2011 Top 10 Third Basemen Prospects

1. Mike Moustakas - Bats: L Throws: R - 5'11" 230 - KC - 9.11.88. As a high school senior in 2007, Moustakas smacked a California record 24 HR on his way to earning Baseball America's High School Player of the Year. That power has translated into the professional game as Moustakas has accumulated 74 HR in three minor league seasons. Though he was a shortstop in high school, I questioned his ability to stay in the infield but he's shown some improvement and was even voted as the top defensive third baseman by the Texas League managers.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2010	TL	AA	66	259	58	90	25	0	21	76	0	26	42	.347	.413	.687
2010	PCL	AAA	52	225	36	66	16	0	15	48	2	8	25	.293	.314	.564
2010	TOT	2 Lgs	118	484	94	156	41	0	36	124	2	34	67	.322	.369	.630

2. Lonnie Chisenhall - Bats: L Throws: R - 6'1" 200 - CLE - 10.4.88. Chisenhall stared as a freshman and #3 hitter on the same South Carolina Gamecocks team that included future first rounders Justin Smoak and Reese Havens before being arrested and kicked off the team for theft. He then spent a year at Pitt CC (NC) and the Indians made him their first round pick (29th Overall) in 2008. He should spend most of 2011 on a prospect laden AAA Columbus team that will include 2B Jason Kipnis, RHP Alex White and OF Nick Weglarz.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2010	EL	AA	117	460	81	128	22	3	17	84	3	46	77	.278	.351	.450

3. Miguel Sano - Bats: R Throws: R - 6'3" 230 - MIN - 5.11.93. The Twins inked the then 16 year-old Sano to a $3.15 MM bonus largely because of his power potential. Sano didn't disappoint in his first professional season posting an .870 OPS while showing more patience than I anticipated.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2010	DSL	Rk	20	64	11	22	2	1	3	10	2	14	17	.344	.463	.547
2010	GCL	Rk	41	148	23	43	14	0	4	19	2	10	43	.291	.338	.466
2010	TOT	2 Lgs	61	212	34	65	16	1	7	29	4	24	60	.307	.379	.491

4. Zack Cox - Bats: L Throws: R - 6'0" 215 - STL - 5.9.89. A University of Arkansas product, Cox was the best college bat in the 2009 draft but because of the leverage afforded to the draft eligible sophomore coupled with his high price tag, the Cardinals were able to steal him with the 25th overall pick and sign him for $2,000,000. There is no doubt that the former pitcher has the arm for 3B but the other aspects of his defense will be tested.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2010	GCL	Rk	4	15	0	6	1	0	0	1	0	1	3	.400	.471	.467

5. Nolan Arenado - Bats: R Throws: R - 6'1" 205 - COL - 4.16.91. The 2009 2nd round pick out of a California high school earned high marks in his 203 professional AB's that season by posting a 0.89 BB/K%. While that number took a nose dive to 0.37 in 2010, he showed tremendous power by smacking 41 doubles in just 92 games while keeping his strikeouts in check.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2010	SAL	A-	92	373	45	115	41	1	12	65	1	19	52	.308	.338	.520

6. Matt Dominguez - Bats: R Throws: R - 6'1" 205 - FLA - 8.28.89. Dominguez was the High School teammate of the prospect that led off this list, Mike Moustakas. Like Moustakas, Dominguez was a first round pick (12th overall) in 2007. Matt's glove work is so prodigious that I believe if he can continue to produce acceptable offensive numbers, he could have a 10 year career as an MLB regular.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2010	SO	AA	138	504	61	127	34	2	14	81	0	56	96	.252	.333	.411

7. Nick Castellanos - Bats: R Throws: R - 6'4" 195 - DET - 3.4.92. Bonus demands dropped Castellanos to the supplemental round but the right team took a chance on him. The Tigers are becoming renown for opening up their pocket books to sign draftees and they spent a supplemental round record $3.45 MM to sign Castellanos away from a Miami (FL) commitment. It's too early to use his small sample of professional at bats to make a any projections, but he profiles as a power bat with the ability to stay at 3B.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2010	GCL	Rk	7	24	5	8	2	0	0	3	0	4	5	.333	.414	.417

8. Kaleb Cowart - Bats: B Throws: R - 6'3" 190 - LAA - 6.2.92. As a two way standout from Georgia, Cowart was the 2010 Baseball America High School Player of the Year and the Angles took notice and made him the 18th overall pick. He'll focus on hitting as a professional where he's projected to have plus power.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2010	ARI	RK	6	21	0	3	0	0	0	4	0	0	6	.143	.136	.148
2010	PIO	RK	1	5	1	2	0	0	1	3	0	1	2	.400	.500	1.000
2010	TOT	2 Lgs	7	26	1	5	0	0	1	7	0	1	8	.192	.214	.308

9. Brent Morel - Bats: R Throws: R - 6'2" 220 - CWS - 4.21.87. Morel was a 3rd round pick out of Cal Poly in 2008 despite not being a top 200 draft prospect that year, but he's been a steady performer since signing for $440,000. Though he hasn't hit more than 16 HR in a season as professional, Morel's 40 doubles and 58 XBH in 2010 prove he should provide no lower than average power at his position.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2010	SO	AA	49	184	25	60	13	1	2	30	5	14	36	.326	.376	.440
2010	IL	AAA	81	306	40	98	24	4	8	34	3	13	50	.320	.348	.503
2010	TOT	2 Lgs	130	490	65	158	37	5	10	64	8	27	86	.322	.359	.480
2010	AL	MLB	21	65	9	15	3	0	3	7	2	4	17	.231	.271	.271

10. Kolbrin Vitek - Bats: R Throws: R - 6'2" 195 - BOS - 4.1.89. Though he played 2B and 3B at Ball State, many projected Vitek to move to the outfield as a professional, but he's played strictly 3B thus far. The Red Sox used the 20th overall pick in 2010 on Vitek and signed him quickly for the MLB slot recommendation $1.36MM. Vitek has the speed, quickness and arm strength to stay at 3B.

Year	LG	Level	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVE	OBP	SLG
2010	NYP	Rk	56	204	30	55	13	3	4	30	13	26	61	.270	.360	.422
2010	SAL	A-	12	40	7	11	3	1	0	3	4	7	13	.275	.383	.400
2010	TOT	2 Lgs	68	244	37	66	16	4	4	33	17	33	74	.270	.364	.418

Tags: 3b prospects, third base prospects, mlb prospects, top 100 baseball prospects, baseball prospects, mike moustakas, lonnie chisenhall, miguel sano, zack cox, nolan arenado, matt dominguez, nick castellanos, kaleb cowart, brent morel, kolbrin vitek

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