The 2024 STS MiLB Player of the Year: Third Base

By: RFF – Ryan Felix Fernandes

Come on.
Which 3B was worth it? Let me word it,

I put my analysis down, flip the script and reverse it
Ti esrever dna tpircs eht pilf nwod sisylana ym tup i
Ti esrever dna tpircs eht pilf nwod sisylana ym tup i

*Insert applause here*

So, it is about damn time.

It is with great honor today that I accept “The 3B – Player Award” from Scout the Statline. I never thought I’d get the recognition especially from a fantasy baseball site. But, I do deserve it.

Don’t get me wrong. I got an award or maybe I should say, reward for each time I reached “third base” but the sheer volume I put up. This feat should be documented somewhere for all the digital world to gaze over.

Throughout the years, I’ve received countless accolades and praise from women around the world for the work that I’ve done. Let me tell you one of my favorite stories, back in ‘96 during Spring Break out in Daytona Beach. I met these two women at Razzle’s Nightclub on the strip and we must have each taken at least eight shots of Aftershock Red. So they invited me to the room they were sharing and…

Wait a second…

Sorry, I just caught something when I reread this message from StS creator Ross Jensen on the subject matter of this piece.

Hold on. I need to put my glasses on.

Ohhhh, Player as in a MiLB player that played 3B this year.

Shit.
Well, that rained on my parade.

So, you came here to find out who the StS MiLB 3B of the Year is, huh? Seems like a moot topic to go over but what the hell.

I’ll still put my analysis down, flip the script and reverse it.
reyalP esaB drihT a gnieb rof drawa na evresed llits I

CHASE MEIDROTH – BOSTON RED SOX

Is it me or does Chase look like the random stoner dude in every 80s and 90s teen flick who starts and ends every sentence with “dude” and seems like a blast to hang out with?

Fuck you.
Yeah, he does.

So, Dude! This Dude, Meidroth raked in Triple-A this season.

Dude reverted to what he excelled at in college and got him drafted. Dude went back to being a contact-first, spray hitter (on the cusp of being an extreme opposite-field hitter with a 38.2 Oppo%).

Dude looks like Dustin Pedroia Lite in the box with his upright stance, high hands, and accentuated stride.

Dude’s change in approach was pretty evident with a nine-percent spike in Line Drive% from a year ago.

• In 2024, Dude had a 25.9 LD% (437 at-bats) in Triple-A.
• In 2023, Dude had a 16.9 LD% (325 at-bats) in Double-A.

Still don’t believe me, Dude? Dude! He also had a significant drop in his flyball rate:

• In 2024: 25.1 FB%
• In 2023: 32.5 FB%

As I mentioned, Dude is known for his stellar bat-to-ball skills — 89.4 Contact%, a ridiculous 93.6 Z-Contact%, elite 12.7 K%, and an 18.8 BB%. Dude doesn’t chase much either (18.3% O-Swing%).

But I do have some bad news, Dudes and Dudettes. First, Meidroth won’t put up much power or speed. Second, and more importantly — Dude will not stick at 3B. He might not even have a spot anywhere in the infield with Devers, Casas, Mayer, Story, Rafaela, and Kristian Campbell all in the mix. DUDE.

NACHO ALVAREZ JR. – ATLANTA BRAVES

If 2023 was an appetizer for Nacho Alvarez Jr., then 2024 was the main dish.

After a salty start in Double-A (.265/.381/.312/.693 in 202 PAs), Nacho took his hitting to another level in Triple-A — .297/.398/.463/.861, 15.6 K% in 289 PAs, and 10 homers after only 8 in his previous 825 minor-league PAs.

Some scouting reports worried he lacked the tools to drive the ball consistently — those reports now look stale. Nacho showed he can turn doubles into homers.

It will be interesting to see what the Braves do if Nacho reheats in Spring Training. Austin Riley isn’t going anywhere at the hot corner, but Nacho is a natural shortstop with an above-average glove. If Orlando Arcia stumbles again, Nacho will be served.

THE StS PEAK PROJECTIONS MODEL WINNER

MATT SHAW – CHICAGO CUBS

Consensus Top-25 overall prospect and Cubs #1 prospect. Started in Double-A (148 wRC+), promoted to Triple-A (142 wRC+). The StS model crowned him the 3B POY — check out his gaudy Peak Projections in the Top Five image above.

Shaw’s swing is Bruce Lee water-like fluidity: lower-body initiation, perfect front-side mechanics, elite barrel plane matching, and kinetic chain mastery. Ted Williams would be proud.

All of these traits are what every elite hitter in baseball history has shown. Matt Shaw is going to be a star.

THE StS STAFF & X USER POLL WINNER

COBY MAYO – BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Yeah, it was a clean sweep in the Staff Poll. And as you can see, Mayo had more votes than the other three candidates combined in the User Poll.

MAY-O, MAY-O
Mayo come and he won 3B throne…

Thank you.
Insert applause here too.

Yrots redaehelbuoD anotyaD ym tuoba etirw ot evah ll’I yad enO