2023 Top 10 Third Basemen in 2023 Draft - RIGHT NOW

We move to the hot corner.  Third Base. 

There’s some talent here, but not as deep as previous years. 

You want a top third baseman? 

Draft early.

 

1. Yohandy Moralez

Morales was a popular draft name in 2020 with multiple teams having thrown money his way during the draft. He turned them down and elected to head to Miami to further his development. Morales had a very noisy swing in high school but it's quieted down considerably. He's much more direct to the ball these days without the anxious hands and feet in his load. An aggressive hitter, Morales isn't looking to walk, but he does limit his strikeouts to a reasonably healthy degree. He generates big exit velos and finds a lot of barrels, though his misses are too often dribblers on the infield. That, however, should improve with time and reps. At his best, "YoYo" does a ton of damage to the baseball and projects as a third baseman with an average hit tool, above average power, a solid average runner and a reliable glove.

 

2. Brock Wilken

Wilken is a middle-of-the-order power bat with an advanced approach. He had huge freshman season in both ACC and Cape Cod League play. His raw power is prodigious, and his batting practice displays frequently contain balls hit hard in a way that no one else on the field can replicate. Swing and miss is in Wilken's profile, particularly with off-speed stuff away, but he has a good eye and possesses a selective approach befitting of a man that abhors striking out. Wilken really limits his strikeouts and fights deep into at-bats to ensure such an outcome. At third base, Wilken has solid enough hands and reacts well to batted balls, but isn't very rangy due to below average foot speed. The big plus here is a rocket arm, and that helps mitigate skepticism about him sticking at third as a pro.

 

3. Aiden Miller

Miller is one of the most physical preps in the 2023 class. He's big and athletic with explosive power that stems from a combination of raw strength and excellent bat speed. Miller is a consistent high-performer on the amateur circuit and his mammoth power finds it way into games already. He can run a fastball into the low-90s on the mound, but his future is likely swinging a bat. The body is already very thick and muscular, so he'll need to maintain his athleticism as he gets older. For now, it's comfortably a third base profile, with a corner outfield or first base role possible as he ages.

 

4. Jake Gelof

Gelof has been an anchor for Virginia, just as his brother was. And it's been right from the get-go. It's plus power from the right side with an affinity to use the whole field. Scouts actually like Jake's swing more than they did his brother's, and that's saying something. He's a fringy runner, but he plays a strong third base and projects to stick there at the next level. An aggressive hitter, scouts would like to see Gelof up his walks a bit in 2023 as he figures to get less and less pitches to hit as teams figure to pitch around him.

 

5. Drew Bowser

Bowser was a top prep prospect in the 2020 draft but had a strong commitment to Stanford. In his first two years, Bowser served as a consistent offensive producer. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-handed hitter uses a compact swing to drive the ball to all fields with massive power. His aggressive approach sometimes leads to strikeouts, however.

Bowser has the athleticism and arm strength to play well defensively at third base.

 

6. Kevin Sim

Sim has been a draft name going back to his days at Torrey Pines HS. He's continued to draw scouts' attention at the University of San Diego. Sim's carrying tool is big raw power with significant pull-side juice. He showcases a more mature approach in batting practice going line to line with a gap-oriented approach. He features an above average arm at third base, though he's only an average defender and that's actually regressed a tick as he's continued to add muscle and strength. Sim has at least a 50/50 chance of sticking at third base as long as his conditioning stays lean. He's got some similarities to Connor Joe, a Top 40 pick by the Pirates in 2014.

 

7. Max Anderson

Max Anderson produced big time for Nebraska in his freshman year, receiving Freshman All-American honors and carried that momentum into a strong summer for Bourne in the Cape Cod League. Anderson has good bat speed, really hits balls hard on the inner half of the plate. On the whole there's good pitch recognition, but he will chase good breakers and can struggle handling high fastballs. Best attribute offensively is great hand speed that allows Anderson to attack the ball out in front, resulting in lots of pull side power with a swing plane that lets him elevate. His range at third is solid and he does get his body in position to make plays, but his hands aren't great and his arm action is awkward and plays down his arm strength. However, this is still a very young player, and there's work that can be done to get more consistent with the arm and hands at the hot corner.

8. Parks Harber

Harber is a power-first third baseman with above average juice in the bat and a budding hit tool. There's swing and miss here, but you're buying the power. Harber is a below-average athlete with an average arm. Scouts are split on whether he's a third baseman or first baseman at the next level. His body continues to mature and add strength, slowing him down a tick. At the end of the day, it's the bat you're investing in here and, like every player, the stick will ultimately dictate his future role.

 

9. Trenton Lape

Lape is a fairly elite prospect coming out of Louisiana and wont need to travel long to honor his commitment at LSU should he choose to go to school. That's not assured after his impressive summer in 2022. Lape features massive bat speed and still has the long limbs and lean frame to project more power in the future. Evaluators believe this will comfortably turn into plus power as he ages, maybe more. Lape is more solid average in other parts of his game, though he's a good athlete and could develop more tools as he matures. He's an average runner with an average arm for third base.

 

10. Mike Boeve

One of the more accomplished pure hitters in college baseball, Boeve has a keen eye at the plate and the bat to ball skills that are almost assured to transfer up to the next level. He was also one of the more consistent hitters on the Cape in 2022. Boeve has below average, maybe fringe average power depending on who you ask, but he does has a strong frame that some feel could tap into more juice once player development gets their hands on him. He's largely average at third base with a fringy arm. He may end up in left field, but you're buying the bat here, and it may be a plus hit tool.