Ranking Every MLB Team's Starting Third Baseman for 2026 Season

Welcome to Bleacher Report's 2026 MLB preseason position rankings.

Up next is third base, a position that not long ago was arguably the deepest in baseball, and still has an elite upper echelon of talent led by Alex Bregman (CHC), Matt Chapman (SF), Manny Machado (SD) and José Ramírez (CLE) and newcomer to the position Bo Bichette (NYM).

Breakout seasons from Junior Caminero (TB) and Maikel García (KC) vaulted them into the top 10 at the position, while guys like Colt Keith (DET), Miguel Vargas (CWS) and Japanese League star Kazuma Okamoto (TOR) are capable of taking that leap in 2026.

Each team's projected primary starter for the 2026 season is included in the rankings. Players are ranked based on expectations for the coming campaign. Offensive and defensive contributions were both considered, and past track records played a major role in determining each player's outlook.

Catch up on the 2026 Preseason Position Ranking here: Shortstops

Top Prospects Who Will Eventually Be Starting in 2026

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Colt Emerson

Colt Emerson, Seattle Mariners (No. 12 on B/R Top 100)

Emerson has played almost exclusively shortstop in the minors, but with J.P. Crawford blocking his path and a 65-grade hit tool that is among the best of any prospect, he could fit anywhere on the team's infield.

Expect the Mariners to open the year with Cole Young at second base and Brendan Donovan at third base, but if Young gets off to a slow start at the plate, Donovan could shift back to the keystone to pave the way for Emerson's debut.

Nos. 30-28

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Kyle Karros

30. David Hamilton, Milwaukee Brewers

Offense: 194 PA, 63 OPS+, .198/.257/.333, 11 XBH (6 HR), 19 RBI
Defense: 1.1 INN, 0 DRS, 0 OAA
WAR: 1.0

The Caleb Durbin trade has created a massive void at third base for the Brewers, and unless they opt to shift Joey Ortiz back to the hot corner to clear a path for Jett Williams, it looks like Hamilton could be the guy to start the year. In 511 plate appearances over the last two seasons, he has 21 doubles, 14 home runs and 55 steals, albeit with a lackluster .229 average and 83 OPS+.

29. Kyle Karros, Colorado Rockies

Offense: 156 PA, 58 OPS+, .226/.308/.277, 5 XBH (1 HR), 9 RBI
Defense: 343.1 INN, 3 DRS, 4 OAA
WAR: 0.0

After a breakout season at High-A Spokane in 2024, Karros hit .301/.398/.476 with 32 extra-base hits in 75 games across three minor league levels before making his MLB debut on Aug. 8. If anyone is going to stake a claim to everyday playing time at third base, the 23-year-old looks like the leading candidate, with utility man Willi Castro on hand as a fallback plan.

28. Max Muncy, Athletics

Offense: 220 PA, 75 OPS+, .214/.259/.379, 16 XBH (9 HR), 23 RBI
Defense: 250.2 INN, 0 DRS, -2 OAA
WAR: 0.0

The "other" Max Muncy was the surprise winner of the starting second base job out of camp last season, but struggled early before he was sent back to Triple-A. He returned to the majors in early June and seemed to be hitting his stride in July with an .816 OPS through 15 games before a fractured wrist sent him to the sidelines. With Jeff McNeil acquired to play second, Muncy enters spring in an open competition with Zack Gelof to fill the hole at third base.

Nos. 27-25

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Nolan Gorman

27. Brady House, Washington Nationals

Offense: 274 PA, 62 OPS+, .234/.252/.322, 15 XBH (4 HR), 29 RBI
Defense: 615.1 INN, 0 DRS, 2 OAA
WAR: -0.6

The No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 draft and a perennial Top 100 prospect during his time in the Nationals farm system, House is more potential than production at this point, but he enters the season with a clear claim on the third base job. A healthy 46.3 percent hard-hit rate provides some reason for optimism he can make more of an impact at the plate going forward.

