Making the Grade: Ranking Third Basemen in the AL Central

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