2012 MLB Draft Prospects: 8 Best Third Basemen in the 2012 Draft Class

The MLB draft kicks off on Monday with a lot of good players available for teams.

For the first time in many years, there's no clear-cut No. 1 player that will be taken, but there are still a lot of quality players available.

This article will focus on the third basemen available to be drafted.

The hot corner hasn't been a popular position in the first round lately, as only one was picked in last year's draft, two in the 2010 draft and one in the 2009 draft.

Overall, in the last decade, only 23 third basemen have been drafted in the first round.

This year, I expect at least three to be drafted in the first round, with the possibility of a fourth.

Here's a look at the top eight available third basemen in this year's draft.

8. Rio Ruiz, Bishop Amat HS (CA)

Rio Ruiz has been compared to Eric Chavez, only with a stronger bat.

Batting from the left side of the plate, Ruiz has good bat speed and makes consistent contact.

If you can do that in pro ball, you're going to have a long career.

His strong arm makes him a natural at third base, giving teams a player who can provide power from the hot corner.

7. Patrick Wisdom, St. Mary’s

The biggest question for Patrick Wisdom is going to be is his bat consistency.

Wisdom can hit the ball to all fields, but he has had trouble being consistent doing so.

If he was able to be more consistent at the plate, there's no question he would be a first-round pick.

His abilities on defense is what puts him in the No. 8 position, and with a little time in a team's minor league system, his bat will come around and make him a solid player in the big leagues.

6. Trey Williams, Valenicia HS (CA)

It's no surprise that Trey Williams is ahead of all the rest of the high school seniors at the plate.

And why not? His dad, Eddie, spent 10 years in the big leagues.

With one of the quickest bats in the draft, in my opinion, Williams can generate power to all fields.

The biggest thing for Williams, if he does decide to sign with the team who drafted him, is being patient with each level he has to go through.

If he stays patient and progresses through the minor leagues without rushing things, he could be at the hot corner for a team for the better part of a decade.

5. Carson Kelly, Westview HS (OR)

When it comes to raw power, Carson Kelly has the most out of this group of third basemen.

By the time all of their MLB careers are done, I believe he could be the most successful of the bunch.

With a commitment to Oregon, however, Kelly does have options, and if the situation isn't right, I won't be surprised to see him head to Eugene.

If that happens, there's no question that by the time he's eligible for the draft again in three years, he could be a top-five pick if he continues to progress at his current rate.

4. Addison Russell, Pace HS (FL)

Put him at third base or shortstop, it doesn't matter; Addison Russell's bat is what teams are salivating over.

At the plate, he's very disciplined and understands the strike zone.

Put the ball in his kitchen, and you'll be wishing you hadn't because of his pull power.

There's never been a question about his arm, which is why a move to third base is only natural for him.

3. Joey Gallo, Bishop Gorman HS (NV)

It's still up in the air whether Joey Gallo will be a pitcher or hitter, but my money is on him playing the field.

With his incredible power at the plate, in my opinion, a team would be dumb not to utilize him there.

The one concern some scouts may have is that he can, at times, be inconsistent with contact.

But, with coaching from professionals, I think that will get fixed very quickly.

Although he's No. 3 on my list, I wouldn't be surprised to see him be the first of all these prospects taken due to the fact that a team could fall in love with his bat and draft him higher than expected.

2. Stephen Piscotty, Stanford

Stephen Piscotty may have been playing left field a majority of this year, but he still profiles as a third baseman with a strong arm.

MLB.com describes Piscotty as a Placido Polanco-type hitter, which isn't something to be ashamed of.

The thing that Piscotty has going for him is that he can play multiple positions, so he could develop into a Martin Prado-type of defensive player.

Piscotty hasn't shown big-time power in a game situation, so it's unlikely to think that a team would think that he could do so.

But, with enough time in a system, he could develop a little more power.

More than likely, he'll be a consistent hitter at the plate, hitting doubles and singles for a majority of his hits over his career.

1. Richie Shaffer, Clemson

There may be a few holes in Richie Shaffer's swing, but his bat is definitely his strongest attribute.

Shaffer has shown consistent power throughout his college career, with 30 home runs and 137 RBI in his three seasons at Clemson.

Profiled as either a first or third baseman, it's going to depend on who drafts Shaffer as to where he'll play.

My belief is that he'll settle into the third baseman's role, eventually, wherever he goes.

I would classify Shaffer as having the same potential as Mark Reynolds.

Sure, he's going to strike out a little, but you can live with that as long as he's continually hitting for power.