SB. At 58, Alejandro Kirk is the shortest catcher in Major League Baseball. The man who regularly swings the biggest bat in baseball is 34 years old, a decade into his major league career, . We will use some advanced baseball jargon in this article. Hes not just one of the best hitters among third baseman; hes one of the best hitters in the game. That was, of course, with the small exception of a second baseman named Dustin Pedroia who came into the league in 2006. However, following the signing of Evan Longoria, there may not be 500-plus plate appearances available for Rojas like there were in 2021 and 22. What do college baseball scouts look for in a third baseman? The 31-year-old posted a 121 OPS+ with 27 doubles, 13 home runs and 64 RBI in a 3.1-WAR season. There were 42 of them. Jose Altuve from Maracay, Venezuela, plays professional baseball for the Houston Astros of the MLB as a second baseman. Given the arrival of bigger bases and Clevelands desire to run the club attempted the fourth-most steals last season Ramrez could see an increase in stolen bases. Stubby Magner was a 53 middle infielder who logged 11 games with the New York Highlanders (who later became the Yankees) in the dead-ball era. His 30s will be fun as he makes his Hall of Fame case. Who did we leave out? Heres all the stats Devers finished top three in 2021 at third base. Known as one of the scrappiest MLB players of all time, Freddie Patek didnt have a lot of size or power, but he more than made up for it with heart and love for the game. Ozzie Albies lost his father in 2013. A world-class hitter and an exceptional base stealer, Sliding Billy could really do it all. For this guide, I took an average of the heights and weights of the 66 third basemen across the league. Jose Altuve is the shortest player in baseball at 5-foot-6, but there are more than 100 MLB players under 6 feet. He has been a solid defensive third baseman the past two seasons despite being developed as a middle infielder in the minors. Ive been a collegiate sports performance coach for 20 years. He had a top-five OBP. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (@mlbbaseballplayers). RIGHT FIELD. Shortest MLB Player All-Time. THIRD BASE. David Freese celebrates after hitting the game-winning homer in the 11th inning of Game 6 of the 2011 World . Justin Turner hasnt stopped hitting since he was released by the Mets and joined the Dodgers in 2014. 9 on this list is going to be criminal in two months. Colorado Rockies hitters, as a whole, have 5.0. The . These rankings are not a measure of performance since 2019; we are projecting the ten best at each position for 2022. Since 2000, Altuve, Kemp, Alexi Amarista, Danny Herrera, David Eckstein, and Donnie Sadler are the only MLB players to suit up in a game at 5-foot-6. His .284 OBP over his past 2000 MLB plate appearances, however, hinders his value. Of course slower runners play positions that demand less speed. Urshela outperformed Josh Donaldson by a wide margin, so Minnesota's offseason wheeling and dealing with the Yankees proved fruitful at third base. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez. NEW YORK CITY - (Sports Satire) - Baseball fans all over America are in amazement at the newly-signed first baseman with the New York Yankees. The third base position has one of the largest ranges of body types of any position (especially if you dont include pitchers). Taking a look at our top 10 third basemen for the 2023 fantasy baseball draft season, you'll find a ton of star power. The $22.6 million he will earn over the next two seasons looks like a solid bargain for the Mariners as they continue to build toward title contention. Tier 2: Manny Machado, Rafael Devers, Austin Riley, Nolan Arenado. And he was one of seven third basemen with an average exit velocity on batted balls north of 90 mph. All told, he hit .229/.324/.433 for a 115 OPS+ with 27 doubles, 27 home runs and 76 RBI in 155 games, matching his 2021 value with a second straight 3.5-WAR season. For the fourth time in the last six years, Cleveland Guardians star Jos Ramrez finished in the top five in AL MVP voting in 2022, checking in fourth behind Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and Yordan Alvarez. Tony Kemp 56, Marcus Stroman 57 Outs above average among third baseman: Matt Chapman leads, KeBryan Hayes follows, then Ryan McMahon, Nolan Arenado, and Jose Ramirez. Photo: @Adam Glanzman Source: Getty Images. Machado in his first four seasons with the Padres has batted .280/.352/.504 (136 OPS+) with 108 home runs. We arent particularly worried, but slightly cautious about ranking Anthony Rendon as the sixth-best third basemen. A more modern entry to the list, Altuve came into the major leagues in 2011 as a second baseman for the Houston Astros. Though a bit taller than some of the other heroes on this list, Betts deserves a mention for displaying sheer dominance throughout his young career despite measuring in at just 59. Like underdog stories? When all was said and done for Little Joe, he had tallied 10 All-Star Bids, won two World Series and been named Gold Glove recipient a whopping five times. Max Muncy. Yogi Berra was only 5 7 and definitely in the discussion for one of the greatest catchers of all time. Horton Barbell was created by Ryan Horton who has served as a Strength and Conditioning Coach and Sports Scientist for almost 20 years at schools like the University of Tennessee, Temple University and Georgia Tech. