MLB Power Rankings: Who Are the Best 3rd Basemen in the Game Today?

With only one month until the MLB All-Star break, the best third baseman in baseball is having a great season and is starting to separate from the rest of the pack.

The bottom part of the list can be debated when talking about who is having the worst overall season, but it is more important to recognize those who are having great seasons. Surprisingly, some contenders have some of the worst performing third basemen.

It is important to note that this ranking is based on the starting third baseman for each team, maybe not the person who has played the most games. If a starter has missed time with injury but has returned (or is close to returning), that player will be the third baseman being used on this list. Some starters have fewer games played than their replacement, but they are still considered their team's starter.

This list is for all-around players, not just offensive third basemen. In any close call, defense will be used as a tiebreaker. 

There may be some surprises on this list, but some big-name third basemen have not performed well this season. The young players are starting to make their way up the list, and some of the lesser known players are working their way into the top tier of third basemen.

*Stats are from ESPN.com through 6/18/2012

No. 30: Luis Valbuena, Chicago Cubs

.294 batting average/.333 on-base percentage, 2 HR, 7 RBI

When Ian Stewart recently went on the disabled list, the Cubs called up Luis Valbuena to get the majority of playing time at third base. Stewart is likely to miss the rest of the season, and Valbuena will hope to continue his good hitting in his brief stint with the team. 

Although he is off to a good start in his first week with the club, his career .227 batting average is cause for concern. Entering his fifth season in the major leagues, he has struggled to stay on a big league roster because of his hitting.

Chicago was not getting much offensively out of Stewart, so they hope Valbuena is able to put up better numbers. Despite his good start with the Cubs, he needs to prove he can maintain a high batting average in the majors.

Valbuena is now in his third organization since the end of last season, but he will be given a chance to be Chicago's third baseman for the rest of the season. 

The Cubs have issues at many positions, and third base may be their biggest weakness. 

No. 29: Orlando Hudson, Chicago White Sox

.198/.265, 2 HR, 21 RBI

Once considered to be one of the best second basemen in the game, Orlando Hudson is now trying to find a way to stay in the majors.

After being released by the San Diego Padres in May, he signed with the White Sox and has played regularly ever since. One month later, the 34-year-old third baseman has been a below-average offensive player but still plays good defense.

Since 2008, his batting average has dropped every year and now sits at an all-time low for Hudson. He was never much of a power threat, so the White Sox should not be surprised with his home run total.

Chicago is surprisingly in first place, but they need more production out of Hudson if they hope to win the division. His glove keeps him in the lineup, and the team needs him to be more well-rounded. 

No. 28: Alberto Callaspo, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

.245/.309, 3 HR, 17 RBI

The Angels have some big-name players on their roster, but third basemen Alberto Callaspo does not fall into that category.

He does not much pop in his bat, so his drop in batting average makes him a concern for the Angels. They need him to get on base more, and the rest of the lineup will have more chances to drive in runs if he does. 

Maybe the best part of his game is his speed. Although he has been thrown out trying to steal eight times this season, Callaspo has 18 stolen bases so far. He plays pretty good defense and gives the Angels just enough production to stay in contention.

No. 27: Wilson Betemit, Baltimore Orioles

.238/.309, 8 HR, 26 RBI

Yes, the offensive numbers may be a little better than some of the next couple players on this list. However, his defense has hurt the Orioles and does not provide the same intangibles as some of the other players.

If the O's reach the playoffs, they will need everyone on their roster to be great during the regular season. Right now, Betemit has one of the lowest batting averages in Baltimore's lineup. 

His low average and six errors has the O's looking for other players to fill in for Betemit hoping to provide a spark. 

He hit for a high average in both of the last two seasons, but he has dropped off significantly this season.

No. 26: Ryan Roberts, Arizona Diamondbacks

.241/.293, 4 HR, 26 RBI

Ryan Roberts has put up mediocre numbers through the first part of the season, and he needs to make adjustments at the plate.

The Diamondbacks are hoovering around the .500 mark and could use a boost from their third baseman. His career numbers suggest this is about as good as he will be, but Arizona hopes he will start to put up some big numbers soon.

With seven errors in the field, Roberts has not been what the team needs. After winning the division last year with similar numbers, the Diamondbacks could use an improvement from him.

A fan favorite, Roberts gives it his all. He hustles when he gets on the field, and he helps set the tone with his effort level.

No. 25: Juan Uribe, Los Angeles Dodgers

.245/.295, 1 HR, 11 RBI

Last season did not go well for Juan Uribe, and he has had a much better 2012 season.

