Fake Teams Consensus Fantasy Prospect Rankings: Top 10 Third Baseman

With each week being dedicated to our consensus rankings at a particular position, the prospect staff at Fake Teams will also be providing position-specific coverage during these weeks. This will include a pair of prospect profiles, as well as a comparison post between two similar prospects at the position. And of course, we will be releasing our top 20 prospects at the position. This differs slightly from what we did last year, as these rankings are for the long term, rather than providing a separate list for the upcoming season only.

Bret Sayre, Craig Goldstein, and I have discussed the ranking of each player on these lists, and have come to a determination on each them of where they belong on the list. There are a number of groupings where, if you believe a prospect should move up or down a slot, we would probably not disagree. Prospect rankings remain a picture of what we see based on the information available at that moment in time, and are likely to change as the offseason progresses. Also note that these rankings are for fantasy purposes, so while we take a players' position into account, we only account for their defense in terms really of their ability to stay at the position long term.

The top 10 prospects will be released on Tuesday of each week, and prospects 11-20 will be released on Thursday. With that, our top 10 third base prospects:

1. Anthony Rendon (WAS)

Rendon was considered the likely top draft pick in the 2010 draft, but injuries during the college season led him to drop to the 6^th overall pick with the Nationals that year. He has the potential to be a fantasy monster, hitting for both a high average and solid to above-average power at a premium position. The biggest question mark at this point on Rendon remains his health, and whether he can play a full season.

Estimated ETA: Late 2013

2. Nick Castellanos (DET) (Profile in MLKT Series)

The Tigers moved Castellanos to AA by the end of the 2012 season after hitting .405 in the Florida State League for half the year. They also moved him to the outfield to see if he can potentially get to the Majors faster, as he is currently blocked by some guy you've heard of. It remains to be seen whether Castellanos is a high average, moderate power bat, or vice versa. Either way, he should be on the radar of fantasy owners in all formats.

Estimated ETA: Late 2013

3. Mike Olt (TEX)

Olt was called up late last year after clubbing 28 home runs in just 95 games at AA to start the season. He's currently blocked at 3B in Texas, and as a result his name has come up on numerous occasions as a trade chip. He could see time for the Rangers at 1B in 2013, but it won't be because he can't play across the diamond.

Estimated ETA: 2013

4. Nolan Arenado (COL) (Profile in MLKT Series)

Arenado was extremely hyped coming into the 2012 season, and as a result the season appears to have been a bit of a disappointment. Arenado has had moments where his makeup has come into question, and it will be interesting to see what he does at AAA in 2013. He is still be a solid 3B for fantasy purposes, but the shine that had vaulted him into the top 20 of some prospect lists may be gone.

Estimated ETA: Late 2013

5. Kaleb Cowart (LAA) (Profile in MLKT Series)

The Angels top position player prospect reached High-A this year, and Craig has a profile coming up on him later today.

Estimated ETA: Late 2014

6. Matt Davidson (ARI) (Profile in MLKT Series)

Davidson should be a nice source of power once he arrives in the Majors, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he can manage to unseat Chris Johnson by the end of the 2013 season.

Estimated ETA: Late 2013

7. Wilmer Flores (NYM) (Profile in MLKT Series)

Flores should be a source of both batting average and solid power production when he gets to the Majors, which could be as soon as the 2014 season. He could be in line for a position change due to the extension of David Wright, which may hurt his value to fantasy owners if it ends up being first base.

Estimated ETA: 2014

8. Richie Shaffer (TAM)

Shaffer was considered to be the top college bat available in the draft, and it seems like it was a bit surprising he fell all the way to the Rays at #25. Shaffer is known for his power potential, and we could potentially see Shaffer moved to either the outfield or first base with Evan Longoria locked in at 3B into the next decade.

Estimated ETA: Late 2014

9. Joey Gallo (TEX)

Gallo came into the draft considered one of the top power prospects available and definitely showed where those reports came from in his first season. He set a single season record for home runs in the Arizona League, and didn't stop hitting homers when he was promoted to the Northwest League. There remain concerns about whether Gallo can continue to make enough contact to tap into that raw power, in addition to whether he can stay at 3B long term as well.

Estimated ETA: 2016

10. Jeimer Candelario (CHC) (Profile in MLKT Series)

I'm not exactly sure what I do to follow up the sonnet that Bret wrote about Candelario, so I'm not going to try to do that, and just note that he is a long way from the Majors, and you should read the sonnet.

Estimated ETA: 2016