No query, fantasy baseball is de facto beginning to achieve momentum! We right here at Stomach Up Sports activities couldn’t be extra excited because the rating articles are actually beginning to roll. Final week, we seemed on the high ten catchers in fantasy. On this version, we shift our consideration to the High Fantasy First Basemen. As was the case with the final article, I’ll start at quantity ten and depend it again to primary.
As at all times, I welcome feedback, issues and solutions to the whole lot that I write. Let me hear from you! With the preliminaries within the rear view, let’s get right down to the necessary stuff: the rankings!
Quantity Ten: Jake Burger, Texas Rangers
Doubtless, the number of Jake Burger within the high ten will come as a shock to many. Nonetheless, his transfer to the Texas Rangers can be a boon to Burger and can enormously profit any supervisor that provides him to the roster. Actually, there are a number of first basemen that may come off the board earlier than Burger. In my thoughts, that positions him to be an impressive worth in 2025.
As for 2024, Burger hit in a pitcher’s park in Miami and a lower than stellar Marlin lineup. Regardless of that, he hit .250-29-76, scored 68 runs, with a .301/450 slashline, a 103 OPS+, .292 BAbip and a .209 ISO. Take into accout, although, that this can be a participant that had 34 homers in 39 fewer plate appearances one season earlier.
Now hitting in Arlington, if he stays wholesome, anticipate 30 dwelling runs to be his flooring. The Rangers will rebound as an offense in 2025. All the above signifies a really sturdy season forward for Burger. Backside line: soar aboard the Burger specific earlier than it leaves the station.
Quantity 9: Spencer Steer, Cincinnati Reds
Within the quantity 9 spot on this High Fantasy First Basemen slides Spencer Steer, 27. In simply his second full main league season, Steer appeared in 158 video games, hitting .225-20-92, with 74 runs, a .319/.402 slashline, 96 OPS+, a .260 BAbip and a .178 ISO. The positives for Steer is that he performs on daily basis. He has appeared in 156 or extra video games within the final two seasons.
Additional, he has energy, as he has hit 20 or extra homers two years operating. Additional, he performs in the most effective hitters’ parks within the majors. Lastly, he qualifies at 1B, 3B and DH, which may solely improve his worth in fantasy. Getting into his third season, Steer ought to be anticipated to be one of many high first baseman.
Quantity Eight: Vinnie Pasquantino, Kansas Metropolis Royals
Subsequent within the countdown is the Royals’ Vinnie Pasquantino. Like Burger, Pasquantino is 27, however 2024 was his first full season, as he suffered an harm in 2023. He’s totally wholesome and, in truth, there ought to be no harm worries going ahead. As such, his numbers ought to see an upswing as he matures.
Final yr, Pasquantino hit .260-19-97 with 64 runs scored, a .315/.446 slashline, a 111 OPS+, a .265 BAbip and a .183 ISO in 131 video games.The league common in BAbip is .292. Absolutely, if Pasquantino can simply be common in that space, his different numbers will enhance. The Royals ought to have a dynamic offense round him in 2025. He can have loads of run scoring and RBI alternatives. Doubtless, it wouldn’t be a shock in any respect to see Pasquantino ranked within the high 5 at first base by season’s finish.
Quantity Seven: Josh Naylor, Arizona Diamondbacks
After an offseason transfer to Arizona, Josh Naylor finds himself ranked quantity seven on this High Fantasy First Basemen version. Identical to the 2 gamers above, Naylor can also be 27. He replaces Christian Walker (see beneath) within the Diamondback lineup. To be sincere, Naylor ranks virtually as excessive as Walker in each space and may discover enormous success within the desert in 2025.
Final season in Cleveland, Naylor had a monster yr, hitting .243-31-108 with a .320/.456 slashline, a 112 OPS+, a .246 BAbip and a .213 ISO in 152 video games, a profession excessive. Moreover, the 84 runs scored was simply his profession finest. Within the final two years, Naylor has pushed in at the very least 97 runs. Trying ahead, Naylor ought to simply match or surpass the above totals in Arizona in 2025.
Quantity Six: Pete Alonso, Free Agent
To be completely blunt, determining the place to position Pete Alonso was essentially the most tough a part of these rankings. As of this writing, he’s nonetheless a free agent, having not signed with any group this offseason. Honestly, it doesn’t appear like he’s even near signing a brand new contract. With out figuring out who he’ll play for and what sort of lineup he can be hitting in going ahead, there may be nothing to go on besides his statistics.
To make certain, most of his stats look nice. First, he appeared in each recreation in 2024. In his final 4 seasons, he has appeared in 152, 160, 154 and 162 video games. One thing like that may’t be overemphasised. Alonso completed 2024 hitting .237-34-88, scoring 91 runs, with a .339/514 slashline, a 134 OPS+, a .276 BAbip and a .219 ISO. Nearly as good as that appears, nevertheless, Alonso took a step again. He didn’t come near wanting just like the participant with three 40+ homer and 118+ RBI seasons.
Given who his agent is, Alonso may be a free agent till effectively into spring coaching. If that’s the case, he received’t have a lot, if any, time to prepare for the season. Actually, that isn’t superb. When he ultimately indicators the on the dotted line, his rating for 2025 will turn out to be clearer.
