Top 10 Third Basemen Under 25

This is the fifth installment of our seven-part series on the top 10 players under 25 by position. So far, we’ve ranked catchers, first basemen, second basemen, and shortstops.

Notes: For this series, we've ranked players based both on potential and proximity to the majors -- opposed to mainly ceiling as we did in our Top 100. Think of this list as one you'd take into a dynasty league draft. April 1st, 2007 was used as the cutoff date for eligibility on this list.

 

1. Miguel Cabrera, MLB, FLA (4/18/83): Ever since he made his big league debut as a 20-year-old in the summer of 2003, Cabrera has been a boulder rolling downhill through the league. He has improved his .OPS and walk-to-strikeout ratio every year he’s been a Marlin, culminating in a stunning 2006 performance. Cabrera’s supernatural talents seem to amount to a Pujols-esque ceiling, albeit perhaps with less home run power. The only knock on Cabrera is that he’s not especially noteworthy with the glove.

 

 
2. David Wright, MLB, NYM (12/20/82): Immediately anointed as the golden boy of New York following a tremendous first-half split where he stroked 20 home runs and posted a .961 OPS (.386/.575), Wright hit the proverbial wall after the all-star break. Still, not many 24-year-olds have accomplished back-to-back seasons of a .900+ OPS. He has made some spectacular plays in the field as well, leading Mets fans everywhere to conclude there’s little the charismatic Wright can’t do.

 

 
3. Ryan Zimmerman, MLB, WAS (9/28/84): When you factor in defense, Sir. Ryan Wallace Zimmerman may wind up being the best third baseman of his era. He doesn’t hit for a ton of power or steal bases effectively enough to be fantasy gold, but Zimmerman’s rookie season was in the same ball park as Cabrera and Wright’s. Look for the Nationals’ franchise player to continue to blossom into one of the brightest stars in the game.

 

 
4. Alex Gordon, AA, KC (2/10/84): Picked 2^nd overall in 2005, Gordon has done nothing to disappoint. Last year’s Minor League Player of the Year, the lefty slugger hit 29 home runs and stole 22 bases (25 attempts; 88.0% success) in 486 at-bats, and finished with a line of .325/.427/.588. Gordon’s defense has improved greatly since college, and most scouts now expect him to be above-average. He should arrive in Kansas City during the 2007 campaign – perhaps on opening day – and should contend for several MVP awards in his career.

 

 
5. Brandon Wood, AAA, LAA (3/2/85): A prolific power hitter – 93 2B, 8 3B, and 68 HR over the past two seasons – Wood’s raw ability garners mouth-agape attention from whomever sees him play. His incredible extra-base totals not withstanding, Wood nonetheless has his critics. The 21-year-old struck out in a staggering 28.4% of his at-bats in 2006 and committed 27 errors in the field. We are starting to think his bat may play similar to Sammy Sosa’s – the juice and cork-free version…if you can remember that one.

 

 
6. Evan Longoria, AA, TB (10/5/85): The third overall pick in the 2006 draft, Longoria and his bat rocketed through the minor leagues, finishing in Double-A with 18 regular season home runs in only 248 at-bats. Longoria is praised for his makeup and his defense is above-average. The righthanded slugger will start the season in Double-A - Joel Guzman will be at third in Triple-A - and may reach Tampa Bay during the 2007 season.

 

 
7. Andy LaRoche, AAA, LAD (8/13/83): LaRoche slammed 30 home runs in 476 at-bats in 2005, and has a minor league career slugging percentage of .513. The son of former big league all-star Dave LaRoche and brother of Pittsburgh’s Adam LaRoche, Andy should arrive in L.A. to stay during the 2007 season. He is a passable defender, and in 2006 walked more times than he struck out. At his peak, LaRoche will likely be an above-average regular and occasional all-star with 25-30 home runs annually.

 

 
8. Ryan Braun, AA, MIL (11/17/83): Braun, who hit 22 home runs in 2006 – to go along with 26 sb – has tremendous power. His minor leagues career line is a staggering .308/.367/.549, and the young slugger has no significant weaknesses in his offensive game. He did, however, commit 31 errors last season, and many believe he will move to the outfield. Braun will likely spend a good chunk of 2007 in Triple-A and be prepared to open 2008 with starting job.

 

 
9. Edwin Encarnacion, MLB, CIN (1/7/83): A ‘throw-in’ in the Ruben Matteo/Rob Bell blockbuster, Encarnacion is far better than either player ever was. In 2006 he hit 15 home runs in 406 at-bats for Cincinnati as a 23 year old. While his offensive game improved in 2006, his defense was suspect, as he logged the worst fielding percentage among starting third-basemen. As he grows, Encarnacion could reach 25+ home runs annually, but might never rake enough be an all-star.

 

 
10. Andy Marte, MLB, CLE (11/21/83): Once the darling of several notable top-10 lists, Marte has thus far failed to deliver on the promise that earned him so many accolades. After posting an .889 OPS (.364/.525) at Double-A Greenville in 2004 and a .878 OPS (.372/.506) at Triple-A Richmond in 2005, Marte slumped horribly in 2006. Out of sorts at both Cleveland and Triple-A Buffalo, Marte – already twice-traded – enters 2007 with a serious need to prove his talent.

 

Check back on Saturday for our top 30 outfielders under 25.