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Rounding out the list is ol Pudge Rodriguez, who deserves a mention for being one of the best defensive players in MLB history despite standing a few inches shorter than most of his counterparts. Champagne Athletics (@champagneathletics). Flashback Sports (@flashbacksports_pics). After a slow first half, Turner rebounded to hit .319/.386/.503 in 184 plate appearances after the All-Star break. Hes won three Gold Gloves, and already has two Platinum Gloves to his name. I still think the shorter player have to do more to make the team and be in the line up. A post shared by Muncy slashed .247/.358/.500 with 12 homers in 53 games after July 31. Since 2017, Escobar has hit the 10th-most home runs of any third baseman with 111. Vintage Bubble Gum (@vintage_bubble_gum). The number he wore on his back? Never miss a post, plus grab this free guide (instant download). He was born in Newville, Pennsylvania and attended Washington & Jefferson College. Since then, hes been a below-average hitter (89 wRC+) who has struggled versus right-handed hurlers (career .682 OPS). That is more than Justin Turner, Alex Bregman, Kris Bryant and Josh Donaldson. Muncy dealt with nagging injuries all season while also adjusting to being pushed off his natural position of first base. A series of events to evaluate the physical characteristics of the best college football players each year. His Statcast metrics dont pop out at you, but Ramrez puts up steady, high-level production because he leans into his pull-side power and hits a ton of fly balls. Muncy is an American-born professional baseball infielder playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the MLB. And from there, the step becomes more like a cliff, with players at the back end of the positions top 10 carrying significant risks. Fuchi Yokomama, who only stands 5-foot-4, is . The cream of this crop includes some of the best players in the world. Hoos . Finally, if youd like to see the full position-by-position breakdown, check out the average heights and weights of major league baseball players by position. That, plus his defensive excellence at third base, has allowed him to accumulate 17.6 . However, it took him a little bit to get acclimated to big league ball. Terrance Gore turned down a football scholarship from the University of Georgia to play JUCO baseball at Gulf Coast Community College in Florida. He hit 26 home runs in 135 games played last year and he also posted a 1 OAA, as he is still a slightly above-average defender at third base. Though he wasnt necessarily known for his defensive play, the undersized Sewell was a master at the plate. A lot of shorter pro athletes succeed by zigging when their taller counterparts zag. He hit just .207 and struck out 183 times, but his power production and on-base ability helped offset those shortcomings. Nine of Patek's 14 major league seasons were spent with the Royals, and during that span . View 2022 batting stats for Third Basemen. Nolan Arenado may finally have some competition when it comes to the Gold Glove discussion with KeBryan Hayes entrenched at the hot corner for the Pittsburgh Pirates. His sterling defense will keep him in Torontos lineup, and his home park is becoming a little friendlier to fly-ball hitters. While he wouldnt pass most scouts eye test, Kirk is proof that if you can play, you can play. A post shared by He said, Youve got to show them that it doesnt matter how tall you are or how short you are. That led to his worst offensive and defensive season to date. Veteran third-baseman and acknowledged clubhouse leader Justin Tuner also opted for free agency and is in Boston. One thing I always felt was effective was showing guys the heights and weights of players at their position in the pros. Pitcher 2. Yon Moncada. The game has blessed us with players of all shapes and sizes. That pretty much says it all when it comes to his defensive prowess, although five Platinum Gloves add to that elite resume as well. Altuve is still young and quite sure to keep filling that resume out for years to come, with a spot in Cooperstown likely waiting for him when he decides to hang it up. Pitchers (84) Catchers (19) First Basemen (26) Second Basemen (20) Third Basemen (18) Shortstops (26) Left Fielders (23) Center