Third base is in a miserable place at the major-league level, offering not enough trustworthy options to go around in a 12-team league. So it's fortunate that the minor-league crop looks as promising as it does -- to the point I had to squeeze an 11th name into this list of 10 just so not to exclude anyone obvious.
As it is, the White Sox's Jake Burger, the Diamondbacks' Drew Ellis and the Blue Jays' Kevin Smith didn't make the cut. Each made his major-league debut last year and deserves a mention if only for his Triple-A production, but each is also already in his mid-20s and doesn't have a clear path to playing time yet. Makes you wonder how invested their real-life teams are in them.
Still, it's possible they become impactful players in Fantasy. More than anything, their exclusion is a testament to the rest of the talent on display here.
Top prospects: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | P
Note: This list is intended for a variety of Fantasy formats and thus weighs short-term role against long-term value. Not all of these players will contribute in 2022 — most, in fact, will not — but among prospects, they're the names Fantasy Baseballers most need to know.
1. Josh Jung, Rangers
Age (on opening day): 24
Where he played in 2021: Double-A, Triple-A
Minor-league stats: .326 BA (304 AB), 19 HR, 22 2B, .990 OPS, 31 BB, 76 K
Aside from Bobby Witt, Jung might be the top prospect to target in redraft leagues, having decimated the upper levels after being sidelined early by a fractured foot. It wasn't always so clear he'd hit for power, but the Rangers were resolute in their belief. Patient and polished, with a penchant for line drives, Jung's bat could be an absolute world-beater.
2. Jordan Walker, Cardinals
Age (on opening day): 19
Where he played in 2021: low Class A, high Class A
Minor-league stats: .317 BA (325 AB), 14 HR, 14 SB, .936 OPS, 33 BB, 87 K
It wasn't totally clear what the Cardinals were getting when they drafted Walker 21st overall in 2020, but initial returns couldn't have been more promising. He obliterated baseballs, delivering premium exit velocities unreachable for most teenagers while demonstrating better-than-expected plate discipline and an aptitude for making adjustments. It's easy to envision him being a top-five prospect a year from now.
3. Miguel Vargas, Dodgers
Age (on opening day): 22
Where he played in 2021: high Class A, Double-A
Minor-league stats: .319 BA (483 AB), 23 HR, 11 SB, .906 OPS, 45 BB, 89 K
The power came through for a prospect whose bat skills were already plain to see, and it has Vargas looking like the next big thing to come out of the Dodgers system. He's still hit over power, but it's clear now he elevates the ball well enough to deliver the best of both worlds and should move as quickly as his glove allows.
4. Brett Baty, Mets
Age (on opening day): 22
Where he played in 2021: high Class A, Double-A
Minor-league stats: .292 BA (332 AB), 12 HR, 22 2B, .855 OPS, 46 BB, 98 K
The 12th pick in the 2019 draft answered many of the doubts about him in his first full-length season, holding his own even at Double-A. It's his approach that stood out the most, his power projection still lagging because of a suboptimal launch angle. That's mostly fine-tuning, though, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Baty make another leap in 2022.
5. Jose Miranda, Twins
Age (on opening day): 23
Where he played in 2021: Double-A, Triple-A
Minor-league stats: .344 BA (535 AB), 30 HR, 32 2B, .973 OPS, 42 BB, 74 K
The most stunning minor-league performance of 2021 goes to Miranda, who leveraged his existing bat-to-ball skills with a more selective approach for numbers reminiscent of Albert Pujols in his prime, even after moving up to Triple-A. He lags on traditional prospect lists because his glove doesn't profile anywhere, but the rebuilding Twins have every incentive to make it work.
6. Mark Vientos, Mets
Age (on opening day): 22
Where he played in 2021: Double-A, Triple-A
Minor-league stats: .281 BA (310 AB), 25 HR, .933 OPS, 33 BB, 100 K
Seeing as he was the youngest player drafted in 2017, it took some time for Vientos to live up to his massive power projection, but live up to it he did, homering 25 times in what would amount to half a major-league season. Then again, he also struck out nearly 30 percent of the time and may not be athletic enough to handle third base.
7. Curtis Mead, Rays
Age (on opening day): 21
Where he played in 2021: low Class A, high Class A, Triple-A
Minor-league stats: .321 BA (411 AB), 15 HR, 38 2B, .911 OPS, 34 BB, 71 K
Formerly a member of the Australian junior national team, Mead has made major waves Stateside, combining contact skills with premium exit velocities for a breakout 2021. He's built more for line drives, leading the minors with 38 doubles, but still hit a reasonable number of homers and wouldn't need to change much to tap into his power more.
8. Nolan Jones, Guardians
Age (on opening day): 23
Where he played in 2021: Triple-A
Minor-league stats: .238 BA (341 AB), 13 HR, 25 2B, .787 OPS, 59 BB, 122 K
The overall numbers, particularly the 30 percent strikeout rate, might persuade you to write off Jones completely, but he hit a more respectable .260 with an .855 OPS rom June 4 on, his strikeout rate dropping to 26.5 percent. Still, it's too high for a player with a questionable power profile. This ranking is mostly in deference to his pedigree and proximity.
9. Jhonkensy Noel, Guardians
Age (on opening day): 20
Where he played in 2021: complex, low Class A, high Class A
Minor-league stats: .340 BA (265 AB), 19 HR, 1.005 OPS, 17 BB, 62 K
The power has never been in question for Noel, but an improved contact rate saw him hit .393 at low Class A, where he played more than half of his 70 games. With poor on-base skills and a likelihood of winding up at first base, he has a narrow margin for error, so a lot's riding on how he acclimates to the upper levels.
10. Coby Mayo, Orioles
Age (on opening day): 20
Where he played in 2021: complex, low Class A
Minor-league stats: .319 BA (182 AB), 9 HR, 11 SB, .981 OPS, 29 BB, 40 K
The Orioles paid Mayo well over slot to lure him away from college in 2020 and then, between the pandemic and a knee injury, had to keep him under wraps until late in 2021. The work he put in was apparent when he finally did debut, though, seeing him actualize his power with improved loft and command the strike zone like a pro.
Bonus: Blaze Jordan, Red Sox
Age (on opening day): 19
Where he played in 2021: complex, low Class A
Minor-league stats: .324 BA (105 AB), 6 HR, 8 2B, .959 OPS, 8 BB, 21 K
Just how powerful is Jordan? He's been popping 500-foot home runs since the time he was 13. Oh yeah. There's video evidence. He needs a lot of work otherwise, which is why I give the edge to Mayo, believing he's the better bet to fulfill his potential. The components are there for Jordan, though, if he can hone his approach.
