Fantasy baseball 2018: 3 third basemen to target late

Third base is home to some of the most sought-after fantasy players in the first couple of rounds, but we can’t all draft one.

If you miss out on one of the superstar options, we have three third basemen you can get with a late-round pick.

Whether you play in deep league formats, AL/NL-only leagues or simply need to draft a third baseman or corner infielder late; we have identified three third basemen for you. These three are available in the late rounds (after pick 300) and could all return excellent value for their draft position.

If you read our article on second basemen to target in the late rounds, you will have seen that the options were not very exciting. Third base is completely different; all three players are rookies, and it would not be a surprise to see one of them walk off with the 2018 Rookie of the Year Award.

Ryan McMahon (ADP 380)
Power-hitting slugger and thin Colorado air are two elements that when mixed together create an elixir for fantasy baseball. A third baseman by trade, Ryan McMahon is forcing his way into contention for the Rockies’ first base job.

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The 23-year-old has nothing left to prove in Triple-A, having posted .986 OPS with 20 home runs, 39 doubles and 88 RBI. He has also swiped double-digit bags in successive seasons.

He is a bit too reliant on pulling the ball, so there is the likelihood of a few teething problems as he learns to adjust to the superior repertoire of big league pitchers.

We all know that you shouldn’t read too much into Spring Training stats, but over his first seven games, McMahon hit .471 AVG without a single strikeout.

Unless the Rockies sign Mark Reynolds or another of the remaining free agent sluggers, McMahon could be a sneaky pick for Rookie of the Year consideration.

Nick Senzel (ADP 370)
The current MLB top-10 prospects list is stacked with elite talent, but the Reds’ Nick Senzel might be one of the best. He does not have the same ceiling as lots of the others, but his power and an advanced approach at the plate make him as close as possible to a can’t-miss prospect.

The 22-year-old is a third baseman but has been getting reps at second base and shortstop as the Reds look to get their top prospect into the lineup.

He hit .340 in half a season in Double-A with double-digit home runs and .413 OBP. Much of his value will be down to when he is called up, but whenever he arrives, expect Senzel to make an effortless transition from minors to majors.

Colin Moran (ADP 482)
The Gerrit Cole trade to the Astros opened up the potential for everyday at-bats for former top prospect Colin Moran. The left-hander has seen his prospect reputation tarnished, but despite a breakout 2017, the fantasy world appears reticent in believing Moran’s potential.

The 25-year-old hit .308 with .543 SLG over 79 games in Triple-A last season with 18 home runs and an impressive .373 OBP. He then carried this form into his seven-game taster of Major League action.

Moran will likely get the starting third base job for the Pirates, although he will need to impress in Spring Training; otherwise, he could lose at-bats to veteran David Freese. For a pick outside of the top-450, Moran looks like a good late-round flyer.

Next: Draft strategy: Fill infield first & load up on pitching

Third base is such an elite position at the top end, with some of the best hitters in the game manning the hot corner. McMahon, if he hits, and Senzel, if he plays, could both be top-100 players by the end of the season, making them valuable in all league formats. Moran comes into the season with significant prospect fatigue but has the clearest path to playing time.

Watch out for Spring Training changes. The Yankees could give their third base job to rookie Miguel Andujar (ADP 317) which would dramatically increase his value. Read more about his fantasy potential in Bill Pivetz’s excellent article.