As we continue our positional rankings, we move to the hot corner. Third base is one of MLB’s most complete positions, requiring elite defense, power, and contact. But who stands above the rest in 2026? Here are the top 10 third basemen in baseball right now.
1. José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
Ramírez signed a well-earned seven-year, $175 million extension with Cleveland this winter, but it was their only major move. After nearly missing the playoffs in 2025, it feels like the Guardians are trending in the wrong direction and wasting Ramírez’s prime. Regardless of Cleveland’s trajectory, though, he remains the best third baseman in the game. He slashed .283/.360/.503 while posting a 30-40 season. He has finished in the top 10 of MVP voting in six straight years and is a six-time Silver Slugger and seven-time All-Star.
2. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
There was a time when Machado was the AL’s top third baseman while Nolan Arenado held that title in the NL. Both remain exceptional defenders at the hot corner, though Machado has taken a slight step back as he has aged. Even so, he hit .275 with 27 home runs and 95 RBIs in 159 games last year. He is a seven-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger, two-time Gold Glove winner, and a Platinum Glove recipient. Even at this stage of his career, he remains one of the top third basemen in the game.
3. Alex Bregman, Chicago Cubs
Bregman has been one of the best third basemen in the game since he entered the league in 2016, with elite defense, power, and contact. He hit just 18 home runs in 2025, but a change of scenery could help restore his power. Bregman has consistently graded as an above-average defender, finishing average or better in both Defensive Runs Saved and outs above average in nine of his 10 seasons. He has a case as the best at the position, but with age becoming a factor, he slots just behind some younger players with more room to grow.
4. Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays
Caminero is one of MLB’s brightest young stars. In his first full season, he hit 45 home runs with 110 RBIs and finished ninth in AL MVP voting. He did not qualify for Rookie of the Year because his 165 at-bats in 2024 exceeded the rookie eligibility limit, making 2025 technically his second season. As impressive as his offense is, his defense lags behind. He committed 18 errors in 2025, tying him for fifth in MLB with Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Geraldo Perdomo.
5. Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants
Five years ago, Matt Chapman was one of the league’s premier third basemen. Now, he’s simply above average. A five-time Gold Glove winner, his defense remains excellent, but his offense took a step back in 2025. He hit 21 dingers for San Francisco but drove in only 61 runs. Some of that is due to a lack of traffic on the bases, but he also did not capitalize enough when opportunities were there. The good news for Chapman and Giants fans is that his profile has never been built on batting average or small ball. It is built on power and top-tier defense, and he still provides both.
6. Maikel Garcia, Kansas City Royals
Garcia broke out in 2025, taking a significant step forward across the board. He more than doubled his home run total from 7 to 16 and raised his batting average 55 points from .231 to .286. Entering his fourth full season with Kansas City, he has already recorded more than 120 hits in each of his first three years. That trend should continue in 2026.
7. Bo Bichette, New York Mets
Is he a shortstop or a third baseman? The Mets plan to use him at third, so that is where he lands on this list. He has one of the most prolific bats in the game, but his defense is what keeps him from ranking higher. He was roughly average at shortstop, and it is difficult to project how that will translate to the hot corner, especially since he has not played there regularly. His defense is unlikely to be a major strength, but it should be serviceable, and his bat carries him to No. 7.
8. Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays
Clement is more of a super-utility player than a true third baseman, but he played the majority of his games there in 2025. He tied Steven Kwan for the league lead with 22 defensive runs saved and set the MLB record for most base hits in a single postseason. With Bo Bichette out, Clement should see everyday at-bats, giving him the opportunity to keep improving and further establish himself.
9. Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers
Muncy’s struggles were somewhat masked on a stacked Dodgers team in 2025. He hit .243 with 19 home runs and 67 RBIs. He has never been known for his batting average, but for his power, and he has delivered in that area for most of his career. In five of his last eight seasons, he has hit at least 20 home runs, narrowly missing that mark in 2025. Defensively, he is no longer a liability and has made steady progress over the years.
10. Ke’Bryan Hayes, Cincinnati Reds
Hayes is the best defensive third baseman in the game, leading the position with 19 defensive runs saved and 22 outs above average. That said, his bat lags behind, which is one of the reasons he was traded from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati. He hit just .235 with 49 RBIs in 2025. His defense is the only reason he makes this list, which is why he slots in at No. 10.
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