Fantasy Baseball Third Basemen Draft Steal Candidates for 2025: Mark Vientos, Matt Shaw, Josh Jung and More

After looking at some potential fantasy baseball draft bust candidates at the third base position, it’s time to go over some of my potential draft steals at the position for 2025.

I’ve also posted my top-10 rankings for the third base position, and will eventually have my dynasty 3B rankings out, so check back for that!

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1. Mark Vientos

I’ll start with talking about Vientos, who ranks No. 7 on my top-10 list for the upcoming season.

Vientos struggled at the MLB level for much of the 2022-23 seasons, but really hit his stride in 111 games in 2024. He hit .266 and got on base at a .322 clip, raising his career marks to .243 (average) and .297 (OBP).

Vientos’ fantasy value is tied to his power numbers - he hit 27 homers and drove in 71 runs a season ago. Even if you take all three of his MLB seasons into consideration, Vientos has a 162-game average of 31 home runs and 81 RBIs, which is obviously great fantasy value.

You’ll have to deal with a big strikeout total, but if he can keep his average and OBP up, Vientos has the chance to be a major fantasy draft steal for 2025. He’s expected to hit in the heart of the Mets’ lineup and take over at first base for Pete Alonso - if Alonso were to return, Vientos would likely just move back to third base (one way or another, Vientos is going to be in the lineup when he’s healthy).

I think Vientos is being heavily overlooked and that his draft stock will rise as the regular season nears. If you are drafting now, see if you can land Vientos in a later round - he could be the pick that takes your team over the top if you draft well otherwise.

2. Nolan Arenado

Arenado is my No. 8 fantasy 3B for 2025. He’s fallen off a bit over the past couple seasons, but I see a bounceback season coming.

I like that Arenado plays nearly every day. He played 144 or more games in four straight seasons and all but one time in his 12-year career, not counting the COVID season.

In 2024, he played 152 games, tallying a .272 average and .325 OBP. Arenado had just 16 home runs, but still drove in 71 runs. He’s 33 years old, and I think he’s got a couple more good seasons in his bat yet.

There’s been rumors of the Cardinals looking to trade him, and if Arenado wants out of St. Louis, his best course of action would be to step his hitting up. He should be motivated coming into 2025, and I think it leads to a bigger fantasy season than many anticipate.

Arenado should still hit in a fantasy beneficial spot in the lineup, and as long as the guys hitting in front of him stay healthy, I think Arenado improves on his 2024 numbers. It’s not like Arenado is a young player you are taking a gamble on - he’s a veteran who has delivered in the past and very well could bounce right back to being a top-end fantasy 3B again this coming season.

3. Max Muncy

Muncy is my No. 10 fantasy third baseman for 2025. He has a good amount of fantasy value, but injuries are limiting his hype going into the season.

In 73 games last season, Muncy still hit 15 home runs and drove in 48 runs. He only posted a .232 average, but got on base at a much better .358 clip. Muncy averages a little under a strikeout a game for his career.

If you haven’t been paying attention this offseason, the Dodgers are creating a super team with all their signings and trades. One of the few spots they did not add at was third base, and that’s because Muncy holds down that spot.

He’s expected to still hit in the heart of the team’s lineup, and with so many great hitters ahead of him, Muncy is going to have the chance to drive in a ton of runs in 2025. Even if Muncy’s average is low again, big power numbers and a high OBP will make him a very good fantasy asset on a daily basis.

I fully expect Muncy’s draft value to rise as the regular season approaches, but for those of you drafting now or soon, Muncy might be available pretty late in drafts. I wouldn’t even mind taking him to serve as my starting third baseman, but if you get him as a secondary option, you are sitting pretty.

Buy into the Dodgers’ hype and target as many of their players as you can. Many will go early in drafts, but the “lesser-known” hitters and pitchers are just as good options with so much elite talent around them. 

Muncy is part of that bunch, and someone to target a bit later in drafts. I think he could be a huge fantasy draft steal if he can simply stay on the field this season.

4. Matt Shaw

Shaw is not on a lot of people’s fantasy radars right now, and for good reason. He hasn’t played a single game in the MLB yet.

The Cubs’ top-end prospect has hit .303 and got on base at a .384 clip across two minor league seasons. He has 29 homers, 99 RBIs, 46 stolen bases and 120 strikeouts over 159 games and 600 at-bats.

He made it to Triple-A to cap the 2024 season, and has a real shot to break spring training as the Cubs’ starting third baseman. Most sites even have him listed as the team’s starter already.

Shaw is another player who should see his fantasy value rise as the season nears. Of course, if he’s named the team’s starting third baseman, then his value will really take off.

It’s hard to not get excited looking at his minor league numbers. Shaw projects as a well-rounded fantasy player, and could work his way into a very favorable spot in the lineup with a strong start to the season.

I understand if you don’t want to take a gamble on a player who may or may not be on an opening day roster, but especially in deeper setups, Shaw is more than worth it, in my opinion. If he doesn’t break spring training with the MLB team, it probably won’t be long until he gets called up, so keep Shaw on your watch list for 2025.

5. Josh Jung

Jung should open the season as the Rangers’ starting third baseman. There shouldn’t be too much competition for him. 

He figures to hit in the bottom half of the lineup, but there’s enough talent up and down that lineup for anyone to enjoy a nice fantasy showing. I expect Jung, and the Rangers as a whole, to get back on track in 2025.

Jung’s biggest downside is durability, with just 194 games over the past three seasons. He hit 23 home runs and drove in 70 runs in just 122 games in 2023, but was limited to just seven homers and 16 RBIs in 46 games last season.

He’s a career .257 hitter with a .301 OBP. Those aren’t great numbers, but when you add in some power and maybe some stolen bases, Jung is a pretty solid fantasy asset.

Jung’s 162-game averages are 29 home runs and 84 RBIs, which is how he could become a draft steal. Really, he just needs to stay on the field.

I like drafting Jung as a second third base option, especially in deeper leagues. He might be a waiver wire option for many standard league owners to start the season, but if there’s a third baseman to take a gamble on, Jung is definitely on the list of candidates.