And we’ve reached our remaining prime 20 recap for the infield. You’ll by no means guess the place we go subsequent. Did you simply say outfield? Okay, so that you’re guesser. In case you exclude the prime 20 catchers, as a result of who cares, 2nd basemen have been the shallowest place. I do know I mentioned I used to be shocked once I went over them, however, guess what? Nonetheless shocked! Shortstops are actually a stacked place. 1st basemen? Not stacked. third basemen? Nearly precisely the identical as 1st basemen. If I needed to rank the infield from least to greatest: Catchers, 2B, 3B, 1B, SS. 1st base had an additional greenback of worth on the backend, however very shut. To recap my recap earlier than the recap, this remaining rating is from our Fantasy Baseball Participant Rater with my feedback. This isn’t for subsequent yr. Anyway, right here’s the highest 20 third basemen for 2024 fantasy baseball and the way they evaluate to the place I initially ranked them:
1. Jose Ramirez – Nearly as good because the third basemen have been, there have been a ton of flops: Austin Riley, Royce Lewis, Ke’Bryan, Kim (in the event you briefly thought, “Who’s Ke’Bryan Kim?” don’t skim commas), Gorman, Keith, Muncy and Jeimer. These have been from the preseason prime 20. Some have been so unhealthy you have been siting there for a second considering, “How are they busts? They have been by no means good, have been they?” A few of their seasons erased previous reminiscences of excellent. One man was so unhealthy you could be considering to your self, “Who’s Keith? Keith David, the actor?” As for JoJoRam, dude’s a beast. An underrated king. An enormous amongst guys who’ve cucked Tim Anderson. Who silently goes 40/40? He’s deadlier than a fart. In a profession of fantastic seasons, he simply had his greatest. Most years, he would’ve been the most effective hitter in fantasy. Preseason Rank #1, 2024 Projections: 91/28/104/.286/26 in 605 ABs, Last Numbers: 114/39/118/.279/41 in 620 ABs
2. Elly De La Cruz – Already went over him within the prime 20 shortstops for 2024 fantasy baseball.
3. Gunnar Henderson – Already went over him within the prime 20 shortstops for 2024 fantasy baseball.
4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Already went over him within the prime 20 1st basemen for 2024 fantasy baseball.
5. Manny Machado – My projections have been fairly flat for Machado. I underestimated him in practically each regard. Underestimating a participant who’s coming off an damage is a blind spot. Possible not only for me, however I don’t care about your blind spots. Although, I’m barely inquisitive about your blind spots in the event you drive a Cybertruck. It’s such as you’re driving with Darkish Helmet’s peripheral imaginative and prescient. Any hoo! Machado continued to do what he’s accomplished for over ten years now, and we (all of us now) appear to underrate him. Preseason Rank #8, 2024 Projections: 71/30/82/.261/3 in 502 ABs, Last Numbers: 77/29/105/.275/11 in 593 ABs
6. Jazz Chisholm Jr. – He had 100 extra at-bats than I projected him for however principally the identical quantity of energy and moved to a neater stadium for energy. That’s one thing that I’m gonna take into consideration greater than I care to confess (3 minutes). That he stole so many extra luggage? Simply goes to what I’ve been saying: Steals are about need greater than potential. That goes for Chapman too. Most gamers can steal 25 luggage in as we speak’s recreation with the pitch clock, if they need. In the event that they’re quick, they may steal 40 luggage with out a lot effort. That Jazz reduce his Ks and upped his walks is good, and I’m glad he stayed on the sector. In case you can’t see me, I’m making Jazz fingers. In case you can see me, are you able to cease illegally spying on me from my laptop computer digicam? Preseason Rank #16 for OF, 2024 Projections: 71/25/74/.247/25 in 451 ABs, Last Numbers: 74/24/73/.256/40 in 562 ABs
7. Eugenio Suarez – By means of June thirtieth, his stats have been 29/6/32/.196/2 in 315 plate appearances. In case you traded for him on July 1st, you’re a witch and I’ll burn you on the stake except you assist me win the lottery. It’s not a criminal offense as a result of I’m telling you I’ll do it. That’s a authorized caveat. Like in the event you’re a cop, it’s important to inform me. Eugenio’s stats from July 1st via the tip of the yr have been higher than Alec Bohm’s stats and down on this checklist. Sorry, that’s nuts. Preseason Rank #27, 2024 Projections: 77/27/86/.227/2 in 573 ABs, Last Numbers: 90/30/101/.256/2 in 571 ABs
8. Matt Chapman – His steals are so absurd. There’s layers of absurdity. Giants don’t run, Chapman doesn’t run, he’s not quick, he wasn’t caught a lot. That he’s sniffing distance to Trea Turner’s steals complete this yr? Absurd. He had 11 steals coming into this yr mixed for his profession — in 7 years! Absurd. At 26 years of age, he stole one bag in 156 video games. At 31, he stole 15? Absurd. Preseason Rank #26, 2024 Projections: 68/25/79/.236/3 in 517 ABs, Last Numbers: 98/27/78/.247/15 in 575 ABs
9. Rafael Devers – Principally the reverse Eugenio, although simply barely later within the yr (fortunately, in the event you rostered Devers). From August 1st till he known as it a wrap: 18/4/14/.205/1 in 183 plate appearances. Calling up the cops and asking them to arrest Devers for murdering our H2H groups. Will say one factor about his August-til-end numbers, they make his end-of-the-year extra spectacular due to what he dragged them all the way down to. Gonna be so onerous to belief his shoulder to be okay subsequent yr, and truthfully could be a game-time resolution earlier than every March draft. Preseason Rank #3, 2024 Projections: 97/35/95/.289/5 in 591 ABs, Last Numbers: 87/28/83/.272/3 in 525 ABs
