Between the shortstop and the foul line stands the third baseman, the final stop before the opposing team makes a run for home plate. The job of the third baseman in MLB The Show 24 may not feel as taxing as first and second base, thanks in part to the shortstop taking up the middle of the area, but it still requires extra attention to detail. Mixing up quality defensive play with strong appearances at bat is what a quality infielder offers and that's no different for those who take up the job at third base.
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For players who prefer to take to the offensive side in MLB The Show 24, there's some fortunate news ahead. Third basemen are quite popular when it comes to swinging the bat, thanks to their ability to swing for contact and power. Additionally, third basemen are on the lighter side of the defensive workload, with more focus being placed on first and second base, making their jobs easier and taking less out of their durability throughout a game.
10 Royce Lewis
MLB The Show Rating: 84
- Team: Minnesota Twins
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Power R, Contact R, and Clutch Hitting
The Minnesota Twins have some promising pieces in their bullpen and infield, and among those topping the charts is Royce Lewis. The 24-year-old American is entering his third season with the Twins, and his infielding abilities are only scratching the surface of his potential. In MLB The Show 24, Lewis has good infielding metrics with decent Reacting and Arm Accuracy but lacks the Durability to keep him in long games that extend past nine innings.
Offensively, Lewis is better against right-handed pitchers and can use either his contact or power swing and switch things up to fool his opponent. His Batting Clutch also registers at an 80 rating, making him a must-have in the Twins' batting order. If his Plate Discipline and Vision statistics can improve over the year and into next season, Lewis may be one of the better batters in the American League.
9 Isaac Paredes
MLB The Show Rating: 84
- Team: Tampa Bay Rays
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Durability, Power R, and Arm Accuracy
The Tampa Bay Rays are trying to reach a World Series final for the first time since 2020, and they'll have a better chance to do so with Isaac Paredes playing up to his strengths. At 25, Paredes is one year removed from being in talks for the Most Valuable Player award, and it's thanks to his powerful swing and defensive attributes that make him special. Paredes has an 88 rating against right-handed pitchers when using his power swing, which led to 31 home runs last season.
At the opposite end of the infield, Yandy Diaz is an exceptional first baseman, which helps Paredes out exponentially. The two can combine for double plays, taking advantage of favorable stats in Infielding and Arm Accuracy, and Paredes' Arm Strength and Reaction are just good enough to avoid consistent errors. Paredes also comes with an 88 rating for Durability, which pairs well with a player who routinely swings for the fences.
8 Josh Jung
MLB The Show Rating: 85
- Team: Texas Rangers
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Contact R, Power R, and Durability
For a player who is more known for his ability to hit the ball, Josh Jung doesn't falter on the defensive side. His Arm Accuracy has a rating of 85, which ranks him quite high among all third basemen in the league. Factoring in above-average statistics in the remaining infielding categories and a higher durability and heading into his prime at 26, many players may feel at ease knowing that Jung is perfectly surrounded by a strong cast.
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The Texas Rangers are ranked as the seventh-best team in MLB The Show 24, and Jung is one of many reasons for their success. He holds a 99 rating for both contact and power swing against left-handed pitchers, making their lives miserable with every swing of the bat. There are some areas of improvement Jung could focus on in order to resist wildly swinging at pitches to the outside, but his raw potential is undeniable.
7 Nolan Arenado
MLB The Show Rating: 86
- Team: St. Louis Cardinals
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Durability, Fielding, and Vision
Led by their infield and bullpen, the St. Louis Cardinals are one of the more thrilling teams to play in MLB The Show 24. For players who thrive on the defensive side, Nolan Arenado is one of the best to play the third base position. Hindered only by his average Arm Strength, Arenado possesses a 90-infielding rating and pairs it with above-average Reaction and Arm Accuracy. Players shouldn't have any problems making double plays with Paul Goldschmidt at first base and Tommy Edman at shortstop.
Luckily, Arenado doesn't fall short in the hitting department, as he has an 85 rating for contact swing against right-handed pitchers and a 78 power swing rating against left-handed pitchers. While he won't be the most relied-upon batter on the Cardinals, his presence in the batting order should be recognized. With an 85 rating for Vision, players will have no problems playing both offense and defense with Arenado as their third baseman.
6 Alex Bregman
MLB The Show Rating: 87
- Team: Houston Astros
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Durability, Discipline, and Vision
Alex Bregman's 87 overall rating places him high on the list among all third basemen in the league, but five players on his own team rank above him. It's amusing to see how rich the Houston Astros' roster is, with 14 players ranking at 80 overall or higher. Known primarily for their offense, the Astros place all their firepower at the plate, which includes Bregman's strengths. His ability to face right-handed pitchers will give opposing teams nightmares for days.
