2024 MLB Draft Preview: Third Base

[Jamie Cameron]

2024 MLB draft coverage is kicking off with positional previews. We continue with third base.

Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp

We’re excited to ratchet up 2024 MLB Draft content in the coming weeks. We’ll start with a series of articles detailing each positional demographic. These pieces aren’t meant to be an exhaustive list, rather, an overview of the caliber of talent at the position. For each player, we'll run down some basic information, in addition to some strengths and weaknesses. You’ll also find their current position on the Consensus MLB Draft Board in parentheses next to their name. 

The third base class in 2023 was strong, with 5 profiles in the top 25 in an extremely talented overall class. 2024 is a thinner crop and the demographic will be influenced by tweener shortstop types. Let’s dig in.

Cameron Smith R/R, Florida State (13)
After appearing as a top-100 prospect on draft lists ahead of the 2022 draft, Smith made it to campus in Tallahassee. After a freshman campaign that saw evaluators question his hit tool, he's been making strides since a summer stint on the Cape to answer those questions and put himself in a strong position as a draft eligible sophomore in 2024.

Smith has an athletic profile built for good power, with a flatter bat path indicative that more home run power could be on the way, if Smith can lift the ball with more consistency. Advances in the hit tool have raised his stock over the summer. Smith has begun chasing less and improved his contact rate significantly enabling him to get off to a scorching 2024 season.

Smith is a good runner and mover for someone his size but that's a fringe average grade overall. Defensively, he has a plus arm and moves well, making third base a viable long term home as a professional, one that he should be above average at defensively. Smith is definitely an up arrow prospect thus far in 2024 with an increasingly well-balanced offensive profile at the hot corner.

Tommy White R/R, LSU (23)
Tommy White became instantly famous as a freshman at NC State, earning the 'Tommy Tanks' moniker after a ridiculous 27 home run first college season (and 3 in his first ever college game). He transferred to LSU in 2023 and helped the Tigers to a national championship, protecting Dylan Crews in the middle of a stacked lineup, mashing another 24 home runs and slugging .725 in the process.

At the plate, White has a crouched stance and a very wide base. He has excellent bat speed, consistently finding the barrel of the bat for great power to all parts of the field. White's bat to ball skills have improved throughout his collegiate career although he has a high chase rate that could be exposed as a professional. It's a legit hit and power combo though, with not many holes in his offensive approach.

White isn't a great athlete, and doesn't offer a ton of additional avenues to accrue value. He's played third base defensively but isn't a great fielder. He has an average arm but as a way below average runner, limiting his impact to the offensive side of the ball.

White is a polarizing prospect for me. The bat is explosive, but there's not much else on offer. He'll have to hit a ton to be worth it, which he has the skill set to do, but it's a narrower path to success than other first round prospects.

Billy Amick R/R, Tennessee (33)
Amick is an up arrow player this spring. After receiving limited playing time at Clemson in 2023, he transferred to Tennessee after a strong summer on the Cape and has started the 2024 season hot.

Possessing a simple, quietly loaded right-handed swing, Amick has serious strength and has started to put up some impressive exit velocities to go along with solid bat to ball skills. Amick does chase a bit too much and his aggressive approach might limit his ability to get to his power in game unless he can dial it back, but this is a potentially average hit, above average power profile with an increasing track record of performance to back it up. The one question for Amick remains swing and miss, with a contact rate of under 70% a flag for me.

Amick has taken a step forward value-wise defensively in 2024. The stocky prospect has manned third base with surprising athleticism. While it's fringe average defense at the moment, an above-average arm helps ameliorate some of the rawness and there's increasing confidence he can at least start his pro career at third base. Not blessed with great speed, Amick will need to keep hitting to force his way up draft boards, the offensive profile is well rounded and impactful, though.

Carson DeMartini L/R, Virginia Tech (48)
DeMartini is the latest in a line of college bats to come out of Virginia Tech, following first rounder Gavin Cross and second rounder Tanner Schobel in 2022.

DeMartini is a third baseman who primarily played at DH in 2023 due to a shoulder injury and had a procedure to repair his labrum that impacted his preparation for the 2024 season. When it's all said and done, DeMartini is a power over hit profile that projects as a slugging corner infielder or outfielder. 

In the box, it's a quiet operation with good bat speed and a swing designed to lift the ball. DeMartini has some chase in his game (although not as much as you might think) and improved his bat to ball skills significantly in 2023, dropping his whiff% by 12%. He strikes out more than you'd like to see, but takes plenty of walks to add to the on-base skill set.

Defensively, he has at least an average arm and a solid average glove. He doesn't have much in the way of foot speed but he projects to stick at third base as a professional. There's definitely areas of refinement in the profile, but there's a productive corner infield slugger in DeMartini's future if he continues to develop and improve. 

Colby Shelton L/R, Florida (66)
After an outstanding freshman season playing third base for Alabama, Colby Shelton transferred to Florida with an opportunity to play shortstop after Josh Rivera was drafted in July of 2023. Shelton is a stockily-built infield prospect with a left-handed power profile that will likely appeal to teams come July.

In the box, it's a very quiet approach. Shelton has little to no pre-swing movement. Good bat speed and a strong lower half help him generate plenty of loft and power in his swing. Shelton walks at a decent clip (13% in 2023) but strikes out more than you'd like to see (24% in 2023). He's been particularly susceptible to velocity and has some swing and miss to his game against secondaries too.

While Shelton doesn't have premium athleticism, he's handled the move to shortstop well and, while it doesn't always look picture perfect, has made plenty of plays. I think his home will be somewhere else on the infield when it's all said and done. An average arm and glove should support a transition to second or third base as a professional. The hit tool will be what to watch for Shelton, he leveled out a previously steep swing this spring. If he can hit enough, he is going to end up having an appealing all round offensive profile.

Honorable Mentions: Kale Fountain (90), Gage Miller (93), Chase Harlan (108)

Who excites you from the third base class in 2024? Who are you higher on than other prospects? Jump into the draft conversation in the comments below.

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[Dman]

I don't love going 3rd baseman high in the draft, but it is better than going after a 1st base\DH player.  If taking one high I feel like they should be above average defensively and offensively.  I can't say I love any of these guys, but Tommy Tanks is a cool name and he has the power the Twins love.

My Favorite though would be Cam Smith as he has the defense to go along with the offense.  Really hard to say who might work out best but that would be my pick with the info I have (which isn't much).

[Mike Sixel]

I'm not overly interested in this type of player early.... Give me SS or OF or college pitcher in round one.