The first-place Dodgers have relied on the middle of their lineup and great pitching, so Uribe's poor offensive numbers have not been an issue to this point. 

After missing a month of the season with a wrist injury, his numbers should start to get better. He should start to drive in more runs, but the batting average will be a mystery. After hitting .204 last season, his improved average is a good sign. A healthy wrist could allow Uribe to hit for an higher average, and he will have more power in his swing.

For the past few seasons, he has been a good defensive player and has only committed three errors this season. 

A healthy Uribe will help the Dodgers, but he could be better than his current numbers.

No. 24: Kyle Seager, Seattle Mariners

.260/.320, 8 HR, 39 RBI

Seattle has not had much to be optimistic about, but Kyle Seager looks like he will be a very good player for years to come.

The 24-year-old third baseman is quietly having himself a good season, and he will only get better. For the rest of this year, he will not be considered in the top half of the league at his position. In the future, there is a good chance he will be one of the best at his position.

Defensively, he has committed five errors this season. He is still learning the position, so the errors may go down as he plays more third base.

Seager has decent power and hit for average while in the minors, and Seattle is in a rebuilding stage. They have time to let him develop into a good player, but he may be ready quickly.

As for now, the Mariners' third baseman continues to grow as a player.  

No. 23: Chris Johnson, Houston Astros

.265/.310, 5 HR, 27 RBI

Houston's Chris Johnson got off to a hot start this season, but he has started to cool off in June.

As of May 30, he was hitting .298. Hitting only .176 for the month, he has not enjoyed the same success in June. All of his home runs came during May, so the Astros hope he can find some consistency at the plate.

Johnson has become a liability at the hot corner. In 61 games at third base, he has committed nine errors. He has struggled with errors every season, and that needs to change for him to become a better all-around player.

When he's at his best at the plate, he hits for a high average. Consistency is the key for Johnson, and he has the potential to be a solid third baseman in the future.

No. 22: Jordan Pacheco, Colorado Rockies

.296/.318, 1 HR, 14 RBI

The Rockies' young third baseman is off to a good start to his career, but it is too soon to put Jordan Pacheco high on this list.

In a small sample, his batting average is exceptional for a player his age. The 26-year-old third baseman has hit for average at every level and continues in this year in the majors.

Playing at Coors Field has not had a huge impact on his batting average, but his run production has been much better at home. Of his 14 RBI, 12 of them have come in Colorado. His lone home run this season also came at home. 

Home: .301/.329

Away: .290/.306 

With only four errors at third base, Colorado should be pleased with him defensively.

The Rockies have a nice core of position players, and Pacheco looks like a promising player.  

No. 21: Pedro Alvarez, Pittsburgh Pirates

.207/.271, 12 HR, 34 RBI

Maybe one of the most puzzling third basemen in the league is Pittsburgh's Pedro Alvarez.

He has extraordinary power, but he struggles to get base hits. In 190 at-bats, he has 40 base hits. He has piled up 17 singles, 11 doubles, and 12 home runs this season. 

When he starts to make more contact, his extra-base hits will increase. With 67 strikeouts in 57 games, he does not make enough contact.

Alvarez's 11 errors are also a concern, and he could end up hurting the Pirates down the stretch. 

He has the talent to be a good third baseman, but right now there are too many flaws in his game.

No. 20: Trevor Plouffe, Minnesota Twins

.243/.331, 14 HR, 24 RBI

Minnesota's Trevor Plouffe got off to a horrendous start, but not many players have enjoyed a better offensive stretch than he has in the past month.

On May 14, he was hitting .133 with one home run and three runs batted in. Since then, he has hit over .300 with 13 home runs and 21 runs batted in. 

Conventional wisdom says that he will not keep up his hot streak, but he may turn into a good player. After almost being waived this season, he has started to put up fantastic numbers. 

The former first-round pick still has plenty of time to live up to his potential, and the last 22 games has given the Twins plenty of confidence in Plouffe.

It will be interesting to see if he continues to be productive the rest of the season or if he plays the way he did in April.

No. 19: Brandon Inge, Oakland A's

.215/.290, 7 HR, 32 RBI

While in Detroit, Brandon Inge turned out to be a very good utility player. In Oakland, he has turned out to be a mediocre third baseman.

After a .130 batting average in April, Inge is still trying to bring his average up. Since joining the A's, he has six home runs and has driven in 30 runs. 