On top of a great rating against those right-handed pitchers, Bregman also has excellent Plate Discipline, Batting Clutch, and Vision, making him one of many great weapons in the Astros' batting order. Unfortunately, his defensive side of the game lacks the same structure. His 72 Infielding and 69 Reaction are just enough to get by on a semi-consistent level, but he is ultimately hurt by sub-par Arm Strength and Arm Accuracy stats.
5 Rafael Devers
MLB The Show Rating: 87
- Team: Boston Red Sox
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Power R, Durability, and Power L
Alternatively, another player who prefers the offensive side of baseball is Rafael Devers, the second baseman of the Boston Red Sox. While the Red Sox are more of a rebuilding team hoping to see a brighter future, Devers is a nice piece to begin with. The 27-year-old Dominican infielder can play both third and first base, though his services are best suited to a team that can deliver a shortstop to help him out.
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Devers has the potential to see a rise in his Arm Accuracy and Infielding stats, which are below average, thanks to a Grade A potential rank. It will all depend on how well players put him in a position to succeed and take advantage of decent Arm Strength and Reaction stats. His offensive game will give some hope, as his contact swing is slightly above average against both left and right-handed pitchers, and his power swing can create havoc on any given night.
4 Gunnar Henderson
MLB The Show Rating: 88
- Team: Baltimore Orioles
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Durability, Power R, and Arm Accuracy
Being one of the most notable third basemen in MLB at the age of 22 is no easy feat, but one Gunnar Henderson can proudly claim. The 2023 Rookie of the Year and Silver Slugger recipient has plenty of tools in his arsenal, from positive infielding stats and a great Arm Strength rating of 81 to his ability to take on right-handed pitchers and mix things up with contact and power swings.
There's still much of his game that is raw with plenty of room to grow, but the potential is there. On top of being a player who can get on base, Henderson is also a capable baserunner in MLB The Show 24, holding a Speed rating of 80, which places him near the top of all third basemen in this department. A versatile two-way player for a third baseman will surely have players aiming to use the Baltimore Orioles more often.
3 Jose Ramirez
MLB The Show Rating: 90
- Team: Cleveland Guardians
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Durability, Vision, and Contact R
Jose Ramirez may have one of the more deceptively decent stat spreads in MLB The Show 24, and players who excel at both ends of the field may want to keep him in mind. Though Ramirez has a weaker Arm Strength stat at 57, the remainder of his infielding stats are good enough to keep the ball in play and runners off the bases. Tim Anderson may have a say in just how powerful his arms are after being knocked down with one punch during the 2023-24 season.
Ramirez shines when stepping up to the plate, as his contact swing challenges any right-handed pitcher he faces, while his power swing is excellent for those pesky left-handed pitchers. With 92 Vision, above-average Plate Discipline, and Batting Clutch, Ramirez will earn his bases more often than not and is less likely to swing at wild pitches. His speed and base-stealing abilities add some extra versatility to his game.
2 Manny Machado
MLB The Show Rating: 91
- Team: San Diego Padres
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Durability, Fielding, and Contact L
On purely defensive rankings alone, Manny Machado is a machine on third base for the San Diego Padres. Thanks to a 90 rating in Infielding, Machado users will have no issue tracking down balls hit toward him and deciding on the correct play to make. Though his Arm Accuracy and Arm Strength fall short, an above-average Reaction time should cover up those shortcomings and help him make consistent plays.
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Machado is better when facing left-handed pitchers, as his use of contact and power swings rank at 90 and 85, respectively. His efforts against right-handed pitchers are still above average, and a Batting Clutch of 81 will keep Machado in high pitch counts more often than not. Adding a Durability rating of 92 means Machado won't get winded in the late stages of the game, regardless of how little or how much he plays.
1 Austin Riley
MLB The Show Rating: 96
- Team: Atlanta Braves
- Throwing Handiness: Right-Handed
- Main Strengths: Power, Durability, and Contact L
At 27, Austin Riley is hitting his prime with the Atlanta Braves, and the time couldn't be more convenient for the team. As the best-hitting team in MLB The Show 24, and one that ranks second in pitching and top-ten in defense, Riley has plenty of room to grow and improve upon his Grade A potential rating. Defensively, he relies mostly on his Arm Strength, though his Infielding stat is above average compared to the rest of the league.
Once his name is up in the batting order, Riley's greatest attributes are on full display. Whether he's facing right or left-handed pitchers, or using his contact or power swings, it's likely Riley will be on base after connecting with a pitch. His career-high .301 batting average sets the tone for just how well he can hit the ball, and his Batting Clutch of 80 will guarantee a run or two will be scored when it's time for Riley to step up to the plate.
MLB The Show 24
- Franchise
- MLB The Show
- Platform(s)
- PC , PS4 , PS5 , Switch , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- March 19, 2024
- Developer(s)
- San Diego Studio
