Third baseman Manny Machado is a professional Major League Baseball (MLB) player known for his strong defensive skills and powerful hitting. Machado debuted with the Baltimore Orioles in 2012, quickly making an impact by hitting multiple home runs early in his career and becoming one of the youngest players in MLB history to have a multi-homer game. Initially playing third base, he also spent time at shortstop, his natural position. Machado has been recognized as an MLB All-Star multiple times, including as the starting shortstop in the 2018 All-Star Game. He has earned several accolades such as the Orioles Most Valuable Player Award in 2016, the World Baseball Classic Pool C MVP in 2017, and multiple National League Player of the Week honors. Machado has been a key player for the San Diego Padres since joining them, winning team MVP awards and receiving Silver Slugger honors in 2020 and 2024. He continues to be a significant contributor to his team, with recent achievements including All-MLB First and Second Team selections and continued All-Star appearances as recently as 2025[1][7]. Another notable third baseman, Matt Williams, played in MLB primarily in the 1980s and 1990s for the San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, and Arizona Diamondbacks. Nicknamed "Matt the Bat," Williams was known for his power hitting, accumulating 378 home runs and 1,218 RBIs over his career. He is distinguished for hitting World Series home runs for three different teams and winning the World Series with the Diamondbacks in 2001. After retiring as a player, Williams transitioned to managing and coaching roles, most recently serving as a third base coach for the San Francisco Giants through 2025[2]. Historically, Mike Schmidt is widely regarded as the greatest third baseman in MLB history. Schmidt played his entire career with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1972 to 1989, earning 12 All-Star selections, 10 Gold Gloves for defensive excellence, and three National League MVP awards. He retired with 548 career home runs, a record for third basemen, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995. Schmidt combined elite power hitting with outstanding defense, helped lead the Phillies to a World Series championship in 1980, and is often considered the standard against which all third basemen are measured[4][5][8].