Third Basemen in the System

[nsacpi]

Here is what they have produced so far this year:

Garcia age 32 .222/.259/.321

Ruiz turns 23 in May .213/.263/.320

Valenzuela 23 .284/.324/.418

Demeritte 22 .243/.333/.378 (playing second, but could probably move to third)

Riley 20 .239/.286/.391

Yepez 19 .316/.357/.500

We came into the season without an obvious internal solution at third for the next few years. And nothing has changed. A couple guys have hit well in April. Valenzuela is one but profiles more as a utility bench guy. Yepez is the other but is very young and several years away, and it is unclear he can stick at third.

And of course there is Maitan who is even younger and at least four years away.

This is going to be a position of need for the next few years. I suppose Rodriguez could take over the position next year, but he would be a one-year stop gap.