With only one error in his time in Oakland, he continues to be a solid defender.

He brings energy to the field, and he plays as hard as anyone in the league. The A's made a good pickup by signing Inge, and he will continue to be good third baseman. 

No. 18: Scott Rolen, Cincinnati Reds

.188/.248, 2 HR, 13 RBI

An All-Star the last two seasons, Scott Rolen continues to deal with a shoulder injury that hurts his offensive production.

Activated from the disabled list yesterday, Rolen had two RBI singles in his first two at-bats in his first game back. He got out in his final two plate appearances yesterday, but the Reds should be optimistic about his return.

Rookie Todd Frazier played very well while filling in for Rolen, but the starting job belongs to Rolen. If Frazier were still the starting third baseman, he would be higher on the list. With Rolen's injury, which may be affecting his production at the plate, he is tough to judge.

He will go down as one of the best defensive third basemen ever, and his glove got him this high on the list. 

With the Reds leading the division, they need Rolen to start hitting and be a productive player down the stretch.

No. 17: Chase Headley, San Diego Padres

.267/.376, 7 HR, 32 RBI

Chase Headley is having a good offensive season for the Padres, and he needs to continue to produce if San Diego wants to score runs.

Playing in PETCO Park, the Padres have a hard time scoring runs. Headley provides a nice boost for their offense. He leads San Diego in pretty much every offensive category, but it is not enough to move him higher on this list.

He is an average defender, but he makes his money with his bat. If he played at a different ballpark, his numbers would probably be higher. 

Here is a split of his numbers this season:

Home: .264/.371  two home runs/16 RBI

Away: .272/.382   five home runs/16 RBI

No. 16: Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals

.229/.300, 3 HR, 22 RBI

Washington's Ryan Zimmerman suffered the biggest fall on this list. Normally, I would have him my top six or seven, but his nagging injuries have hurt his production too much.

He is still a good defender, but his shoulder injury has forced him to change the way he plays defense. At times, his throwing accuracy has been off because of him changing his arm angle.

Even with Zimmerman struggling offensively, Washington has not slowed down. With their young stars, the Nationals can wait for their star third baseman to return to form. 

This has been by far Zimmerman's worst season in his career, but there is plenty of time for him to turn it around. 

No. 15: Aramis Ramirez, Milwaukee Brewers

.262/.335, 8 HR, 38 RBI

As of now, Aramis Ramirez is having a productive season but disappointing by his standards. A year after hitting .306 with 26 home runs and 93 runs batted in, his numbers have gone down slightly. 

The Brewers needed to fill holes on their team after Prince Fielder and Casey McGehee left in the offseason, and Ramirez was their best option. He has not been able to put up huge offensive numbers, but he has been more than adequate.

He has also been a good defensive third baseman, and he will look to improve as the season goes on. 

No. 14: Will Middlebrooks, Boston Red Sox

.289/.328, 6 HR, 24 RBI

I know Kevin Youkilis is still in Boston, but Will Middlebrooks' play has made Youkilis expendable. Youkilis is likely to be traded by the trade deadline, and Middlebrooks will get his chance to be Boston's third baseman. 

It has been a tale of two seasons for Middlebrooks: May and June. In May, he hit .316 with six home runs and drove in 21 runs. He has yet to hit a home run in June, and he has seen his batting average drop.

It is incredible how he has handled the pressure in Boston, and he looks like he has a bright future. Even with Youkilis back, he has still been given playing time.

The Red Sox have found a cheap alternative to Youkilis, and Middlebrooks will most likely be the third baseman unless he struggles mightily.

No. 13: Brett Lawrie, Toronto Blue Jays

.288/.335, 6 HR, 27 RBI

To be as productive as Brett Lawrie has been at such a young age, Toronto should have a good feeling about their future at third base.

The 22-year-old Lawrie has been consistent all season, and he is enjoying his best month of the season right now. Offensively, there is not much to complain about. He has a good batting average with some power numbers.

His weakness so far has been in the field, and he needs to work on his defense. With 10 errors so far, he is not a great all-around player. With a little bit of work, he has the talent to be one of the best third basemen in the league. 

When the Blue Jays brought Lawrie up last year, they probably were not sure what kind of numbers he was going to be able to put up. Ever since his promotion, he just finds a way to get on base. 

No. 12: Jack Hannahan, Cleveland Indians

.268/341, 3 HR, 18 RBI

For the first month of the season, Jack Hannahan led Cleveland to the top of the AL Central. Shortly after he went on the disabled list, the team started to slump.

