Much like in the majors, third base is absolutely loaded in this class, with five players having the potential to go in the first round, three of which could go in the top half. Some of these guys could move to first base, but those who can stick at third have less pressure on their bats than their first base counterparts, and many of the game's best players today man the hot corner.
1. Alec Bohm (Wichita State)
Part of one of the best one-two punches in the middle of any lineup in college baseball, Bohm took off this year with 16 home runs and a .339/.436/.625 slash line, walking way more (39) than he struck out (28). Though he'll probably need a slight swing change to get to his power more often in pro ball, the power is real right now, and he is arguably the best present hitter in the class. He destroyed the Cape Cod League as well (5 HR, .351/.399/.513, 21/12 K/BB), and for a power hitter, it is very difficult to get the ball by him. His defense at third base is just adequate, and he might have to move to first base eventually, but he's got plenty of bat to profile there and could end up an All Star. He's unlikely to fall out of the top ten picks.
2. Jonathan India (Florida)
While it's hard to view Bohm as anything but the best third baseman in the class, Jonathan India is making it tough to call it a slam dunk. Despite facing SEC pitching, which is the toughest in the NCAA, he still slashed .364/.504/.733 with 18 home runs and more walks (49) than strikeouts (48) for the Gators. Those ridiculous numbers were the product of better pitch recognition and improved physical shape, and projects to impact the game in a lot of ways as a pro. While he will never have Bohm's power, he matches him in bat to ball ability with a quick swing and strong wrists, and his defense is good enough that he can be a net positive in the field. He also runs well. The only thing knocking him down is the question of whether his power will play with wood bats, as he carries just a .398 slugging percentage and one home run over 36 career games in the Cape Cod League and his power comes more through quick and strong wrists than it does through whip or loft in his swing. He'll likely join Bohm in the top half of the first round.
3. Nolan Gorman (O'Connor HS, AZ)
Gorman has arguably the best power in the high school class, having won a pair of home run derbies on the showcase circuit and showing quick hands and a powerful swing that gets the job done with regularity. He sometimes struggles with breaking balls, which might push him to the second half of the first round, but he hit well on the showcase circuit and it's not a huge issue. His swing is long and he swings and misses some when he gets his hands going too late, but he is receptive to coaching and could be a power hitting starter at the next level. His defense is just alright, but he does have a chance to stay at third. He's committed to Arizona.
4. Jeremy Eierman (Missouri State)
Eierman isn't as safe a bet as the other two college hitters ahead of him, but he offers just as much ceiling as India. He had an excellent sophomore season in 2017, slashing .313/.431/.675 with 23 home runs, but he changed his approach this year to try to hit more home runs and it backfired, leading to a .292/.385/.525 line with ten home runs this year. Originally considered a shortstop prospect, he's now looking more like a third baseman, but he should have above average defense there. Scouts like his grinder mentality, so if he can get back to his old approach at the plate with pro coaching, he has the ability to be a power hitting, slick fielding third baseman. However, even with his old approach, he struck out 20.3% of the time as a sophomore, which could lead to problems down the road. He probably falls out of the first round, but not by too much.
5. Jordan Groshans (Magnolia HS, TX)
Magnolia High School, which sits just past the very edge of the subdivided northwestern Houston suburbs, might have two players picked in the first round in Jordan Groshans and Adam Kloffenstein. Groshans is considered the slightly better prospect of the two, showing a clean swing, good power/contact balance, and good enough defense to stay at third base. Nothing really stands out about him, but he's competent across the board, and if a pro team can add some lift to his flat swing, he could have above average power while still getting on base at a good clip. He's committed to Kansas, where his brother plays.
Others: Nander De Sedas (Montverde Academy, FL), Nick Northcut (Mason HS, OH), Cory Acton (American Heritage HS, FL)
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