Who should play 3B for the Miami Marlins?

The Miami Marlins handed over third base to Joey Wendle a while back. Was it the right decision though? Should we start someone else at the position? Our other options include Charles Leblanc and former starter Brian Anderson on the bench, and in the long run top prospect Jordan Groshans. I wrote about Groshans before. Who should be our third baseman?

The Miami Marlins have multiple options for third base with Joey Wendle winning.

Joey Wendle was a good acquisition last offseason, the versatile infielder is currently batting .253/.295/.350 with 2 home runs and 27 RBI in 80 games and 277 AB. Let’s just say he’s not in MVP contention with that line. Wendle was a .300 hitter with the Tampa Bay Rays though and versatile defensively, He specifically has 1.5 dWAR. Is it possible that he’s better off as a utility player?

The Miami Marlins then have Brian Anderson, who was the starter before Joey Wendle and Charles Leblanc. Anderson is currently batting .234/.330/.372 with 6 home runs and 19 RBI in 71 games and 239 AB. He’s doing terribly, so it’s obvious why Wendle is now starting over him.

There’s also Charles Leblanc. The rookie was very briefly a starter after Anderson, before Wendle took over. Leblanc is batting .315/.342/.452 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI in 23 games and 73 AB. He also has a .389 BABIP and an 85.7 EV, which is likely why he’s on the bench. It seems a bit odd though, as since he’s hitting the best shouldn’t he be the starter?

It also makes sense to mention Jordan Groshans. The top prospect is almost certainly going to be given a chance to be our third baseman of the future. This means that any of the aforementioned options is just a placeholder until he’s finally ready to take the reins.

What should the Miami Marlins do? I personally would just Charles Leblanc start as he’s not a free agent after next year  as Wendle and Anderson are and is hitting better. When Jordan Groshans is ready he should be given every chance to keep the job. The way he’s hitting in the Minors right now it should be his job eventually.