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Fantasy baseball 2020 tiered third basemen rankings

By Bill Pivetz

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies reacts and tosses his helmet away after striking out swinging against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on September 25, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies reacts and tosses his helmet away after striking out swinging against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on September 25, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
(Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

This tier features players with high upside but there is also a bit of risk.

Tommy Edman, STL

I wrote about Edman in my second base rankings. He’s a good bat at the bottom of the Cardinals lineup. He will have opportunities to get on base and drive in runs. He enters the season with second and third base eligibility. Edman is listed as the starting left fielder and will become OF eligible after 10 games (or sooner depending on your league).

JD Davis, NYM

Davis was a surprise for fantasy owners last season. After hitting for a combined .194 over 66 games with the Astros in 2017 and 2018, he had a breakout season. In 140 games, Davis hit 22 home runs, 57 RBIs and .307.

I think that’s just the tip of the iceberg for the 26-year-old. He reduced his strikeout and ground ball rates last season. Hitting fifth in the Mets lineup, as long as they’re all healthy, could lead to big things. He could finish with 25 home runs, 65 RBIs and a .280 average. Davis is third base and outfield eligible.

Hunter Dozier, KC

Dozier made a complete 180 from his 2018 season to how he performed in 2019. Over 139 games, he hit 26 home runs, 84 RBIs and .279 with 75 runs scored. Dozier isn’t going to run but will contribute to four of the five major hitting categories.

The top of the Royals lineup is solid but it breaks apart after Alex Gordon at No. 5. If you are looking for value in the 18th round, I’d rather draft Dozier than some of the other hitters being drafted ahead of him, Edwin Encarnacion and Garrett Hampson for example.

Jeff McNeil, NYM

McNeil is my 11th ranked second baseman compared to my 19th ranked third baseman. If you want him on your team, you can draft him as your starting second baseman or wait to draft him as a utility player or backup third baseman. Looking at his ADP, inside the top 100, he’ll likely be a starting second baseman.

Justin Turner, LAD

Turner will give you close to 30 home runs with a .290 batting average. That’s great for a top-150 player. The downside is that, when you draft him, you have to assume 30-40 games missed. He hasn’t played in 140 games in three seasons.

If Turner ends up playing 155 games, it may just be his best season ever. Turner hitting .310 with 32 home runs, 80 RBIs and 90 runs would be a steal in the 13th round. But, he could also finish with 26 homers and a .285 average.

Miguel Sano, MIN

Despite playing in just 105 games, Sano still hit 34 home runs and .247. With the power Sano has in his bat, there is a lot of upside. Unfortunately, he hasn’t played in 120 games in any season, so a 40/100/100 season is just a dream.

The Twins lineup is deep. Sano is slated to hit eighth, between Luis Arraez and Byron Buxton. He will also earn first base eligibility after 10 games this season. The potential is great but so is the disappointment. If you draft Sano, I’d recommend drafting a viable backup for his time missed.

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