ESPN reporter Buster Olney ranked the top 10 third basemen in Major League Baseball for the 2026 season. He talked to people in the game and put Cleveland's Jose Ramirez at number one. Spring training camps just started. Teams gear up for the year ahead.
Key Takeaways
- Jose Ramirez leads as the top third baseman, with career milestones like 300 home runs and stolen bases coming soon.
- Junior Caminero of the Rays hit 45 homers last year at age 22, sitting second.
- Alex Bregman now plays for the Cubs at number three after a team switch.
- New faces like Bo Bichette test themselves at third for the Mets.
Background
Third base sits known as the hot corner for good reason. Balls scream off bats straight at the fielder. Quick hands save runs. Good third basemen hit too. They drive in runners. Buster Olney does this ranking every year. He asks scouts, managers, players what they see. Spring training means fresh looks at rosters. Camps buzz with talk of who's hot. Who's not. The 2026 list shows young stars rising fast. Veterans hold steady. Teams shuffled lineups over winter. Trades happened. Free agents signed. Cleveland locked up Ramirez through 2032. That's seven more years. He turns 34 soon but plays like he's 28. Last year he finished third in MVP voting. That's his seventh top-six finish. He owns six Silver Sluggers. Hits pile up toward 2,000. Steals too. He's got 287 already. Homers at 285. Expect both to hit 300 this summer. He's hit at least 17 homers nine years straight. Even in the short COVID season. Tim Kurkjian, another ESPN voice, sees Ramirez clear for the Hall of Fame.
"He is a certain future Hall of Famer," Kurkjian said. "He is already on the Mount Rushmore of baseball in Cleveland."
Ramirez sparks talk. Is he the best ever at third? Numbers say close. But Mike Schmidt and others set high bars. Still, Guardians fans claim him top dog locally. And nationally now with this rank.
The position mixes power, glove work, smarts. Young guys like Caminero smash fastballs. Veterans like Chapman snag Gold Gloves. Moves shake things up. Bichette shifts from shortstop. That's tough. Ripken and A-Rod struggled at first too. But Bichette shone in the World Series. Eight hits in 23 at-bats. Four walks. Four homers. Mets paid big. He fits behind Juan Soto. Leadership matters too. Guys like Bregman steady clubhouses.
Key Details
Olney's full top 10 breaks down like this. Each spot tells a story.
1. Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians
Ramirez dominates. Signed long-term. Milestones loom. Third in MVP last year. Hall track locked.
2. Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays
Caminero wrecked shop at 22. Forty-five homers. Only four guys topped that. Cal Raleigh. Aaron Judge. Kyle Schwarber. Shohei Ohtani. Eugenio Suarez. He crushed four-seam fastballs. Batted .333 against them. Slugged .742. Twenty-seven homers off fastballs or sinkers. Rays return to Tropicana Field. That's tougher than last year's Steinbrenner spot. He hit .313 there. .218 on roads. Watch how he adjusts.
3. Alex Bregman, Chicago Cubs
Bregman landed with the Cubs. Strong numbers in limited looks. 2025: .321 average, .458 on-base, .519 slug in 143 plate appearances. 2024: .326/.394/.597 in 170 trips. Cubs value his glove and lead from the infield. First full year at 31.
4-10 Rundown
Number four? Not named direct but context points to standouts. Matt Chapman at six with the Giants. Five-time Gold Glover. WAR dipped to 4.1 last year from 7.1. Still top tier. Cut strikeouts to 23.6%. Walks hit career high 13.3%.
Bo Bichette seventh for Mets. World Series hero post-injury. .294 career hitter. Led league in hits twice. Short to third move tests him. Scouts note dive issues. Throwing spots.
Austin Riley with Braves. Core surgery ended last year. Feels better now. Needs 2021-23 form. 18.7 WAR then. 104 doubles. 108 homers. OPS+ 135. Locked seven more years.
Honorable mentions nod to Jordan Westburg of Orioles. Productive when healthy. Elbow tear now. Orioles added Thairo Estrada for depth. And Kody Barger impressed in Series. 22-for-60 October. Three homers. Eight walks.
Teams eye these ranks close. Like the NFL's decision on the tush push, baseball debates tactics too. Third base defense wins games. Power flips them.
What This Means
These ranks shape expectations. Ramirez cements Guardians hopes. Cleveland builds around him. Long deal means stability. Young guns like Caminero push teams to contend. Rays stay tricky. Trop change tests him. But power travels.
Bregman boosts Cubs. Infield anchor. Bregman to Cubs mirrors shifts like Arsenal eyeing defenders. Teams chase fits.
Moves like Bichette's matter. Mets bet on bat. Defense learns quick. Or costs runs. Chapman shows age hits WAR. But skills adapt. Strikeout drops help. Riley's health swings Braves season. Surgery recovery key. They need his pop back.
Injuries hit hard. Westburg's elbow. Baltimore scrambles. Estrada signs quick. Depth saves. Overall, third base looks deep. Talent across ages. Veterans guide. Rookies smash. Scouts agree. This group sets tone for 2026 races. Power chases. Glove stops rallies. Fans watch spring games close. Stats will tell by summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is the top third baseman in Buster Olney's 2026 ranking?
A: Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians holds the number one spot.
Q: What makes Junior Caminero stand out at number two?
A: He hit 45 home runs last season at age 22 and crushes fastballs with a .333 average against them.
Q: How did Alex Bregman's numbers look in recent Cubs action?
A: In 2025, he hit .321 with a .458 on-base percentage in 143 plate appearances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads Buster Olney’s 2026 third basemen rankings?
Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians is ranked number one.
Why is Junior Caminero number two?
His 45 home runs last year at age 22 and dominance against fastballs put him there.
What recent stats boosted Alex Bregman?
He hit .321/.458/.519 in 2025 with the Cubs in limited play.