26. Connor Norby, Miami Marlins

Offense: 337 PA, 90 OPS+, .251/.300/.389, 26 XBH (8 HR), 34 RBI
Defense: 690.0 INN, -5 DRS, -4 OAA
WAR: 0.7

The Marlins acquired Norby along with outfielder Kyle Stowers in the 2025 deadline deal that sent Trevor Rogers to the Orioles, and he made an instant impact, posting a 108 OPS+ while tallying eight doubles and seven home runs in 36 games following the trade. Expected to be one of Miami's more productive bats last year, he instead dealt with an oblique strain, a fractured hamate bone and a quad strain en route to playing only 88 games.

25. Nolan Gorman, St. Louis Cardinals

Offense: 402 PA, 88 OPS+, .205/.296/.370, 29 XBH (14 HR), 46 RBI
Defense: 410.1 INN, -3 DRS, -9 OAA
WAR: 0.1

With Nolan Arenado gone and the Cardinals squarely in rebuilding mode, Gorman will get every opportunity to show he can be a cornerstone piece of the future in St. Louis. The former top prospect has always had elite power potential, and he has averaged 28 long balls per 162 games across four seasons in the majors, but a career strikeout rate around 34 percent has undercut his production.

Nos. 24-22

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Ke'Bryan Hayes

24. Yoán Moncada, Los Angeles Angels

Offense: 289 PA, 116 OPS+, .234/.336/.448, 27 XBH (12 HR), 35 RBI
Defense: 593.1 INN, -10 DRS, -13 OAA
WAR: 0.7

The headlining piece of the Chris Sale blockbuster and a 5.1-WAR player at his peak with the White Sox, Moncada has topped 110 games played just three times during his decade in the big leagues. A wide variety of injuries have limited him to 96 games over the last two seasons, but he was productive when healthy with a 116 OPS+ in 334 plate appearances. The Angels brought him back on a one-year, $4 million deal while closing the book on the Anthony Rendon era.

23. Jared Triolo, Pittsburgh Pirates

Offense: 376 PA, 86 OPS+, .227/.311/.356, 27 XBH (7 HR), 24 RBI
Defense: 260.1 INN, 7 DRS, 4 OAA
WAR: 2.3

Triolo has quietly tallied 5.7 WAR over the past three seasons thanks in large part to his defensive work, even winning NL Gold Glove honors at the utility spot in 2024. Penciling him into the spot previously occupied by Ke'Bryan Hayes is about as close to the SpiderMan pointing at SpiderMan meme as it gets for a Pirates team that made a run at signing Eugenio Suárez but whiffed.

22. Ke'Bryan Hayes, Cincinnati Reds

Offense: 570 PA, 65 OPS+, .235/.290/.306, 24 XBH (5 HR), 49 RBI
Defense: 1,283.0 INN, 19 DRS, 22 OAA
WAR: 1.5

Speaking of Hayes, the two-time Gold Glove winner is one of baseball's best defensive players, but he has gone from inconsistent at the plate to a complete non-factor in recent years. With a 64 OPS+ in 966 plate appearances the last two seasons, all of his value has come from his glove, though playing his home games at Great American Ball Park could jumpstart his bat.

Nos. 21-19

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Ryan McMahon

21. Josh Jung, Texas Rangers

Offense: 511 PA, 100 OPS+, .251/.294/.390, 38 XBH (14 HR), 61 RBI
Defense: 1,086.2 INN, -3 DRS, 5 OAA
WAR: 1.4

After dealing with injuries early in his pro career, Jung turned a corner in 2023 when he started the All-Star Game and finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. The injury bug bit hard again in 2024 when he played only 46 games, and while he was mostly healthy last season, the production was middling and his batted-ball metrics backed it up. This could be a make-or-break year for his time in a Rangers uniform.

