The first edition of our Fantasy Baseball first base rankings is out and Paul Goldschmidt and Anthony Rizzo boldly lead the way.
Advice for drafting first basemen
First base is one of the few positions that you can draft in the early, middle or late rounds and still find value. You need a first baseman that can carry your team in the power and RBI categories throughout the season.It is tough to win with a light-hitting first baseman due to the power resurgence found around the majors. There is plenty of depth at the position, making it a smart strategy to let the draft come to you — unless you can snag one of the top-five early in your draft.
The league’s top corner infielders can ‘put the team on their back,’ a term some famous YouTuber coined. Paul Goldschmidt and Wil Myers both have stolen base upside that could bolster any team that drafts them (if there is any way to land both on your team, I would, since the stolen base category hasn’t been very deep in recent years).
Guys like Edwin Encarnacion and Chris Davis can have power weeks where they put up five or six home runs and single handily win you your HR and RBI categories (for those who prefer H2H style over rotisserie style scoring).
There are a couple of players who have secondary eligibility at first base such as Buster Posey; stick with the true first basemen on your team. The aforementioned is a sneaky-deep position for those in ten-to-twelve team mix leagues; you shouldn’t have a hard time finding a solid first baseman.
We recommend waiting for a Chris Davis or Albert Pujols if you can’t land one of the top 5-7 first basemen on this list (which us subject to change).
Here are the first base rankings heading into 2017:
Top First Base Prospects
Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers
Bellinger sits atop most prospect rankings for first basemen. The Dodgers’ 2013 fourth-round pick belted 30 homers in the California League during his breakout 2015 campaign. He added 26 last season en route to a Triple-A call-up.
Scouts tab him as a potential Gold Glover and thirty home-run hitter. He’s only 21 and can play all three outfield positions; this will help him get a call up to the majors quicker. Target him in dynasty leagues and deep keeper leagues. Stash him on your ten-to-twelve person competitions. It will pay off in the long run.
Bobby Bradley, Cleveland Indians
Bradley won the Arizona League (Rookie level) Triple Crown Award in 2014. Last season, he tallied career highs in home runs (29) and RBIs (102) to win the Most Valuable Player trophy from the Carolina League.
Bradley is only 20 years old but has built himself quite the resume. His downside for fantasy players is that he strikes out a lot (he whiffed 170 times in 572 plate appearances in 2016). A high number of strikeouts translates into a lower average in most cases. Bradley can get a call up in the late summer, but in deep keeper and dynasty leagues, he is a must add with his high upside.
Rowdy Tellez, Toronto Blue Jays
Rowdy Tellez is shooting up the prospect rankings after last season’s Double-A performance. In his first AA season, he hit 23 home runs to compliment 81 RBIs and a .387 on-base percentage.
Tellez could help fill Edwin Encarnacion’s void if the Blue Jays struggle at first base. He is looking more of a first base/DH in the AL because of his size and lack of speed, but that doesn’t matter in fantasy. He is more of a deep keeper and dynasty league player, but if he gets the call, he could potentially wreck havoc.
Notables who can help you win your league
Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals
He isn’t a sexy name for when it comes to drafts but he can help you win a fantasy title next year. He is above average in every category except stolen bases. He’s going to hit .270, hit 17-22 home runs, drive in 75 RBIs and score close to 100 runs a year. Those numbers aren’t elite but they are consistent and he is a professional hitter. He falls under the category of a better real life player than fantasy, but he is a consistent hitter who is as safe as it comes in fantasy
Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles
This guy runs off of three things: Adderall, chewing tobacco and bicep curls. He is one of the few people in the MLB who you would pick to have the most home runs at season’s end. Unfortunately, two of his last four seasons have been duds while the other two were great. In 2013 and 2015 he hit 53 with 138 RBIs and 47 home runs while driving in 117 RBIs. Those are monster numbers. In 2014 and 2016 he hit 26 home runs with 72 RBIs and 38 home runs with 84 RBI’s, which aren’t horrible numbers but for those who drafted or kept him (that’s me) you were very disappointed in those numbers. He is the type of guy that you can snag in the middle to late rounds and he can carry you in the season. He is an extremely hot and cold hitter so when its bad its really bad but when it’s good you know he’s chewing tobacco, popping Addy and doing curls for the girls. If the recent trend continues then in 2017 he should up great numbers and you can get him at a discounted price.
Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels
The three-time MVP quietly keeps putting up very solid fantasy numbers year in and year out. He isn’t the top three draft pick anymore but he will help you in your league next year. He’s not going to be drafted as a top ten first basemen which may be a mistake. Here are his stats from the last three seasons: 28 home runs and 105 RBIs, 40 home runs and 90 RBIs and last year he put up 31 home runs and 119 RBIs. Those are very solid numbers across the board and won’t kill you in average like some power first basemen. The machine is still a productive fantasy player especially late in drafts. If you draft a first baseman early in the draft, Pujols can be a great corner infielder or utility player in every type of league.
10. Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals
Hosmer has always been a good hitter, but never contributed in home runs and RBIs that fantasy players loved to target in drafts. Over the last two years, Hosmer has averaged 21 home runs and 98 RBIs. Not great numbers but he has been very consistent and will give you a good average and OBP.
