Get ready for your 2009 fantasy baseball draft by dominating the competition with some of the best fantasy baseball rankings, projections, and tips for free. Here is a complete listing of the Top 5 Rookie Third Basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball drafts. Note: Rookie third basemen rankings are based on the potential for each player to play in 2009 or their individual major league readiness for the 2009 season, and not just overall talent at the minor league level and years beyond 2009.
Top 5 Rookie Third Basemen Rankings – Fantasy Baseball 2009
#1 – Mat Gamel – Milwaukee Brewers
#2 – Brett Wallace – St. Louis Cardinals
#3 – Pedro Alvarez – Pittsburgh Pirates
#4 – Mike Moustakas – Kansas City Royals
#5 – Neil Walker – Pittsburgh Pirates
Player Details & 2009 Projections:
#1 Rookie Third Basemen – Fantasy Baseball 2009: Mat Gamel – Milwaukee Brewers
Much like another Brewers third base prospect before him (Ryan Braun), Gamel is all offense and no defense. With Bill Hall currently blocking his path to play third base for the Brewers, Gamel may be destined to stay in the minors for at least a portion of the 2009 season. However his offensive potential is good enough to warrant consideration now, since he could have an impact similar to what Evan Longoria had last year at third base for fantasy baseball teams. If Gamel gets 400 at bats in Milwaukee in 2009, his stats should come close to 15 homeruns, 50 rbi, 40 runs scored, 5 steals, and batting average around .290.
#2 Rookie Third Basemen – Fantasy Baseball 2009: Brett Wallace – St. Louis Cardinals
Considering the oft-injured Troy Glaus is currently the Cardinals only real third baseman entering the 2009 season, Wallace at age 22 has an excellent chance of seeing significant playing time with the Cardinals in 2009. If Wallace can manage to get 400 at bats in 2009, he offers the potential for 15-20 homeruns, 60 rbi, 40 runs scored, and a solid batting average around. 290. On the down side, Wallace offers zero speed so don’t expect any steals from him.
#3 Rookie Third Basemen – Fantasy Baseball 2009: Pedro Alvarez – Pittsburgh Pirates
Considering the Pirates are in a huge rebuilding an youth movement, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them give their third basemen of the future a chance to win the starting third base job right out of spring training. And at the very least, Alvarez should make the Pirates team sometime during the second half of the season. Assuming he can notch just 300 at bats in 2009 for the Pirates, Alvarez’s numbers could resemble 15 homeruns, 50 rbi, 35 runs scored, 3 stolen bases, and a batting average hovering around .300.
#4 Rookie Third Basemen – Fantasy Baseball 2009: Mike Moustakas – Kansas City Royals
While Moustakas started out his professional career as a shortstop in the Royals system, he has now transitioned to a power hitting third basemen. Unfortunately another young stud prospect is currently roaming that position in Alex Gordon, so unless Gordon moves to first base, or either one of them play some at DH, it’s hard to know how much if any playing time Moustakas will get in 2009. However his 400 plus at bat potential for 2009 checks in at 25 homeruns, 75 rbi, 60 runs scored, 5 stolen bases, and a batting average around .290.
#5 Rookie Third Basemen – Fantasy Baseball 2009: Neil Walker – Pittsburgh Pirates
Walker is older and has more minor league experience than the more prized third base prospect Pedro Alvarez, which in the end, makes Walker more likely to make the Pirates opening day roster in 2009. In fact with a good spring training, Walker could actually enter the 2009 season as the Pirates starting third basemen. If Walker manages to get 400 at bats with the Pirates in 2009 expect 15 homeruns, 60 rbi, 40 runs scored, 3 stolen bases, and a batting average around .280-.285.
Rookie Third Basemen Just Missing the Top 5:
Beau Mills – Cleveland Indians, Matt Tuiasosopo – Seattle Mariners, Wes Hodges – Cleveland Indians