His numbers are not extremely impressive, but he has missed some time with a calf injury. With runners on base, he hit .391 and also hit .429 with runners in scoring position with two outs. He was about as clutch as anyone in the league during the first six weeks of the season. 

Hannahan's defense helps his pitchers, and he has the ability to make outstanding plays. 

He brings intangibles to the field, and the Indians missed him when he went down with an injury. He was an emotional leader on the field, and he was not afraid of a challenge. 

If he stays healthy and hits the way he did earlier this season, this underrated third baseman will start to receive more attention.

No. 11: Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals

.278/.347, 10 HR, 33 RBI

In his second season in the major leagues, Mike Moustakas is becoming a star in Kansas City,

Another young third baseman who needs to work on his defense, Moustakas has been nothing short of spectacular for a player his age. 

His numbers are starting to put in the conversation to be considered among the top tier of third baseman, but I think he is just on the outside of the top tier.

In a few years, he will be a very good player. Right now, he is working on getting attention and making a name for himself.

No. 10: Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves

.278/.352, 5 HR, 24 RBI

The final season in Chipper Jones' career has been plagued by an injury, but he has still put up pretty good numbers.

A week ago, he was up around .300 and looking like the old Chipper. A veteran like Jones deserves some respect for doing what he has done despite all of the injuries.

He has taken a slight step back this season on defense, but he is still a good defender. 

When he retires at the end of the season, the great switch-hitter will go down as one of the best third basemen ever. Hopefully he will turn it up a notch and finish his career with a great season.

No.9: Placido Polanco, Philadelphia Phillies

.278/.307, 2 HR, 12 RBI

Placido Polanco has been one of the most consistent third basemen in the league for years now, and he continues to be a good player.

As always, he is having another great season defensively. His glove makes up for a slightly lower batting average than the Phillies have been used to. 

In a lineup missing Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, Polanco's offensive production has dropped from last season. This year, his average is below his usual line. As the No. 2 hitter in the lineup, his RBI total is down because of the absence of Philadephia's stars.

Polanco normally does not get the credit he deserves, but he is one of the better third basemen in all of baseball.

No. 8: Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants

.312/.368, 5 HR, 18 RBI

Pablo Sandoval started the year with a long hitting streak, and he has continued to swing the bat well.

In April, he got a hit in every game until the second to last day of the month. He gives the Giants an offensive threat, but he needs to stay healthy. Dealing with a hand injury in May, he had to go on the disabled for almost the entire month. 

Since returning to San Francisco's lineup, he has been inconsistent. He has a hit in the majority of the games, but he has also had a couple hitless games. 

On a team that struggles to score, Sandoval helps Buster Posey drive in runs. The Giants have great pitching, but Sandoval's offensive contributions are enough to keep San Francisco in playoff contention.

No. 7: Hanley Ramirez, Miami Marlins

.255/.329, 11 HR, 37 RBI

The new-look Marlins brought in Jose Reyes to play shortstop, which meant Hanley Ramirez had to shift over to third base. Ramirez was originally upset with having to move over to third, but he has since changed his attitude.

If he does not like playing third base, it is awfully difficult to see it based on his numbers. After a disappointing 2011, he is rebounding nicely. He does not run as much as he used to but still has 10 steals in 12 attempts. 

After years of hitting .300 or higher, his batting average is below what he would like. It is higher than last year's .243, but he is capable of bringing it up even more. 

Defense has always been an issue for him, but Ramirez has been a great defensive third baseman this season. With only three errors, it looks like the move to third helped cut down some of his miscues.

With Ozzie Guillen taking over as manager, Ramirez could have created a lot of tension in the clubhouse if he had refused to move over to third. Instead, he realized how dangerous Miami's infield is and accepted the challenge of a new position.

Both Reyes and Ramirez have the talent to be even better in the second half of the season, so the top of the Marlins' order might be one of the most dangerous in the league.

No.6: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays

.329/.433, 4 HR, 19 RBI

Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria is another big-name third baseman who has dealt with an injury this season, and he is currently on the disabled list.

On his way to coming back to the team, he suffered a setback this week on a rehab assignment. The Rays need to make sure he is healthy before he returns, and they will take it slow with him.

When he is healthy, an argument can be made for Longoria being the best third baseman in the majors. With the injury, he will need to continue to produce to work his way back into that argument.

He is fun to watch, and he brings leadership to the Rays' clubhouse. If he played in a bigger market, he would more than likely be talked about more.

