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Fantasy Ranking of First Base

Posted by timlmcleod on January 4, 2021 in Prospects
  1. Freddie Freeman (ATL) – It was only 214 at-bats, but a .462 OBP and .640 SLG is bordering on insane. The NL MVP voters, got it right!
  2. Cody Bellinger (LAD) –  Twelve homers, 30 RBI, and six thefts isn’t all that bad for an off year. Toss in the outfield eligibility and hopefully a return to better than the .233 BA, and Bellinger is worth every penny you’ll pay on Draft Day. OF-40
  3. Jose Abreu (CWS) – Abreu compiled a 19 homer, 60 RBI monster season on his way to capturing the AL MVP Award. He has reached the 100 RBI level five teams in his six seasons in the League. Consistency counts!
  4. DJ LeMahieu (FA) –  In all likelihood you won’t be using LeMahieu as your cornerman, but if you should take that route, he’ll get the job done in spectacular fashion. 2B-37, 3B-11 
  5. Pete Alonso (NYM) – He struggled a bit out-of-the-gate last year but that ten homer September was a great reminder of Alonso’s massive power potential.
  6. Matt Olson (OAK) – 36 home runs in 2019, followed up by 14 homers in the shortened 2020 season are a pretty good indicator that he can hit the ball out of any park at any time. There will be a 40 homer campaign in his future and we’re not betting against it in 2021.
  7. Luke Voit (NYY) – Voit broke out in a big way, leading all of baseball with 22 homers in 2020. Can he repeat that strong effort in 2021?
  8. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR) – Rumors are that he has taken his off-season conditioning program very seriously. A slimmed down Vladdy Jr. has the potential to be an offensive force in the Jays and your Fantasy lineup.
  9. Paul Goldschmidt (STL) – The power was off a bit in 2020, but the on-base skills were never stronger. Long gone are the days of double-digit stolen bases, but with a bounceback in the power numbers, “Goldy” is still a strong option at first.
  10. Anthony Rizzo (CHC) –The walk rate was solid and he continued to hit for power. Five more hits in 2020 and he would have met his career BA of .271. Let’s give Rizzo a mulligan for that .222 BA and attribute it to a small sample size.
  11. Dominic Smith (NYM) – Smith enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2020 that saw him hit ten homers and drive in 42 runs with an outstanding .993 OPS. For those that exercised patience, the rewards were huge. OF-22
  12. Max Muncy (LAD) – Muncy slugged 35 HR in both 2018 and 2019 and was on pace to replicate that feat in 2020. You more than likely won’t be using Muncy at first base….but the fact that you can does make a difference. 2B-12, 3B-16
  13. Josh Bell (WAS) – Josh Bell woke up to the news on Christmas eve that he had been traded to the Nationals. The only two players happier than Bell, were Trea Turner and Juan Soto.
  14. Eric Hosmer (SD) – When you have Trent Grisham, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Manny Machado batting in front of you, the RBI opportunities will be there. 
  15. Rhys Hoskins (PHI) – Hoskins chose the internal brace repair option instead of TJS to repair his ailing non-throwing elbow. He seems to be well on his road to recovery, but pay close attention to his progress heading into Spring Training.
  16. Mike Moustakas (CIN) – “Moose” was nicked up for a good portion of 2020, first dealing with a left quad contusion and then a left foot contusion. We’re prepared to give him a mulligan for last year. 2B-32
  17. Trey Mancini (BAL) – After undergoing surgery for colon cancer in the Spring, Mancini recently finished chemotherapy and his three-month checkup scans all came back clean. Great news. He’s feeling great and ready to pick up where he left off in that great 35 HR, 97 RBI 2019 season.
  18. Christian Walker (ARZ) – 25-90 potential hitting from the three-hole shouldn’t be ignored.
  19. Alec Bohm (PHI) – 2020 was the beginning of what should prove to be a long run of success for Bohm. The power will come. Enjoy the 1B eligibility as it’s most likely a one-and-done scenario. 3B-38
  20. Joey Votto (CIN) – Votto struggled with 12 homers in 2018, 15 in 2019, and followed that up with 11 homers last year in only 186 at-bats. Our expectations have been elevated.
