Yulieski Gurriel could help carry the Astros this season

Third base is the elite position in fantasy baseball with four of the first 12 picks off the board likely to be players applying their skills at the hot corner, so deep this season. In last year’s drafts, Miguel Sano was a top-60 pick. This year, according to early data available from the FantasyPros ECR, 18 third basemen are ranked higher than the Twins’ slugger. That is a deep position.

Within the prospects ranks, however, the pickings are slim. There is significant power available but, as always, it usually comes with risk in the form of poor plate discipline. With the exception of our number one pick, there is no guarantee that any of these prospects will reach the big leagues in 2017, which is as much a reflection on the recent spate of promotions as it is the limited availability of Major League-ready talent.

Yoan Moncada, acknowledged as one of the best hitting prospects, has already topped our Top 5 Second Base Prospects list, although he made four starts at third base for the Red Sox in September and could play either position or even the outfield for the White Sox.

Check out our 2017 consensus rankings

5. Yandy Diaz (3B – CLE)
Yandy has posted career-highs each time he has stepped up a level. In 95 games in Triple-A last year, the Cuban slashed .325/.399/.461 with 117 hits, 22 doubles, seven home runs and 44 RBI.

Perhaps most impressive and a key to his possible step up to the Majors in 2017, is the 25-year-old’s 198 walks to 191 strikeouts in his Minor League career.

Although the right-hander may lack the power generally demanded from third base, his ability to make contact and get on-base are traits much sought after in Cleveland and often undervalued in fantasy. He has been one of the best hitters this offseason, slashing .371/.451/.510 in Venezuela.

Third base had been a problem area for the Indians until Jose Ramirez’s breakout season which put him in the top-20 of MVP voting. There have been suggestions that Indians could utilize Ramirez as a super-utility player, creating an opening at third base, although Diaz has also seen playing time in the outfield. Much is dependent upon any further signings the Indians make and of course, the health of left fielder Michael Brantley.

4. Jeimer Candelario (3B – CHC)
In 2011, in his first taste of action within the Cubs’ organization, 17-year-old Jeimer Candelario walked more than he struck out. He has been an on-base machine ever since, and last year as a 23-year-old, he posted .417 OBP in the PCL with over 300 plate appearances.

Defensively reliable, the switch-hitter can hit for power (56 home runs in the Minors) and posted an attention-grabbing .959 OPS in Triple-A in 2016, which has him knocking on the door to the Majors.

There is one significant barrier preventing him from taking the next step, the Cubs’ incumbent third baseman, Kris Bryant. It seems unlikely that the Cubs will move the NL MVP from the hot corner but remember he did make appearances at first base, all three outfield spots and even shortstop last year.

It looks like a trade is the best route for Jeimer Candelario to see the Majors in 2017 and watch out if it happens as he will be catapulted to the top of the Rookie of the Year discussion.

3. Ryan McMahon (3B – COL)
Another player blocked by a superstar in the big league team is Colorado’s Ryan McMahon who, despite riding high on prospect lists, will not usurp Nolan Arenado in the near future.

A good showing in the minors at the start of the season and the left-hander could feasibly be in the first base mix in Coors Field, with the Rockies utilizing Ian Desmond’s positional flexibility elsewhere.

The 22-year-old struggled in the jump up to Double-A last year, posting a career-low .724 OPS and career-high 161 strikeouts. He remains an enticing prospect, especially when picturing his left-handed power in the thin Colorado air.

The Rockies are likely to make further moves this offseason, which will help bring clarity to McMahon’s future role but at the moment it looks like he could be their starting first baseman in 2018.

2. Matt Chapman (3B – OAK)
36 home runs in the Minor Leagues with .519 SLG gets attention. 23-year-old Matt Chapman built on his impressive 2015 by dominating Double-A (29 home runs and .856 OPS) before blasting seven home runs in just 18 Triple-A games last year.

Unlike Jeimer Candelario or Ryan McMahon, Matt Chapman is not blocked by a superstar, unless you hold a very high opinion of Ryon Healy.

His glove is MLB-ready but his high strikeout level could delay an early call-up. No-one on the Athletics strikes out more than 30% of the time, and they have Khris Davis playing for them.

Expect to see right-hander debut for the Athletics sometime in 2017 and expect to see fireworks.

1. Yulieski Gurriel (3B – HOU)
Gurriel tops this list, primarily due to his playing time opportunities in Houston. He made 20 appearances at third base for the Astros last year so will be 3B eligible in all leagues, although with Alex Bregman firmly entrenched there, the only position available for the July signee is at first base.

The right-hander hit three home runs with 15 RBI and .262/.292/.385 slash line over 130 at-bats in his first taste of the Majors. It was an adequate debut at the highest level but not the production that the contending Astros will tolerate in 2017.

The 32-year-old will need to live up to his projected slash line of .270/.311/.428 to keep the job otherwise AJ Reed, having already destroyed Triple-A pitching, will get another shot.

The early data in FantasyPros ECR ranks Yulieski Gurriel as the 27th third baseman, just ahead of Eugenio Suarez but significantly higher than Nick Castellanos, Hernan Perez, Josh Harrison and Yangervis Solarte, which says much about the depth at third base this year.

Worth Mentioning

Rafael Devers (3B – BOS)
20-year-old Rafael Devers is a potential superstar and destined to become Boston’s third baseman from 2019 onwards. Like many third base prospects, he has raw power but unlike most, he is rapidly improving his command of the strike zone. Devers, one of the top-20 prospects in the game, slashed .282/.335/.443 in High-A last season, with 32 doubles, eight triples and eleven home runs with 18 stolen bases. He should be owned in all dynasty leagues.

Nick Senzel (3B – CIN)
One of the best hitting prospects from the 2016 draft, Nick Senzel has a mature, patient hitting approach with 20 stolen base speed. In his first taste of Single-A, the 21-year-old slashed .329/.415/.567 with seven home runs and 15 stolen bases in 210 at-bats. He also walked 32 times to 49 strikeouts. The right-hander could debut as early as 2018, although the speed of his promotion will be partly determined by the Reds’ rebuilding plans.

Joey Gallo (3B/LF – TEX)
The Rangers’ slugger exceeded rookie status limits last year and will not appear on any prospects lists but he is still an intriguing Minor League player. In 30 plate appearances in the Majors in 2016, the right-hander recorded one hit with 19 strikeouts and has seen his reputation as a superstar-in-waiting significantly tarnished. In fact, his value is probably lower now than it has ever been. It should not be overlooked that he was only 22-years-old yet hit 25 home runs in Triple-A with .367 OBP. Don’t be the one in your league to let prospect fatigue make you dismiss Joey Gallo’s immense potential.

More Prospects:
C  | 1B | 2B | SS | OF | P

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Gavin Tramps is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Gavin, check out his archive or find him @_tramps.