For now, he will continue to produce and play hard. Hopefully his setback in rehab is nothing serious, but Tampa Bay needs to be cautious. They know what he can do when healthy, and it will be worth the wait.

No. 5: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees

.270/.362, 10 HR, 31 RBI

Say what you want about him, but Alex Rodriguez is one of the best third basemen in the game.

Before last year, he was usually in the lineup every day and driving in runs. Now he is back to playing games, and he still plays great baseball at this stage in his career.

His offensive numbers this year are considered a down year by his standards. Despite all the attention he receives in New York, he manages to block it out and produce. The Yankees' lineup is stacked, and A-Rod is a key piece.

Even at age 36, he is a great defensive layer. With only three errors this season, he provides consistency to the Yankees' infield full of Gold Gloves. 

As he works his way up the list of all-time home run leaders, Rodriguez will continue to make headlines with his play.

No. 4: David Freese, St. Louis Cardinals

.271/.317, 13 HR, 43 RBI

Last year's World Series hero David Freese got off to a hot start in St. Louis this season before cooling down.

After hitting .333 in April, he followed it up by hitting .211 in May. In June, he split the difference with a .281 batting average. Although he has not put together consecutive months with high batting averages, his run production has been consistent all year. 

He hit five home runs in each of the first two months of the season, and he has driven in at least 10 runs in every month.

The Cardinals have a 29-year-old third baseman who has proven he can come through in big games. He is a very good player, but he does not have the numbers to join the conversation of the best third basemen in the game. 

No. 3: Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers

.309/.336, 11 HR, 43 RBI

Texas has arguably the best lineup in baseball, and Adrian Beltre is a huge part of their success. 

Outside of 2009, he has put up incredible offensive numbers for the last decade. His home run total is down a little bit from a season ago, but he is still on pace for 25 homers. 

It is unfair to have a lineup with Beltre, Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz. They have even more big sticks in their lineup, so Beltre has plenty of protection. His ability to drive in runs makes him valuable to this lineup, and he turns into their big hitter when Josh Hamilton is out.  

A Gold Glove winner last season, he continues to be solid at third base. He is a great all-around player, and he will help lead the Rangers back to the postseason.  

No.2: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

.310/.367, 14 HR, 54 RBI

The top three spots could probably go in any order, but Miguel Cabrera deserves to be ahead of Beltre as the best third baseman in the American League. 

Like Hanley Ramirez, Cabrera switched (back) to third base this season. Give him credit for willingly switching to third when Prince Fielder signed with Detroit. In previous seasons, Cabrera was not a good defensive player. He has worked hard to prove critics wrong this season, and he has only committed three errors.

I'm still not convinced he is a great fielder, but he is on his way to proving me wrong. He occasionally gets to be in the lineup as the designated hitter, which helps him rest his body but still swing the bat.

At the plate, he is the most productive third baseman in all of baseball. He has incredible power and drives in runs better than anyone in the league. He is on pace for his ninth straight season with over 100 RBI, and he has hit .292 or higher in every one of those seasons.

Two reasons for him being No. 2: Prince Fielder and defense.

Unlike my No. 1 third baseman, Cabrera has Fielder hitting behind him. I am not saying pitchers do not pitch around him, but Cabrera gets more pitches to hit with a power hitter behind him. 

Again, if someone wants to argue Cabrera should be No.1, feel free. When players are this good, it is tough to pick apart their game and compare them when they play in different leagues.

No. 1: David Wright, New York Mets

.353/.455, 8 HR, 38 RBI

With the Mets surprisingly in contention this season, David Wright gets my vote as the best third baseman in the game. He is easily the best at his position in the National League, but there could be an argument for and against him for the best in all of baseball.

When the fences at Citi Field were moved in, Wright's power numbers were supposed to improve. They are about the same as last year's numbers, but his batting average has jumped drastically. His .254 average a season ago is now forgotten, and he is leading New York to a fast start.

While Cabrera has Fielder protecting him, Wright has Lucas Duda and Ike Davis hitting behind him. No disrespect to either of those players, but neither of them are Prince Fielder. Teams pitch around Wright, and he still puts up great numbers.

A two-time Gold Glove winner at third, Wright's defense is also an advantage he has over Cabrera. He does not have great speed, but he is no slouch on the bases.

He may not put up the same amount of home runs as Cabrera, but Citi Field is still a difficult place hit home runs. 

As an all-around player, David Wright deserves to be called the No. 1 third baseman in the majors.