  21. Ryan Mountcastle (BAL) – The revamped swing and emphasis on getting on base appears to have sunk in with the youngster. He’s still very much a work in progress, but definitely trending in the right direction. OF-25
  22. Andrew Vaughn (CWS) – The South Siders currently have a void at DH. They also have the talents of young Andrew Vaughn chomping at the bit to break into that strong starting lineup. It’s a good bet that we see Vaughn getting everyday at-bats very early in the 2021 season.
  23. Jared Walsh (LAA) – The late-bloomer had a September worthy of our attention. Nine homers and 26 RBI in 22 games down the stretch, makes Walsh an intriguing option heading into 2021.
  24. Jeimer Candelario (DET) – We saw a huge jump in the BA in 2020, fueled by a 32-for-90 hot streak in August. Is this uptick sustainable? Probably not, but the positive growth in 2020 is worthy of our attention. 3B-10
  25. Miguel Sano (MIN) – Finding your power elsewhere with not such a huge hit to your BA (90 strikeouts in 186 at-bats) is worth exploring.
  26. Brandon Belt (SFG) – The nine homers and 30 RBI for Belt in 2020 were solid. The 1.016 OPS was nothing short of outstanding. It will be nice to see what Belt can accomplish in 2022 when he’s freed from the horrors of Oracle Park.
  27. Jesus Aguilar (MIA) –  After a disappointing 2019 campaign, 2020 saw a bounceback with the reward being a one-year $4.3 million contract in 2021 for Jesus Aguilar. Lewin Diaz is still clearly in the rear-view mirror, but another year honing his craft appears to be in the cards.  
  28. Garrett Cooper (MIA) – 20-80 potential with a solid BA works as a corner-infielder.
  29. Bobby Dalbec (BOS) – The good news, first. In 80 at-bats last year he launched eight homers. The bad news. He also found a way to strike out 39 times.
  30. Evan White (SEA) – The 2020 Gold Glove winner managed to surprise and hit eight homers in 182 at-bats. He also found a way to strike out 84 times. The combination of that great glove and some patience from the Mariners brass will lead to better days ahead.
  31. Nate Lowe (TEX)
  32. Carlos Santana (KCR)
  33. Ryan McMahon (COL) 2B-33, 3B-14
  34. Hunter Dozier (KCR) – OF-20  
  35. Ji-Man Choi (TBR)
  36. Yuli Guerriel (HOU) 
  37. Colin Moran (PIT)
  38. Jake Cronenworth (SDP) – 2B-38, SS-11
  39. Rowdy Tellez (TOR)
  40. Albert Pujols (LAA)
  41. Wilmer Flores (SFG) – 2B-14
  42. Josh Fuentes (COL)
  43. Renato Nunez (FA)
  44. Michael Chavis (BOS) – 2B-8, OF-12
  45. Asdrubal Cabrera (FA) – 3B-17
  46. Tommy La Stella (FA) – 2B-33
  47. Marwin Gonzalez (FA) – 2B-21, 3B-23, OF-8
  48. Lewin Diaz (MIA)
  49. Ronald Guzman (TEX)
  50. Ryan O’Hearn (KCR)
  51. C.J. Cron (FA)
  52. Mike Brosseau (TBR) – 2B-9, 3B-11
  53. Triston Casas (BOS)
  54. Bobby Bradley (CLE)
  55. Mike Ford (NYY)
  56. Ryan McBroom (KCR)
  57. Jedd Gyorko (MIL) – 3B-11
  58. Jake Lamb (FA) – 3B-14
  59. Matt Beaty (LAD)
  60. Pavin Smith (ARZ)
  61. Todd Frazier (FA) – 3B-15
  62. Phil Gosselin (FA) – OF-14
  63. Danny Santana (FA)
  64. Travis Shaw (FA) 3B-37
  65. Daniel Murphy (FA)
  66. Mitch Moreland (FA)
  67. Pat Valaika (BAL) 2B-13, SS-24
  68. Pablo Sandoval (FA)
  69. Ryan Zimmerman (FA)
  70. Chris Davis (BAL)
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