Making the Grade: Ranking Third Basemen in the AL Central

The AL Central is home to a plethora of talented playmakers, both in the field and at the dish. It is home to three former MVPs (Justin Verlander, Joe Mauer and Miguel Cabrera) and three former Cy Young winners (Corey Kluber, Justin Verlander and David Price). 

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Still, despite all that talent, the AL Central is void of difference-makers at the third base position.

The group has no combined All-Star appearances and significant uncertainty due to the abundance of youth at the position. It includes 2014 All-Star snub Lonnie Chisenhall and the 2007 No. 2 overall pick Mike Moustakas. Also included at 2012 All-Star Futures Game MVP Nick Castellanos, 2004 Collegiate Baseball News High School All-American Trevor Plouffe and White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie.

This piece highlights the third basemen who occupy the division and ranks them, from 1-5, in reverse order from most productive to least productive.

Next: No. 5

No. 5: Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals

Oct 28, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) reacts after hitting a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the 7th inning during game six of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

At just 26 years old, Mike Moustakas has already put together an interesting career for the Kansas City Royals. He has put together three consecutive impressive spring training seasons, resulting in three consecutive appearances on the preseason “breakout candidate” lists.

Again this season, Michael Clair from MLB.com has tabbed the California-native as one of his “one-time elite prospects set for [a] breaktout season in 2015.” 

This time, the argument could really carry some weight. In the Royals’ unimaginable run to the World Series last year, Moustakas enjoyed a transformative postseason. Though he hit just .231, the power-hitting lefty clubbed five home runs and showed off some fancy glove work at the hot corner.

In short, it was the type of postseason that could serve as a catalyst to jumpstart what was once a promising big league career.

After hitting .242 with 20 home runs in his first full season in the majors, Moustakas has hit .223/.279/.363 over the last two seasons, adding 27 home runs in what has amounted to the fourth-lowest OPS among qualified batters. He has cut down on the predictably high strikeout numbers of his first season, but balls in play have not amounted to any extra base hits. He posted a .220 BABIP in 2014, which was the worst in the MLB for any player with over 500 plate appearances.

Is “Moose” finally primed for a breakout season? Perhaps. And, if he does, he could quickly ascent up this list.

But don’t bet on it.

Next: No. 4

No. 3: Trevor Plouffe, Minnesota Twins

Mar 17, 2015; Sarasota, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe (24) rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the second inning of the spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles at

Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Despite his success in 2014, Trevour Plouffe may be looking for another job by season’s end.

Plouffe put together the best season of his career last year, hitting .258 with 14 home runs and 40 doubles over 136 games. A former No. 1 overall draft pick, he came into his own last season, posting career-highs in average and RBIs (80). He was one of the top defensive third basemen in the AL Central and became a force in the middle of the Twins’ lineup.

Coming off offseason forearm surgery, Plouffe has started slow in the spring. He is hitting just .227/.300/.364 over 14 games, hitting just one home run in 44 at-bats. He will have to pick up the pace to keep his position, as highly-touted prospect Miguel Sano is eyeing a big league debut sometime this season.

If not for Tommy John surgery that kept him out all last season, Sano may have already taken over the third base job. He batted .280 in 2013, splitting time between Single-A and Double-A. During his 19-year-old season, Sano hit 35 home runs and drove in 103 RBIs while posting 123 total hits.

Much like the Indians’ Francisco Lindor, Twins fans have been ogling over their future third baseman and, if Plouffe struggles, Sano could debut early in 2013.

Next: No. 2

No. 2: Lonnie Chisenhall, Cleveland Indians

Apr 19, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Cleveland Indians third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall (8) hits a home run against the Houston Astros in the fifth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Despite all the clamoring for Terry Francona to replace Lonnie Chisenhall at the hot corner, the four-year pro turned in arguably the best season in the division in 2014. 

In his first full season as a starter, Chisenhall put together an incredibly impressive first half of the season. He was widely considered a snub in the All-Star voting, as he turned in a ridiculous slash line of .332/.396/.519. He hit nine home runs and drove home 41 RBIs – all while playing slightly limited time, as Francona protected him against dominant left-handed starters.

Unfortunately, though, his second half was equally bad. Chisenhall hit a dreadful .218/.277/.315 after the break, clubbing just four home runs and 18 RBIs. He hit below .250 in all three months after the All-Star Game, reverting back to the same player who hit .225 and .268 in part-time roles the previous two seasons.

The inconsistency at the plate would be forgivable if Chisenhall was productive in the field. He had 18 errors in 108 starts and the No. 19-ranked range factor (2.21) among qualified third basemen. Worse, he turned in -1.5 defensive wins above replacement (dWAR), good for second-to-last in the league.

Given his defensive inefficiencies, if Chisenhall struggles at the dish, he could find himself without a full-time gig quickly. Utility man Mike Aviles is available off the bench while prospect Giovanny Urshela preps for his debut in Columbus. While Katrina Putnam of Wahoo’s on First argues Chisenhall should get a lengthy look before decisions are made, the reality remains Chisenhall’s seat is scorching hot.

If he doesn’t perform, Francona will find the next man up at third base.

Next: No. 1

No. 1: Conor Gillaspie, Chicago White Sox

Sep 15, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie (12) drives in a run with a single against the Kansas City Royals in the third inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Of all the third basemen in the AL Central, Conor Gillaspie (and Castellanos) are the only two players who seem to be locks to start and finish the season as the everyday starter.

Gillaspie was an absolute force in the White Sox lineup for most of last season, hitting above .320 with an on-base percentage better than .370 at the end of July. As the season wore on, however, so did the 27-year-old lefty. His batting average fell roughly 40 points over the next two months, as he posted a .222 mark in August and followed that up with an atrocious .183 showing in September.

According to Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com, Gillaspie appeared fatigued at the end of last season. To combat the issue, he writes:

Gillaspie added a significant amount of muscle in the offeason and took a major step that he had been pondering for some time. Gillaspie quit using smokeless tobacco, primarily because of a side effect. He acknowledged that tobacco acted as an appetite suppressant, and when he needed to eat in the latter part of the season to combat unwanted weight loss, he didn’t have the stomach for it. In fact, Gillaspie credited his ability to bulk up this winter to his new lifestyle change.

While Gillaspie does not expect the added weight to push his home run total from seven in 2014 to 20-30 or more in 2015, he believes the weight will help him endure the grind of a 162-game season — and allow him to continue driving the ball into gaps.

He worked through plantar fascitis this spring, but continued to take the field despite significant pain in the bottom of his foot. He is hitting just .234/.250/.277 this spring and has yet to hit a home run in 47 at-bats.

Consider that a slow start in what could be a full-year of All-Star caliber baseball this season for Gillaspie.

Next: Ranking the Second Basemen