raising his OPS more than 100 points after he hit .244/.314/345 for an 88 OPS+ in 2022. He now looks like a clear cornerstone piece of Pittsburgh's long-term plans.
7. Matt Chapman, Toronto Blue Jays
7 of 13
Stats: 140 G, 108 OPS+, .240/.330/.424, 58 XBH (17 HR), 54 RBI, 4 SB, 4.4 WAR
It looked like Matt Chapman might be headed for an MVP-caliber season when he hit .384/.465/.687 with 20 extra-base hits and 21 RBI in 27 games over the first month of the 2023 season. His offensive production eventually leveled off to his usual baseline, but he was still an above-average player at the plate while posting his usual elite defensive metrics (12 DRS, 4.1 UZR/150).
The 30-year-old could be headed for a nine-figure payday this winter as one of the top position players of this year's free-agent class.
6. Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox
8 of 13
Stats: 153 G, 126 OPS+, .271/.351/.500, 77 XBH (33 HR), 100 RBI, 5 SB, 3.5 WAR
After trading away Mookie Betts and then watching Xander Bogaerts walk in free agency, the Boston Red Sox finally made a long-term commitment to one of their homegrown stars when they signed Rafael Devers to an 11-year, $331 million extension in January.
Still only 27 years old, he has been a consistent middle-of-the-order offensive producer for five years running. However, his defensive metrics (-9 DRS, -2.9 UZR/150) continue to drag down his overall value and point toward an inevitable shift to first base or designated hitter at some point in the near future.
5. Isaac Paredes, Tampa Bay Rays
9 of 13
Stats: 143 G, 131 OPS+, .250/.352/.488, 75 XBH (31 HR), 98 RBI, 1 SB, 4.2 WAR
Now that outfielder Austin Meadows has officially been non-tendered by the Detroit TIgers, it's clear the deal that the Tampa Bay Rays made to flip him for Isaac Paredes prior to the 2022 season will go down as one of the more lopsided trades in recent memory.
After posting a 113 OPS+ with 20 home runs in 381 plate appearances while bouncing around in the infield in his first extended MLB action in 2022, the 24-year-old settled in as Tampa Bay's primary third baseman this year and led the team in home runs (31) and RBI (98).
4. Alex Bregman, Houston Astros
10 of 13
Stats: 161 G, 122 OPS+, .262/.363/.441, 57 XBH (25 HR), 98 RBI, 3 SB, 4.9 WAR
Alex Bregman produced below his usual levels in 2020 and 2021, but he rebounded with a 134 OPS+ and 4.5 WAR during the 2022 season, and he was once again one of the best all-around players at the hot corner this year. The 29-year-old tallied more walks (92) than strikeouts (87) for the second year in a row while also being named a Gold Glove finalist.
Bregman's complete all-around game has made him one of the top players on a perennial contender in Houston. Entering the final season of a five-year, $100 million extension, his future with the team will be a major talking point this offseason.
3. Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
11 of 13
Stats: 150 G, 125 OPS+, .255/.325/.489, 66 XBH (28 HR), 82 RBI, 10 SB, 6.2 WAR
Gunnar Henderson lived up to the hype of being No. 1 on Baseball America's Top 100 prospect list to start the 2023 season, winning AL Rookie of the Year honors unanimously while helping the Baltimore Orioles take a massive step forward in their multi-year rebuild.
The 22-year-old was overshadowed by Josh Jung and Masataka Yoshida among AL rookies early in the season, but he hit .276/.322/.535 with 52 extra-base hits in 438 plate appearances from June 1 through the end of the year to secure his spot as the league's top rookie. He regularly played both spots on the left side of the infield, but he just narrowly finished with more innings at third base (594.2) than shortstop (584.2).
2. José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
12 of 13
Stats: 156 G, 131 OPS+, .282/.356/.475, 64 XBH (24 HR), 80 RBI, 28 SB, 5.1 WAR
WIth his 10th-place finish in AL MVP voting in 2023, Jose Ramirez has now cracked the top 10 in AL balloting six times in the last seven years. He also finished with his fifth 20/20 season in the last six years and was a Gold Glove finalist, and he continues to produce at a high level with limited support around him in the Cleveland lineup.
The 31-year-old has quietly racked up 45.6 WAR over his 11 seasons in the big leagues, a total that ranks 33rd all-time among third basemen. He will continue to steadily climb that list in the coming years as he plays out a seven-year, $141 million extension that he signed prior to the 2022 season.
1. Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves
13 of 13
Stats: 159 G, 128 OPS+, .281/.345/.516, 72 XBH (37 HR), 97 RBI, 3 SB, 5.9 WAR
Somewhat lost in the shuffle of a NL MVP performance from Ronald Acuña Jr. and a 54-homer, 139-RBI season from Matt Olson, third baseman Austin RIley also had an excellent offensive season for the Atlanta Braves.
The 26-year-old logged his third straight 30-homer, 90-RBI, 5-WAR season, finishing seventh in NL MVP balloting and winning NL Silver Slugger honors for the second time in three years. The 10-year, $212 million extension he signed prior to the 2023 season looks like another wise move by the Braves front office.
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