Fielders (24) Right Fielders (27) Designated Hitters (3) Managers (23) Umpires (10) Executives (40) There are four categories in which a baseball legend can become an immortal by election to the National Baseball Hall . He has played only 10 career innings at shortstop at the MLB level, though he played the position in college and some in the . CENTER FIELD. The Rockies signed him to a six-year, $70 million extension in March. A post shared by Listing the top salaries, cap hits, cash, earnings, contracts, and bonuses, for all active MLB players. Regardless, he likely wont be available outside of the top five. As far as the shortest player who played in more than one professional game, there is a lot of debate among baseball historians. A curated list of choices recommended by ballplayers across the nation. THESE KIND OF ENTRIES DO NOTHING TO EDUCATE OR ENTERTAIN THE MASSES WHO SO OFTEN HAVE NO IDEA OF THE REAL, CORRECT FACTS He is listed as 5 5. He went deep five times in just 102 plate appearances last year, and his 10.2% barrel rate further hints at the life in his bat. pic.twitter.com/iJALRCJHuC. His 39-game hitting streak for Team Streak in 1987 captured the nation's attention. Required fields are marked *. Before starting tee ball at 3-years-old, Harrison would use a fork as a bat and a balled-up piece of paper to play ball in his kitchen. During his career in the Majors, Dinty pitched in 13 games. 2021 Stats: 156 G, .279/.352/.538, .890 OPS, 134 wRC+, 38 HR, 113 RBI, 5 SB, 9.3% BB, 21.5% K, 4.7 fWAR, -13 DRS, -13 OAA. Donaldson ranked in 99th percentile in average hard hit% last season, which means he is still hitting the ball harder than almost every other hitter in the game. The Blue Jays backstop has defied the odds every step of the way. Career .855 OPS guy, coming off of 36 homers and 103 RBIs? The man is practically an institution. The 25-year-old hit a modest .244/.314/.345 for an 87 OPS+ in 136 games, but he racked up 4.3 WAR thanks to his stellar glove work at the hot corner. A creative way to construct the roster would be to move Schoop, under contract for $7.5 million, to third base. Leury . He also remains the all-time leader in putouts as a catcher and was the best of his era at pegging potential base stealers. Rojas stole a career-high 23 bases last season. Just Baseball's rankings of the top third basemen in baseball. Pudge was no slouch with a bat in his hands, either, with a strong .296 career average and 311 home runs. According to The Sporting News, Altuve tied one other player this year as the shortest player to appear in an MLB game.Tony Kemp, an Oakland Athletics second baseman who appeared in 131 games this year, also is listed at 5-foot-6. Chicago White Sox. Josh Donaldson, New York Yankees. PRIME = WAR in 5 . For the 10th straight season, Arenado took home NL Gold Glove honors, and deservedly so based on his elite defensive metrics (19 DRS, 11.8 UZR/150) and usual highlight reel of standout plays. McMahon was a productive two-way player once again for the Rockies, hitting .246/.327/.414 with 23 doubles, 20 home runs and 67 RBI while posting stellar defensive metrics (11 DRS, 3.3 UZR/150) to earn a place among the NL Gold Glove finalists. But will he ever start pulling the ball with regularity? The TEAM!!! Long Peak = WAR in Best 7 Seasons. 61 Most Inspirational Baseball Quotes of All-Time. I've always loved the NFL Combine. 5. With Fernando Tatis Jr. watching from the sidelines, Manny Machado was the centerpiece of the San Diego Padres offense as he put together one of the finest seasons of his career and finished runner-up in NL MVP voting. The Rays bought low on Paredes prior to the season, acquiring the former top-100 prospect from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Austin Meadows. He posted negative defensive metrics at third base (-3 DRS, -1.1 UZR/150) for the first time in his career, but he was still a top-tier third baseman and one of the best all-around players in the sport. The speedy second baseman has been a steady contributor so far in his young career. The bat however, is ridiculous. He just died a couple of days ago. Now we'll finalize those rankings while expanding the list to the 25 best at each position. Sports Bet Gazette is reporting that the player, who hails from Osaka, Japan, is without a doubt the shortest first baseman to ever play in the major leagues. When it comes to production from third basemen, few players have been more consistent over the last few years than Eduardo Escobar. When it comes to the shortest players in the history of baseball, the list includes Eddie Gaedel (3'7), Stubby Magner (5'3), Pompeyo "Yo-Yo" Davalillo (5'3), Bob Emmerich (5'3), and Mike McCormack (5'3). Mookie Betts (@mookiebetts). 