Quantity 5: Christian Walker, Houston Astros
One other participant making a transfer to a different metropolis this offseason, Christian Walker slides into the highest 5 spot on this High Fantasy First Basemen version. At age 33, Walker is among the oldest gamers within the countdown. Even so, don’t let that reality dissuade you from drafting him this season. In 130 video games, Walker hit .251-26-84 with 72 runs, a .335/468 slashline, a 121 OPS+, a .287 BAbip and a .217 ISO.
Most importantly, the OPS+ stat exhibits simply how constant Walker is from one season to the following. Within the final three years, he has produced 125, 122 and 121 showings in that space. Shifting from Arizona to Houston shouldn’t change the lineup he’s hitting in a lot, if in any respect. With no consideration hand hitter, he ought to slot in effectively in that ballpark. At the moment, his ADP sits at 75. If that holds till draft day, Walker is in place to be fairly a worth for the supervisor that selects him in 2025.
Quantity 4: Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
Clearly, Matt Olson should take a step ahead and carry out like he did in 2023 to measure as much as this rating. Given his observe report, that shouldn’t be an excessive amount of to ask. Within the three earlier seasons, Olson hit 39, 34 and a league main 54 homers. In that very same interval, he drove in 111, 103 and a league finest 139 runs. Actually, if there may be one factor that you recognize for certain, he can be within the lineup on daily basis. Olson has performed in all 162 video games three straight years.
As is well-known, there have been many hitters in Atlanta in 2024 that had both down seasons or accidents or each. Count on many Courageous batters, if not all, together with Olson, 31, to rebound huge in 2025. With out as a lot safety within the lineup as he normally receives, Olson most likely pressed an excessive amount of final season. His SO%, BB% and his BAbip weren’t removed from his profession norms, although. As such, with wholesome, productive hitters round him once more, it’s simple to anticipate Olson’s stats will snap again to their normal zing this season.
Quantity Three: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia
Because the High Fantasy First Basemen version countdown strikes on, Bryce Harper is firmly within the quantity three spot. Placing the 2022 harm bug firmly behind him, Harper performed in his most video games (145) since 2019. Additional, he returned to his normal 30 homer self, his fifth such season in his storied profession. Equally, Harper confirmed he can nonetheless drive in (87) and rating runs (85).
As he’s now wholesome, Harper’s age (32) isn’t a priority in any respect. He can get on base with the very best of them, as his .373 OBP attests. If one needs to speak consistency, that’s the very definition of Harper. Have a look at the OPS+ seasons he has had the final seven years: 156, 133,126,158, 179, 146, 145 and 149. Ultimately, Harper will problem the 2 gamers forward of him within the rankings. Draft him with confidence in 2025.
Quantity Two: Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
As I’m a Dodger fan since highschool, I’m happy to current Freddie Freeman because the quantity two fantasy first baseman. An off-the-cuff have a look at his common season numbers would recommend Freeman, 35, wasn’t his normal self in 2024. Nonetheless, anybody that adopted the Dodgers final season is aware of he was impacted by private household points and an harm. As these as now behind him, anticipate Freeman to return to his normal self on the plate.
Actually, Freeman’s regular season would thrill any fantasy supervisor. First, he performs almost on daily basis, as evidenced by his 162, 158, 159, 159 and 161 video games performed a yr earlier than final season. Even with the problems he had in 2024, he nonetheless appeared in 147 video games. Second, he can hit the baseball like few others. Over the previous eight full years, he has hit 21 or extra homers in all of them. Additional, he has 4 100 or extra RBI seasons in addition to three by which he has pushed in over 90.
Additional, his profession OPS+ is 142. Final yr, it was 143. Freeman’s slash line was near his profession common. His BAbip was a powerful .306. Nonetheless, his profession common is a thoughts blowing .341. Unquestionably, at age 35, Freeman is nearer to the tip than the start. Even so, anticipate an enormous season out of him. There isn’t a motive to hesitate including him to a fantasy roster in 2025.
Quantity One: Vladimir Guerrero, Toronto Blue Jays
Final, however definitely not least, we discover Vladimir Guerrero on the high of this High Fantasy First Basemen version. Despite the fact that it looks like he has been within the league for ages, he’s nonetheless solely 25. After a two yr interval by which he did not hit over .274 or drive in 100 runs, Guerrero returned in a serious approach in 2024. No query, these stats would make any fantasy supervisor comfortable: .323-30-103, 98 runs, a .396/.544 slash line, a 166 OPS+, a .342 BAbip and a .221 ISO.
Actually, that BAbip will come down, however his profession .304 strongly suggests it received’t fall a lot. Need extra proof that he is among the finest hitters? Strive these: his Ok% (13.8) and his BB% (10.3) are each higher than the common main leaguer. Not dangerous for a slugger, no? Perhaps better of all, his availability is unequaled: Guerrero has appeared in at the very least 156 video games 4 years in a row.
Clearly, all of the above sounds nice. Nonetheless, the excellent news hasn’t reached its finish. The 2025 season is Guerrero’s stroll yr. He can be tremendous motivated to place his finest foot ahead. It wouldn’t be loopy to suppose that we’re about to see his finest numbers virtually throughout the board. After all, it is going to take an early spherical choice to safe Guerrero’s companies. Undoubtedly, it will be draft capital effectively price spending.
The Last Phrase
Thanks for becoming a member of me for this High Fantasy First Basemen version! Observe me on X (previously Twitter) @kevin62wilsea. Please be happy to share this text. Remember to flip to bellyupsports.com for all of the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL happenings and the most recent sports activities information!