20. Miguel Vargas, Chicago White Sox

Offense: 569 PA, 100 OPS+, .234/.316/.401, 50 XBH (16 HR), 60 RBI
Defense: 645.2 INN, -3 DRS, -7 OAA
WAR: 1.9

A former top prospect in the Dodgers system, Vargas stands out as one of the more promising pieces to emerge from the current rebuilding efforts on the South Side. The 26-year-old split his time evenly between the two infield corner spots last year, but with Munetaka Murakami expected to be the everyday guy at first base, he will look to settle in at the hot corner and as one of the team's primary run producers.

19. Ryan McMahon, New York Yankees

Offense: 586 PA, 87 OPS+, .214/.312/.381, 44 XBH (20 HR), 53 RBI
Defense: 1,265.0 INN, 10 DRS, 6 OAA
WAR: 2.3

McMahon hit just .208/.308/.333 for an 81 OPS+ in 185 plate appearances after joining the Yankees at the trade deadline, but he still contributed 1.1 WAR during that time thanks to his elite defense at third base. Along with his reliable glove, he has also hit at least 20 home runs in each of the last six full seasons, and his floor is something similar to what Chase Headley provided for the Yankees a decade ago.

Nos. 18-16

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Royce Lewis

18. Caleb Durbin, Boston Red Sox

Offense: 506 PA, 101 OPS+, .256/.334/.387, 36 XBH (11 HR), 53 RBI
Defense: 1,060.2 INN, 5 DRS, 2 OAA
WAR: 2.8

The Red Sox still need to sort out how their infield pieces fit together. The recently acquired Durbin and former top prospect Marcelo Mayer are both expected to occupy starting roles, but it is still unclear who plays second and who plays third. Strong defensive metrics make Durbin the leading candidate for the third base job, though his .387 slugging percentage does not fit the prototypical power profile at the position.

17. Nolan Arenado, Arizona Diamondbacks

Offense: 436 PA, 87 OPS+, .237/.289/.377, 31 XBH (12 HR), 52 RBI
Defense: 880.2 INN, 6 DRS, 3 OAA
WAR: 1.3

Can a change of scenery squeeze a few more productive seasons out of Arenado as he puts the finishing touches on a Hall of Fame resume? His 87 OPS+ last year was his worst over a full season since he was a rookie in 2013, and the batted-ball metrics are not pretty, but he has always hit well at Chase Field with an .840 OPS and 13 home runs in 77 games. His glove is also still better than most, even if it's no longer elite.

16. Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins

Offense: 403 PA, 83 OPS+, .237/.283/.388, 31 XBH (13 HR), 52 RBI
Defense: 826.0 INN, -2 DRS, 1 OAA
WAR: 0.6

Lewis played a career-high 106 games last season, but didn't show the same offensive punch he did during previous injury-shortened campaigns. Somehow still only 26 years old, the former No. 1 overall pick still offers a ton of upside for a retooling Twins team if everything clicks, though the range of possible outcomes in 2026 is as wide as anyone on this list.

Nos. 15-13

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Colt Keith

15. Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies

Offense: 504 PA, 102 OPS+, .287/.331/.409, 32 XBH (11 HR), 59 RBI
Defense: 942.2 INN, -3 DRS, -2 OAA
WAR: 1.5

Floated in trade rumors once again this offseason, Bohm stayed put for what will be his final season of club control before hitting the open market. The former No. 3 overall pick has never quite delivered on his elite power potential, but he has averaged a 106 OPS+ with 29 doubles, 15 home runs, 81 RBI and 1.5 WAR the last four seasons. The 29-year-old is a middle-of-the-pack performer at the position with top 10 upside.

14. Colt Keith, Detroit Tigers

Offense: 468 PA, 107 OPS+, .256/.333/.413, 37 XBH (13 HR), 45 RBI
Defense: 254.1 INN, 0 DRS, -2 OAA
WAR: 1.5

After making double-digit starts at first base, second base, third base and designated hitter last season, Keith should get a chance to settle in at the hot corner in 2026. The 24-year-old took a nice step forward at the plate during his second year in the majors, raising his walk rate from 6.5 to 10.3 percent while settling in as the club's primary leadoff hitter during the second half.

