2024 Brewers Positional Preview: Third Base

[Harold Hutchison]

The Brewers had a revolving door at third base in 2023, with Luis Urias, Brian Anderson, Andruw Monasterio, Owen Miller, Mike Brousseau, and Josh Donaldson all seeing significant playing time at the hot corner. Can the Crew find stability there in 2024?

Image courtesy of © Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The “Incumbent” Starter: Andruw Monasterio

2023 Stats: .258/.330/.348, 14 2B, 3 HR, 1.3 WAR, 87 OPS+

2024 Projection: .260/.333/.382, 16 2B, 7 HR (Baseball-Reference.com)

Andruw Monasterio is one of those unheralded prospects who became a cult hero to Brewers fans. In 2023, he got the call-up after Willy Adames suffered that scary concussion. He won Brewer Fanatic’s Top Rookie award, taking over at third base after Anderson slumped badly following a hot start.

Monasterio’s offensive profile is strong in some areas where the Crew has struggled in recent years. His .259 batting average in 2023 was tied with Victor Caratini's for sixth place on the team. He also hit his lefties hard, batting .291 with a .780 OPS.

On defense, Monasterio, who primarily played shortstop in the minors, doesn't have the flashiness of Brice Turang. However, he is a solid defender at third (not to mention second base and shortstop).

The Top Challenger: Tyler Black

2023 Stats: .284/.417/.513, 25 2B, 18 HR between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville

Black had a breakout season after settling in at third base in Biloxi, then posted even higher numbers in Nashville, where he split time at third base and first base. That season thrust him into the Top 100 lists for Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and MLB.com Pipeline.

Black is a pure hitter – think a left-handed hitting version of Brewers' standout Jeff Cirillo. There is one big difference: Black also has speed: He hit 12 triples and stole 55 bases in 2023 – Cirillo never hit more than five triples in any professional season, and his highest swipe total was 21 in 1992 with Single-A Beloit (and he was caught 12 times). It has nothing left to prove in the minors.

On defense, it’s a slightly different story. Black hasn’t quite found a defensive home, although he handled the corner infield spots pretty well in 2023. He also missed significant time in 2022 with a couple of injuries. Still, his bat is such that he will find his way into the line-up.

Other Options

Joey Ortiz, an MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospect acquired in the Corbin Burnes trade, could be a factor. He hits the ball hard and, unlike Black, can find a defensive home at third base (although he is a natural shortstop).

Owen Miller played 23 games at third for the Brewers, posting a .674 OPS. While he has more power than Monasterio, he only drew 17 walks in 291 at-bats. He did steal 13 bases, good enough for third on the team.

Oliver Dunn is a left-handed utility infielder whose power surged in 2023. He’s only played seven games above Double-A, though. Still, the Crew sent two prospects for him, so he is worth watching.

Patrick Dorrian primarily played middle infield for the Nashville Sounds in 2023 but has also seen a lot of time at third base. His power bat is a nice fit for American Family Field.

X-Factors

Sal Frelick has been thought of as an outfielder for virtually all of his collegiate and professional career. Still, he played some third base (as well as second base) during Futures Collegiate League action in 2018 and 2020, and he had off-season workouts with Dustin Pedroia at third and second. He started at third base in the Crew’s Cactus League Opener, and it didn’t look like the move hurt his bat.

Brock Wilken rapidly rose through the Brewers system after being drafted in the first round in the 2023 amateur draft. His right-handed power bat, reminiscent of Brewers' great Ryan Braun, helped him Double-A Biloxi, where his strikeout total rose somewhat. Still, if he gets hot, he could force his way to Milwaukee much sooner than some might expect.

The Big Question

Who will ultimately claim third base? Four young players, two top 100 prospects on at least one major list, could easily have the Crew set at this position for the next five years, all with different skill sets. At least two other potential candidates could provide competence at that position without breaking the bank (a crucial consideration given the hot-stove economic realities heightened by the collapse of the Bally Sports regional networks).

This might depend on how second base and shortstop shake out for the Crew. But as things stand now, there are a lot of potentially good ways for the big question to be answered.

How do you think the Brewers stand at the hot corner? Who do you want to see there on Opening Day? Let us know in the comments below.

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[eddiemathews]

I have this strange affinity for lefthanded hitting third basemen. Tyler Black for the win.

[duewizard]

AM Sterio to start the year to gain a year of control on Black. After that, depends on performance.

[Trax]

Sal has to find a role somewhere on the team, and that's likely in the outfield.  I'd DH Yeli and put Sal in left before I'd think of sitting him or sending him down.  So, he is a possibility at 3rd if nobody else stands out.  I too think Black is the most likely candidate as it sits.  The hottest most consistent bat in spring training wins it.  One year early for Wilken (to start the year) but I really like him.  This position will remain in flux all year until somebody claims it with the bat.

[Bratwithspecialsauce]

Good comments! I hope Tyler Black is working hard at his defense, because his bat appears to be the best impact bet. Monasterio has proven to be a valuable asset as a multi positional utility guy and there's going to be a battle beyond that with our acquisitions and Owen Miller. I really am pulling for Adames and whatever it takes to get another good starter for the rotation.

[eddiemathews]

10 minutes ago, Bratwithspecialsauce said:

Good comments! I hope Tyler Black is working hard at his defense, because his bat appears to be the best impact bet. Monasterio has proven to be a valuable asset as a multi positional utility guy and there's going to be a battle beyond that with our acquisitions and Owen Miller. I really am pulling for Adames and whatever it takes to get another good starter for the rotation.

I'm pulling for $20-$25mm to get another good starter for a year. There's two out there!

[rafa]

Tyler Black has essentially been determined to go to AAA, work on his glove.  Murphy all but said so.  Ortiz ...we'll see, he's certainly a major league player but not his position so to speak.  Still, my gut says it's mainly a Monasterio/Frelick thing.  This also allows more playing time in the OF for Mitchell, Weimer.

[Brock Beauchamp]

11 hours ago, rafa said:

Tyler Black has essentially been determined to go to AAA, work on his glove.  Murphy all but said so.  Ortiz ...we'll see, he's certainly a major league player but not his position so to speak.  Still, my gut says it's mainly a Monasterio/Frelick thing.  This also allows more playing time in the OF for Mitchell, Weimer.

Welcome to Brewer Fanatic!

[RedStickBrew]

It’s still early in spring training but right now I would guess it’s Ortiz there to begin the year. He is by far the best defensive option of the potential candidates and appears to be handling the bat ok so far