Summary
The hot corner, better known as third base, is a position which boasts an extremely broad array of diverse player profiles. We’ve seen everythingfrom defensive godsto those who look like a fish out of water. From the leagues’ best hitters to the more replaceable ones, third basemen come in all different makes and models.
With the sheer variety of bats you can find in the sea of third basemen inMLB The Show 24, it’s imperative to note which of the game’s many playable stars stand atop the apex of the MLB’s premiere third baseman mountain. These ten are all well worth your attention.
10Jake Burger
Overall: 83
As a team, the Miami Marlins are quite the anomaly; they constantly flip-flop between competing for a playoff spot and circling the bottom depths of the standings. In 2023, the Marlins found themselves in the playoff race, so they traded for a power bat.
Jake Burger was one of the best players on the dreadfully horrible White Sox who carried over his success to the fish. His 83 overall in MLB The Show 24 comes mainly from his impressive power, making him one of the mostprolific home run-hittinginfielders in the game.
9Issac Paredes
Overall: 84
The Tampa Bay Rays have long been a team with a knack for acquiring incredibly talented ballplayers from seemingly out of the blue. While their third baseman certainly had some opprobrium in Detroit, he’s upped his game since coming to St. Petersburg.
Issac Paredes isn’t quite a superstar-level player, but he is certainly an extremely solid piece of Tampa Bays lineup. With an 84 overall, Paredes provides great value both with his bat and his ability to play multiple different positions.
8Royce Lewis
Despite not winning the World Series, the 2023 Minnesota Twins season was no doubt a tremendous achievement. Not only did they win their first playoff series in over twenty years, but they also saw a wealth of young players break out massively during their run.
Royce Lewis may have technically debuted in 2022, but he showed out big time in 2023, and with an 84 overall, Lewis is one of the Twins’ brightest young stars. His impressive hitting stats and defensive utility make him an extremely valuable ballplayer.
7Josh Jung
Overall: 85
As expected, with any World Series-winning team, the Texas Rangers feature a luxury of all-star caliber players. From their pitching to their hitting, the Rangers boast an incredibly deep pool of talent that even stretches to their minor league system.
Josh Jung made a tremendous splash with the Rangers in 2023; the former top prospect has an 85 overall in MLB The Show 24 and it’s clear to see why. His room for growth speaks volumes when you consider most of his stats are already fairly strong.
6Nolan Arenado
Overall: 86
The St. Louis Cardinals are a mess; their 2023 season was their first losing record since 2007 and, going into 2024, they failed to address their biggest dilemmas. Still, that’s not to say the Cardinals don’t have a few major pieces on their team.
At 86, Nolan Arenado may never reach his monumental numbers from his days with the Rockies, but he remains a high-quality third baseman. His defense continues to shine and his bat, while slowing down, gives him extra value on top of his elite-level fielding.
5Alex Bregman
Overall: 87
It’s hard to talk about any Houston Astros player without this air of stigma around them. That goes double for anybody who was part of their 2017 World Series winning squad, one which may have only happened because of their cheating system.
With that being said, Alex Bregman is no doubt a great player, sign-stealing or not. His numbers have yet to realize the extent they did during his early years, but his plate vision and discipline are among the best of any player in MLB, earning him an 87 overall in MLB The Show 24.
4Rafael Devers
It’s difficult to pinpoint where exactly the Red Sox are; they have talented players, but not enough to be a strong World Series favorite. In a brutal division, Boston must continue to add as many talented ballplayers as possible to supplement the superstars they have.
Rafael Devers is easily the face of the franchise right now, and after signing a massive contract extension, fans in Boston can expect to see one of the best offensive third basemen playing at Fenway for years to come. In MLB The Show 24, that means 87 overall Devers will remain a fixture in Boston’s lineup.
3José Ramírez
Overall: 90
It’s hard to find an MLB player more underrated than Cleveland Guardians’ third baseman José Ramírez. On a team primarily known for their superb pitching development, Ramírez has been overshadowed despite easily being one of the leading hitters in the American League.
The switch-hitting third baseman sports in 90 overall MLB The Show 24, and while a 90 overall is splendid, you won’t have to look far to find people who believe it should be higher. From year to year, Ramírez has proven to be a consistently all-star caliber hitter.
2Manny Machado
Overall: 91
It’s amazing that even though the 2023 San Diego Padres season was a total bust, they still feature a torrent of outstanding ballplayers. With many of them locked with lengthy extensions, the Padres have guaranteed themselves as the home of some of MLB’s best talent.
Arguably, the leader of the Padres is third baseman Manny Machado. The former shortstop is a mix of both amazing defense and outstanding hitting, making him one of the most well-rounded infielders and well-deserving of his 91 overall rating.
1Austin Riley
Overall: 96
As expected, the best third baseman in MLB The Show 24 plays for the Atlanta Braves. It sounds ludicrous just how many top-level stars play in Atlanta, yet it’s an irrefutable fact that the Braves are positively stacked all across the baseball diamond.
Austin Riley signed a huge contract extension with Atlanta, making the 96 overall third baseman a prevalent presence in the Braves lineup for the foreseeable future. Riley’s hitting metrics place him in the upper echelon of players in all of MLB The Show 24.