13. Brendan Donovan, Seattle Mariners

Offense: 515 PA, 119 OPS+, .287/.353/.422, 42 XBH (10 HR), 50 RBI
Defense: DNP third base in 2025
WAR: 2.7

The Mariners finally pulled the trigger on a long-speculated trade for Donovan earlier this month, and he is expected to open the year at third base, while former top prospect Cole Young handles second base. While he didn't play the hot corner at all in 2025, he has logged 269.2 innings there in his career with strong defensive metrics (6 DRS, 3 OAA). Elite on-base ability helps offset his middling power on the offensive side of things.

Nos. 12-10

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Kazuma Okamoto

12. Kazuma Okamoto, Toronto Blue Jays

Offense (Japan): 77 G, .322/.411/.581, 39 XBH (15 HR), 51 RBI

Despite receiving less initial hype than fellow countrymen Munetaka Murakami and Tatsuya Imai, it was Okamoto who ended up securing the biggest payday. The 29-year-old had six 30-homer seasons in Japan, including a 41-homer peak in 2023, and he doesn't have the same swing-and-miss concerns as Murakami. The bigger question might be his defensive profile at third base, though the presence of Addison Barger makes shuffling things around easy if needed.

11. Carlos Correa, Houston Astros

Offense: 584 PA, 103 OPS+, .276/.332/.402, 42 XBH (13 HR), 52 RBI
Defense: 417.0 INN, -2 DRS, 2 OAA
WAR: 1.5

A reunion with the Astros was an unexpected turn for Correa at the deadline, and he enjoyed a nice resurgence at the plate following the trade, logging a 117 OPS+ with six home runs and 21 RBI in 51 games. The 31-year-old is still an impact player when healthy, but a disappointing start to last season and his injury history leads to a cautious ranking just outside the top 10 as he settles in at the hot corner.

10. Jordan Westburg, Baltimore Orioles

Offense: 352 PA, 114 OPS+, .265/.313/.457, 28 XBH (17 HR), 41 RBI
Defense: 439.2 INN, -5 DRS, 2 OAA
WAR: 1.6

Somewhat overshadowed during his time in a loaded Orioles farm system, Westburg broke through with a 126 OPS+ and 2.4 WAR while earning an All-Star selection in 2024. Hamstring, finger and ankle injuries limited him to 85 games last season, but he was again one of the team's most productive hitters when healthy. He needs to prove he can stay on the field for a full 162-game season to join the upper echelon at the position.

Nos. 9-7

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Maikel García

9. Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers

Offense: 388 PA, 136 OPS+, .243/.376/.470, 31 XBH (19 HR), 67 RBI
Defense: 801.1 INN, 3 DRS, -5 OAA
WAR: 3.6

With just 80 plate appearances and a .157 batting average against left-handed pitching last season, Muncy has settled into a strong-side platoon role, but he remains extremely productive entering his age-35 season. A tip of the cap for making a smooth transition to third base after the Freddie Freeman signing pushed him off first base a few years ago.

8. Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves

Offense: 447 PA, 106 OPS+, .260/.309/.428, 37 XBH (16 HR), 54 RBI
Defense: 888.2 INN, -2 DRS, -1 OAA
WAR: 1.3

Injuries have limited Riley to 110 and 102 games the last two seasons, but he is still not far removed from an elite three-year stretch where he posted a 135 OPS+ and averaged 35 doubles, 36 home runs, 99 RBI and 6.3 WAR. The 28-year-old has something to prove, but there's no reason he can't reclaim his top-five status at the position with a healthy 2026.