10. Spencer Steer – Already went over him within the prime 20 1st basemen for 2024 fantasy baseball.
11. Alex Bregman – In case you took somebody who by no means watched a recreation of baseball of their life and requested them to guess Bregman’s projections annually, I’m fairly positive they may do it. Although, I suppose it is determined by the place he indicators:
Alex Bregman getting $275 million over eight years from the Rockies and changing into a -0.1 WAR participant is gonna hit like crack
— Razzball (@Razzball) October 3, 2024
Preseason Rank #10, 2024 Projections: 96/25/86/.258/4 in 577 ABs, Last Numbers: 79/26/75/.260/3 in 581 ABs
12. Alec Bohm – Already went over him within the prime 20 1st basemen for 2024 fantasy baseball.
13. Jake Burger – Already went over him within the prime 20 1st basemen for 2024 fantasy baseball.
14. Maikel Garcia – Already went over him within the prime 20 2nd basemen for 2024 fantasy baseball.
15. Mark Vientos – That is 1,00,000% about this previous yr, but additionally: Can I draft Vientos for subsequent yr proper now? Although, there’s gonna be some dummies who see his 29.7 Okay% and assume he may hit .215 subsequent yr. Wait, why do I really feel like I’m a type of dummies? Ugh, I’m, amn’t I? What, is amn’t not a phrase? Preseason Unranked, Last Numbers: 58/27/71/.266 in 413 ABs
16. Willi Castro – Already went over him within the prime 20 2nd basemen for 2024 fantasy baseball.
17. Nolan Arenado – Few of you prolly bear in mind this, however I mentioned Arenado was a schmohawk and overrated going into the 2023 season, however he managed to stave off his critically horrible peripherals for another yr till all of it got here crashing down this yr. I’ve all of it in writing. Right here, I’ll present you over by this open window–NOOOOO!!! Torenado! Preseason Rank #9, 2024 Projections: 73/26/92/.257/4 in 541 ABs, Last Numbers: 70/16/71/.272/2 in 578 ABs
18. Michael Busch – Already went over him within the prime 20 1st basemen for 2024 fantasy baseball.
19. Matt Vierling – Unranked within the preseason with an asterisk. I did rank him (forty third) and projected him (62/12/55/.258/8 in 443 ABs) however eliminated him late as a result of the Tigers signed Urshela. In case you needed to draft Vierling however didn’t due to me, I apologize to his shut private family and friends, as I doubt anybody else thought-about it. Even his stats that he ended up with are complicated at greatest with how they ended up ranked within the prime 20 for third basemen, however that sorta goes to his runs and RBIs, that are all fueled by ABs. In case you knew who would get 500+ABs in March, you’d end at the least prime 5 in your league. Preseason Unranked, Last Numbers: 80/16/57/.257/6 in 518 ABs
20. Josh H. Smith – Is it me or does anybody who makes use of an H. center preliminary make it sound such as you’re screaming it? It’s not? Cool. Josh Hell Smith appeared blocked by Josh Jung within the preseason, which is why he’s unranked. With Jung’s damage historical past, I ought to’ve gave Josh Hell Smith extra of an opportunity of at-bats. Jung solely made it 4 video games into the season earlier than lacking 4 months. As for Josh Hell Smith, he ended up with extra ABs than Vierling and fewer worth so, nicely, see ya within the feedback! Preseason Unranked, Last Numbers: 67/13/62/.258/11 in 523 ABs