12. Chapman, 29 in April, is a Platinum Glove defender at third base. He finished with a 96 OPS+, 22 doubles, 21 home runs and 69 RBI. He finally hung it up after 14 MLB seasons, notching three All-Star bids and being named to the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame. The defensive stats will reflect their time solely at second base. A full offseason to rest and recover should make him a solid bounce-back candidate in 2023. Uras was one of the most underrated players in baseball during the 2022 season. ALL-TIME TOP 100 LISTS. On offense, he had the shortest swing, the fastest hands and was one of the best baserunners in baseball history. He has hit at least 32 home runs in five-straight seasons, and in 2021, he hit 28 home runs and swiped 12 bags. At Bat Research Group. Eugenio Suarez - Seattle Mariners. Most: 3 (Jimmie Foxx, Albert Pujols) Highest bWAR in MVP season: 11.8 (Lou Gehrig, 1927) Jimmie Foxx was the first player in Major League history to win three MVP Awards, earning two with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1932-33 and another with the Red Sox in '38. RELATED: The Shortest NBA Players of All-Time, At 5'7", Terrance Gore is one of the shortest active MLB players.He's on the Braves World Series roster for one reason & one reason only:To steal bases.Gore has 5 stolen bases in 10 career postseason games.You gotta root for this guy!#BattleATL pic.twitter.com/BNVTW857h4. Angels third baseman Yunel Escobar wields a 36-inch, 34-ounce slab of wood cut . Injuries opened the door for the 30-year-old to step into an everyday role, and he hit .274/.335/.520 for a 128 OPS+ with 22 doubles, 20 home runs and 59 RBI in 92 games before the Reds traded him to the San Diego Padres at the Aug. 2 deadline. Virginia third baseman Jake Gelof hit a ball to deep center. His impact on the game was monumental, even if his size was not. Bet you didnt think the shortest player to ever play in a Major League game would clock in at under four feet tall! Offensively Hayes underwhelmed in his rookie season, posting an 88 wRC+, but the 25-year-old former top prospect certainly has the potential to be far better this year. Third baseman 6. A post shared by Devers slumped throughout last season's second half, thanks in part to a hamstring injury, but still put up a respectable 27 homers with career-bests in wRC+ (140) and K rate (18.6%). As a team there are Great!!! A post shared by From 58 to 65 and 140 pounds to 250 pounds, it appears that there is definitely not a one-size-fits-all for playing third base. He finished 2022 with five home runs, but hit just .197 in the big leagues and struck out . Dustin Pedroia (@dustinpedroiaofficial). The Toronto Blue Jays acquired Matt Chapman from the Oakland Athletics prior to the 2022 season, and he provided his usual mix of elite defense and power production in his first season with his new team. Shortstop 7. A post shared by Do I have to say what happened after that season? David Eckstein 56 Many of his records still stand despite Keeler retiring after the 1910 season. The No. He routinely annihilated baseballs last year and trailed only Aaron Judge in extra-base hits and total bases. As a second baseman, you almost always underhand the ball to the first baseman and are usually able to get the runner out easily. You could make an argument for J-Ram as the No. We suggest quickly reading about those stats at the links attached, and as always, please feel free to reach out onTwitterwith any questions. There are 7 guys under 510, two of those under 59. Scott Rolen, at 6'4" and 247 pounds, is a legendary defensive player, who's . The Guardians leader complements his potent bat with plus speed and baserunning. Now he can even spend some time at DH to keep his bat in the lineup. Catch up on the 2021 MLB Player Rankings series: Catchers , First Basemen , Second Basemen . Arenado hit .293/.358/.533 for a similar 154 OPS+, tallying 42 doubles, 30 home runs and 103 RBI for the seventh 30-homer, 100-RBI season of his impressive career. On offense, he had the shortest swing, the fastest hands and was one of the best baserunners in baseball history. We guessed that middle infielders (shortstop and second basemen) are the shortest players on the field. Hip injuries are the worst, and some players are never the same again after surgery. Marcus Stroman is one of only six pitchers under 510 to start at the major league level in the 21st century. Josh Donaldson may not be on the best contract and is 36 years old, but there is a reason the New York Yankees made the move to acquire him this offseason. Nos. Will the Red Sox hammer out a long-term extension before he reaches free agency next offseason? The 2022 NL MVP runner-up should absolutely thrive while batting between names such as Soto, Bogaerts and Tatis Jr. this summer. Hes one of the best defensive third basemen of all-time and can still play a solid shortstop when he feels like it. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Why was Albie Pearson at 55 not listed? 