7. Maikel García, Kansas City Royals

Offense: 666 PA, 123 OPS+, .286/.351/.449, 60 XBH (16 HR), 74 RBI
Defense: 1,144.2 INN, 13 DRS, 18 OAA
WAR: 5.8

The biggest riser at the position, García was ranked No. 23 in this article a year ago following a season where his 72 OPS+ ranked dead last among qualified hitters. There is always significant regression risk when a player takes such a massive step forward seemingly out of nowhere, but a solid uptick in his batted-ball metrics across the board last year makes it easier to buy his performance. His Gold Glove defense also helps provide a high value floor.

Nos. 6-4

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Junior Caminero

6. Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays

Offense: 653 PA, 131 OPS+, .264/.311/.535, 73 XBH (45 HR), 110 RBI
Defense: 1,257.1 INN, -5 DRS, -3 OAA
WAR: 4.4

This might seem low for a 22-year-old coming off a 45-homer season, but a closer look at the home/road splits in Caminero's numbers provides a major red flag:

Home: 77 G, 318 PA, .313/.358/.595
Road: 77 G, 335 PA, .218/.266/.477

Considering he won't be calling Steinbrenner Field home again this year as the Rays move back to Tropicana Field, he has some real questions to answer before moving into the top-five at the position.

5. Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants

Offense: 535 PA, 120 OPS+, .231/.340/.430, 46 XBH (21 HR), 61 RBI
Defense: 1,116.1 INN, 5 DRS, 4 OAA
WAR: 4.1

A five-time Gold Glove winner and proven middle-of-the-order run producer, Chapman represents the beginning of the top-tier of talent in these rankings. He went from a 7.1-WAR player in 2024 to a 4.1-WAR player in 2025, and Ke'Bryan Hayes edged him out for Gold Glove honors, but he remains one of the most impactful all-around players at the position.

4. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres

Offense: 678 PA, 118 OPS+, .275/.335/.460, 60 XBH (27 HR), 95 RBI
Defense: 1,252.2 INN, 3 DRS, -6 OAA
WAR: 4.1

Machado is one of the most durable players in the sport, and he started 145 games at third base last year along with 14 more starts at designated hitter. He has somewhat quietly piled up 2,069 hits, 369 home runs, 1,144 RBI and 61.7 WAR entering his age-33 season, and with a contract that runs through 2033, he is poised to accomplish some significant milestones in a Padres uniform.

Nos. 3-1

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José Ramírez

3. Alex Bregman, Chicago Cubs

Offense: 495 PA, 128 OPS+, .273/.360/.462, 46 XBH (18 HR), 62 RBI
Defense: 972.1 INN, 1 DRS, 3 OAA
WAR: 3.5

The Cubs gave Bregman a five-year, $175 million deal to be the new face of the franchise, and while a quad strain limited him to 114 games last season, his 128 OPS+ was the fourth-highest mark of his impressive career. With a well-rounded offensive game built more on gap power, run production and on-base ability, he should age better than more power-centric players.

2. Bo Bichette, New York Mets

Offense: 628 PA, 129 OPS+, .311/.357/.483, 63 XBH (18 HR), 94 RBI
Defense: DNP third base in 2025
WAR: 3.5

This is a bullish ranking for a player with zero career innings at third base, but Bichette was signed for his bat, and shifting off shortstop where he was one of the worst defenders in baseball should, in theory, actually add to his overall value. The 27-year-old is one of the best pure hitters in baseball, and he put his disappointing 2024 campaign in the rearview with a fantastic 2025 season.

1. José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians

Offense: 673 PA, 137 OPS+, .283/.360/.503, 67 XBH (30 HR), 85 RBI
Defense: 1,145.2 INN, 0 DRS, 6 OAA
WAR: 5.8

J-Ram is the gold standard at third base and one of the easiest choices for the No. 1 spot at any position on the field. He logged his second straight and third career 30/30 season in 2025, and continues to put up elite numbers with little in the way of protection around him in the Cleveland lineup. The 33-year-old has finished in the top 10 in AL MVP voting eight times in the last nine years, racking up 50.1 WAR along the way.