Welcome to the June third baseman rankings update. Up this week are the June rest-of-season position rankings and overall top 300. Remember that players are listed where they’re most valuable, so if you don’t see someone you’re looking for, check another position. Designated hitters are listed with the first basemen.
Click to see other June rankings:
Top 300 | SP | RP | OF | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | C | DH
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Third Baseman Rankings
| June | Third Base | Team | 2016 | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Josh Donaldson | Blue Jays | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Nolan Arenado | Rockies | 3 | 2 |
| 3 | Kris Bryant | Cubs | 4 | 3 |
| 4 | Todd Frazier | White Sox | 5 | 4 |
| 5 | Kyle Seager | Mariners | 7 | 6 |
| 6 | Maikel Franco | Phillies | 6 | 5 |
| 7 | Adrian Beltre | Rangers | 8 | 7 |
| 8 | Matt Carpenter | Cardinals | 9 | 8 |
| 9 | Nick Castellanos | Tigers | 18 | 14 |
| 10 | Evan Longoria | Rays | 10 | 10 |
| 11 | Travis Shaw | Red Sox | 34 1B | 17 |
| 12 | Jake Lamb | Diamondbacks | 21 | 15 |
| 13 | Justin Turner | Dodgers | 12 | 12 |
| 14 | Danny Valencia | Athletics | 15 | 18 |
| 15 | Yasmany Tomas | Diamondbacks | 20 | 11 |
| 16 | David Wright | Mets | 14 | 13 |
| 17 | Matt Duffy | Giants | 13 | 16 |
| 18 | Chase Headley | Yankees | 16 | 21 |
| 19 | Trevor Plouffe | Twins | 24 | 23 |
| 20 | Mark Reynolds | Rockies | 36 | 28 |
| 21 | Martin Prado | Marlins | 23 | 22 |
| 22 | Yunel Escobar | Angels | 26 | 25 |
| 23 | Lonnie Chisenhall | Indians | 25 | 26 |
| 24 | Yangervis Solarte | Padres | 29 | 29 |
| 25 | Luis Valbuena | Astros | 30 | 30 |
| 26 | Cheslor Cuthbert | Royals | 55 | NR |
| 27 | Tyler White | Astros | 31 | 24 |
| 28 | Yulieski Gurriel | 17 | 20 | |
| 29 | Brett Wallace | Padres | 45 1B | NR |
| 30 | Juan Uribe | Indians | 32 | 36 |
| 31 | Matt Chapman | Athletics | 53 | 37 |
| 32 | David Freese | Pirates | 33 | 32 |
| 33 | Alex Guerrero | Dodgers | 35 | 34 |
| 34 | Colin Moran | Astros | 67 | NR |
| 35 | Hector Olivera | Braves | 19 | 35 |
| 36 | Rio Ruiz | Braves | 60 | 33 |
| 37 | Cody Asche | Phillies | 43 | 40 |
| 38 | Hernan Perez | Brewers | 57 | NR |
| 39 | Adonis Garcia | Braves | 34 | 31 |
| 40 | Eric Campbell | Mets | 51 | NR |
Dropping off: Mike Moustakas (9th), Chris Johnson (38th)
- The Royals are giving Cuthbert an extended look at third base with Moustakas out for the season due to a torn ACL. Cuthbert was off to a .333/.402/.624 start in 24 games in Triple-A this year, but that was after hitting a much more modest .277/.339/.421 there last year. Since debuting in 2010, he’s never finished a minor league season with better than a .760 OPS. In other words, I think the Royals will eventually have to make a trade for a better solution at the hot corner.
- Maybe Valencia could be that solution. He’s been on fire for the A’s, but the team also has 2014 first-round pick Matt Chapman hitting .257/.359/.519 in Double-A after a very impressive showing this spring. I don’t think he’s ready yet -- he’s struck out 66 times in 49 games in the Texas League -- but his power is really intriguing.
- There’s been little to suggest Gurriel will sign anytime soon. Since he and little brother Lourdes defected over the winter, there have been indications that they’ll come in a package deal, and because Lourdes is still just 22, he needs to wait until after July 1 to maximize his dollars in a contract. Yulieski will be a quality regular for whatever team that signs him, but I don’t know when it’s going to happen.