We move on to the hot corner for the Top 20 rankings and the Yankees Alex Rodriguez leads the way. Hitting in the new Coors Field, I mean Yankee Stadium, ARod could approach 50 homers in 2010. The second guy on this list isn't David Wright. He has to prove his power loss was a fluke in 2009.
Here are the Top 20 third baseman for 2010 fantasy drafts, with 2009 stats:
| Name | AB | HR | R | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG |
| Alex Rodriguez | 444 | 30 | 78 | 100 | 80 | 97 | 14 | 0.286 |
| Mark Reynolds | 578 | 44 | 98 | 102 | 76 | 223 | 24 | 0.260 |
| Ryan Zimmerman | 610 | 33 | 110 | 106 | 72 | 119 | 2 | 0.292 |
| Evan Longoria | 584 | 33 | 100 | 113 | 72 | 140 | 9 | 0.281 |
| David Wright | 535 | 10 | 88 | 72 | 74 | 140 | 27 | 0.307 |
| Aramis Ramirez | 306 | 15 | 46 | 65 | 28 | 43 | 2 | 0.317 |
| Pablo Sandoval | 572 | 25 | 79 | 90 | 52 | 83 | 5 | 0.330 |
| Kevin Youkilis | 491 | 27 | 99 | 94 | 77 | 125 | 7 | 0.305 |
| Gordon Beckham | 378 | 14 | 58 | 63 | 41 | 65 | 7 | 0.270 |
| Chone Figgins | 615 | 5 | 114 | 54 | 101 | 114 | 42 | 0.298 |
| Adrian Beltre | 449 | 8 | 54 | 44 | 19 | 74 | 13 | 0.265 |
| Chipper Jones | 488 | 18 | 80 | 71 | 101 | 89 | 4 | 0.264 |
| Michael Young | 541 | 22 | 76 | 68 | 47 | 90 | 8 | 0.322 |
| Casey Blake | 485 | 18 | 84 | 79 | 63 | 116 | 3 | 0.280 |
| Ian Stewart | 425 | 25 | 74 | 70 | 56 | 138 | 7 | 0.228 |
| Mike Lowell | 445 | 17 | 54 | 75 | 33 | 61 | 2 | 0.290 |
| Mark DeRosa | 515 | 23 | 78 | 78 | 47 | 121 | 3 | 0.250 |
| Kevin Kouzmanoff | 529 | 18 | 50 | 88 | 27 | 106 | 1 | 0.255 |
| Jorge Cantu | 585 | 16 | 67 | 100 | 47 | 81 | 3 | 0.289 |
| Scott Rolen | 475 | 11 | 76 | 67 | 45 | 62 | 5 | 0.305 |
I rank David Wright 5th because I think he can rebound to maybe 20 HRs in 2010. That along with the 25+ SB potential, a .300 BA and hopefully, 90+ RBIs is valuable. But should he return to hit less than 20 HRs in 2010, he could drop out of the top 10 for me. He can't put up another 10 HR/72 RBI line this season.
I like Mark Reynolds at the two spot in the third base rankings in 2010, because he has legit 35+ HR power, and Diamondbacks manager AJ Finch will allow him to run again. I see another 35-20 season from Reynolds in 2010.
A couple guys who could move up this list in 2010 are the Giants Pablo Sandoval and White Sox Gordon Beckham. Sandoval has the power to hit 30 HRs in 2010. His power and BA could move him up a few spots on this list. GBeck played third base last year, but will move to second base in 2010. I rank him here as he does not yet have the minimum games played eligibility at 2B to be ranked there for 2010 fantasy drafts. He does, however, have the talent to go 20-10 in 2010, while ESPN's Jason Grey thinks he could hit 25 HRs with a .288 BA.
A couple guys coming off injuries are the Braves Chipper Jones and the Red Sox Adrian Beltre. Both will be undervalued in 2010 drafts, and could have bounce back seasons. I could see both approaching 25 HRs and 90 RBIs in 2010. Jones, if he proves healthy, should hit .300 again.
One guy who could play as a "post hype" sleeper is the Pirates third baseman Andy Laroche. Laroche was the Dodgers #1 prospect a few years ago, but his power and plate patience displayed in the minors never translated at the big league level in Los Angeles. Laroche is in his second year as the Pirates starting third baseman, and could begin to show the 25+ HR power he had in the minors this year. If not, he will be replaced by third base prospect Pedro Alvarez.
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