1 prospect in MLB also has eligibility at shortstop, further enhancing his fantasy value. He has tallied at least 20 steals in each of the past four full seasons. 1 prospect in MLB also has eligibility at shortstop, further enhancing his fantasy value. An elbow injury suffered on the final day of the 21 season might be to blame for his terrible first half. Hes always had that desire to just want to get better, said Vince Harrison, Joshs brother, and current MiLB coach. It was another terrific offensive season for the homegrown Boston Red Sox star as he hit .295/.358/.521 for a 141 OPS+ with 42 doubles, 27 home runs, 88 RBI and 84 runs scored in a 4.4-WAR season. You'll get excellent reach. To this day, he owns the record for most runs scored in a single season with 198 in 1894 the same year he batted over .400. Selected in the 20th round of the 2011 MLB Draft, Gore has carved out his niche as a pinch-runner in the big leagues. Jung, a top-40 prospect, displayed his 60-grade power when he homered in his first MLB at-bat. The San Diego Padres struck again Sunday morning, agreeing to pay all-star third baseman Manny Machado $350 million over the next 11 years, according to a person familiar with the situation. The 28-year-old posted a 103 OPS+ with 16 home runs and 51 RBI while turning in terrific defensive metrics (14 DRS, 11.3 UZR/150) en route to a 3.6-WAR season and AL Gold Glove honors. He won an unrivaled 13 Gold Glove awards over the course of his career. Read on to learn about the 10 shortest league home run champions of the live ball era (since 1920). . Riley broke out in the biggest way. And an eight-year sample size is not a small one. Who deserves the Credit? Since 2019, Bregman has struggled against breaking balls. He added 20 steals for the fourth 20/20 season of his career. Leury Garcia sends the fans home happy! I looked at all MLB players since 1960 who played at least 5 games at a position. As a 23-year-old, he was bad. In 54 games as a 22-year-old, he was average. Pitchers are usually the tallest guys on the diamond, so it pretty much shocked the entirety of the baseball world when Bobby Shantz came onto the scene in 1949 and started lighting up batters left and right. Shortstop. At 3'7", Eddie Gaedel is the shortest MLB player of all time. Most projection systems, which are conservative by nature, have him putting up 20 homers and double-digit steals this year. Catch up on the Top 25 in 2022 series: Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Shortstops. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. His 11% K rate last year tied for ninth in MLB. In the 1980s, the statistician and writer Bill James defined a defensive spectrum, ordering baseball's positions from least to most challenging first base, left field, right field, third . Youre ready to play. . The Astros boast the shortest MLB player in Jose Altuve, but the Nationals have a secret weapon in Adam Eaton More than 100 MLB players are under six feet, and six of them are on the Nationals roster. We arent saying hes absolutely the worst, but he sure isnt good at the hot corner Nonetheless, Hes been such a good hitter for so long, and instead of regressing, we think he can be even better at the plate this year. The result was a unique season relative to what one might expect out of a 3.5-WAR player, but there's no denying the value he provided with a 143 OPS+ and 42 extra-base hits in 558 plate appearances. Let's discuss each fielding position in . That is more than Justin Turner, Alex Bregman, Kris Bryant and Josh Donaldson. Basically looked like a big league third baseman on those two plays. Baseball's home run surge in the late '90s and early 2000s was fueled by anabolic steroids. He had the lowest strikeout rate of all qualified third basemen. The average weight of a major league baseball third baseman is 202.11 pounds. In terms of pure power, Riley is unmatched at the hot corner. With that knock, Giambrone ushered in the next generation of short MLB players to defy the odds showing the world what makes baseball so beautiful. I've always loved the NFL Combine. A post shared by Deadball Era Stars (@deadball_era_baseball). When should you consider selecting a third baseman during your fantasy drafts this season? MLB LVBP VENEZUELA (@baseball.venezuela). An elite bat, great defense, and championship mentality is what you get from Rendon, we just hope he can rebound. But after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2007, hes proven everyone wrong amassing an MVP title and 7 All-Star Game appearances. Jose Altuve was sent home from his 1st MLB tryout.At 56, scouts didnt believe his age.He came back the next day with his birth certificate.7 All Star Games later, hes playing in another #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/0QGvDf2u06. Want to share your opinion? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Why wasnt Albie Pearson on your list of shortest major league baseball players? Once those stars are off the board within the first few rounds, there is a clear step down into the next tier of players. On This Date In MLB (@onthisdateinmlb). That helped prop up his overall stat line as he cooled off considerably down the stretch. Catcher. Frank "Home Run" Baker earned his nickname due to four home run titles and two game winning long balls during the 1911 World Series. The franchise second baseman has been with Houston since the days of back-to-back 100-loss seasons, and now that they . They are just bona fide sluggers who swing and miss often. If healthy, Muncy could once again be a difference-maker at the plate. Join our freeUnderdog Newsletterto keep up with the best sports stories that you wont see on ESPN. Here are the five lightest third basemen in Major League Baseball, all weighing 172 pounds or less. In fact, the pint-sized Shantz pitched well for over a decade, compiling a record of 119-99 to go with over 1,000 strikeouts. Last, but not least, hes earned his way into the exclusive 30-30 club (for players with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season). Hes also still third in career stolen bases with 914, a spot the Hall of Famer has clung to for a mind-boggling 100-plus years. Moncada had a 97 wRC+ and a league-leading 217 strikeouts. The 30-year-old hit .298/.366/.531 for a 159 OPS+ with 37 doubles, 32 home runs and 102 RBI in a 6.8-WAR season. Being a numbers guy though I wanted to know for sure. View this post on Instagram. Let's keep our 2021 MLB Player Rankings series rolling with a look at the top 25 third basemen. Preller announced today. Who Is the Shortest Player in MLB History? The defense is the problem, and thats what keeps him out of the top-three. And that's exactly what you would have hoped to see. He hit 27 bombs and hit a couple of balls well over 110 miles per hour. He will begin this season as the clubs everyday second baseman. Unremarkable. 3. The second baseman has the shortest throw percentage on the field in two ways. link to Fastest Safety 3-Cone Times in NFL Combine History, link to Best Safety Broad Jumps at NFL Combine (Updated 2023), average heights and weights of major league baseball players by position. Just like the regular-season rankings, past production and future expectations played no part in deciding the orderthis is a rundown of the best and brightest of 2022. There's an option for a fourth year. and McGwire, the St. Louis Cardinals first baseman, was portrayed as the hero baseball needed: part humble . Jake Lamb (31): A productive everyday third baseman with the D-Backs at his 2016-17 peak, Lamb hasn't been . CAREER = career war. Rizzuto, at only 56, earns a spot as one of the best short MLB players of all time, but youll just as easily find him on most lists of the best shortstops of all time regardless of height. This is because third base gets harder hits that a closed pocket can handle better than an open one will. The fact that the author jumped from 56 to 59 shows they are not really interested in good information but a fallacious agenda. RBI opportunities should be plentiful batting behind Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. In the playoffs! 4 overall pick in the 2005 draft played just 67 games in the minors . We basically just listed every hitting stat except on-base percentage, which he finished seventh. Hack Wilson, 5-foot-6. 56 is remarkably short for a MLB pitcher, and it makes Shantz one of the shortest pitchers of all time. The list includes some of the top player. Simply put, Pedroia has been a rock at second for the Boston Red Sox for what seems like an eternity. Hes got a higher wRC+ than Nolan Arenado, Anthony Rendon, and Manny Machado since 2014, and he hasnt slowed down at all. Houston Astros second baseman Jos Altuve stands at 5 feet 6 inches tall. During the 1930 season, the squatty outfielder cranked out an unheard of 56 homers a record that stood for nearly 70 year and almost 200 RBIs. The only position that sometimes wants a closed pocket is third base. Most second basemen use an 11 to an 11.5-inch mitt, while shortstops will usually use an 11.5 to an 11.75-inch mitt. The guy flat-out rakes. A post shared by New York Yankees Archives (@27pluss), (Most of the best players, even at the time, were at least 511, including the legendary Ty Cobb who stood at 61.). But while he was great at taking walks and not chasing, his swing and miss numbers were borderline worst in the league. In 1915, Cobb lead baseball with 96 stolen bases, which was his career high. But when hes on, hes simply one of the best all-around 3Bs. The DH role might be where the 38-year-old fits best after the Dodgers declined his $16 million club option. Third base has five of the top-22 players in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings and seven players in the top .