He is a perfect fit to be a middle to late round pick who can be plugged in at first base or the Utility spot. He is a safe pick in drafts but doesn’t have much upside. Having a player with safety is very critical in season long leagues, don’t draft somebody because they are “boring.” Not every player will be an MVP candidate or top five at their position. If he falls to you in a keeper league or dynasty go ahead and draft him but he doesn’t have the fantasy superstar upside that the other top ten options offer.
If he falls to you in a keeper league or dynasty go ahead and draft him but he doesn’t have the fantasy superstar upside that the other top ten options offer.
9. Hanley Ramirez, Boston Red Sox
He really struggled in his time with the Dodgers, it looked like all he needed was a change of scenery. Hanley is capable of putting up monster stat lines if he stays healthy and he is in a good lineup. Last year, Hanley put up 30 homers and 111 RBIs. Those are great numbers especially for someone who didn’t go early in any drafts.
Can he put up those numbers again, is the real question and the answer is yes, he can. He most likely will be batting in the top 5 in a great Boston lineup and now can DH every day now, that David Ortiz is retired. He isn’t a great pick in deep keeper or dynasty leagues because of his age and health concerns but he is a great play for the 2017 season.
8. Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox
Abreu has averaged 30 home runs, 102 RBIs and has hit over .290 in the three years that he has played in the big leagues. Being in a good hitter’s park makes Abreu a very solid contributor. He is already 30 years old after only his third big league season so his upside is limited but his consistency is something that fantasy owners should go after in drafts.
He doesn’t walk a ton, he strikes out a lot (not good for points leagues) and hasn’t scored over 90 runs in a season, but he is as good of a bet to finish the season with a 30/100/.280 stat line. Again, not a sexy pick but he is very consistent and that is what wins fantasy leagues.
7. Wil Myers, San Diego Padres
This is the guy who I will be targeting on every team that I have this year. He has all the talent in the world but could never stay healthy. Until, last year, that is.
The 2013 AL Rookie of the year showed what he can do when he stays healthy. Last year he scored 99 runs, hit 28 home runs, had 94 RBIs and stole 28 bases. For first base, there were only two first basemen (who’s primary position is first) that had double digit steals: Myers and Goldschmidt. There aren’t many potential 30/30 players in baseball but Myers is one of them.
By having Myers he gives you production in every category. Target him in your leagues. He is only 26 and many don’t believe in the kid, but trust me, this guy is an elite fantasy option for this year and beyond.
6. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
He has been in some pretty bad lineups over the last couple of years (trust me I know; I might be the last braves fan left on earth). It has been tough to watch; he has been an all-star caliber player on a team that hasn’t had a lot of major league talent. Last year, Freeman finished the year with 100 runs, 34 home runs, 91 RBIs and a .304 average and a .400 OBP. Those are great numbers across the board and Freeman is in a much better lineup now than at the start of last year.
He isn’t a popular name on draft day, but he can be a player who you draft in the middle rounds and he will provide production of early round player. The Braves are a team on the rise and the talent around him will be very good sooner rather than later. That only means his numbers will go up and can be a good value in keeper and dynasty leagues.
5. Edwin Encarnacion, Cleveland Indians
Take a guess at what these numbers are: 42, 36, 34, 39, 42. These are Edwin’s home run totals since 2012. Also, he has had four 100 RBI seasons in the last five years (the other year he had 98). Moving to Cleveland won’t hurt his production as much as people think. He hit more home runs on the road (22) than he did at home (20).
He stays in the AL which means he doesn’t have to face new pitchers he hasn’t seen before in the NL. Edwin is an elite power source and is in a pretty good Cleveland Indians lineup (Cleveland finished second in team hitting last year). He will slip in drafts because of the trade but don’t hesitate to take him in your draft. Draft Edwin with confidence and watch him put up similar numbers than he has over the last five seasons.
4. Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
If you want to win a bar bet with a friend ask them this question: Who has finished second on the player rater on ESPN in back to back fantasy seasons at first base? The answer: Joey Votto.
Over the last two seasons, the 2010 NL MVP has hit for a .320 average, 98 runs, 29 home runs, 88 RBIs and he has had an absolutely insane .447 OBP. He has almost as many walks (251) to strikeouts (255), and in today’s game, that is amazing with so many swing and miss players. He fills up the stat sheet every night while playing on maybe one of the worst offenses in the league.
Don’t let the bad team around him stop you from drafting Votto this year. You can get him at a lower round but still get elite production from him. #freevotto
3. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
Miggy does two things great in life: hits baseballs far and drinking tequila. He might be getting older but his bat is still elite. Whatever he and David Ortiz are taking (I’m sure they are only vitamins), is working. Over the last three
Over the last three seasons, he is averaging a .322 average, 27 home runs and 97 RBIs. He is producing at an elite rate and can go down as one of the greatest top 5 right handed hitters of all time. Miggy has one of the best eyes at the plate (has a .401 OBP over the last three years) and he hits in one of the better lineups in the AL. If you want safety at the first base position after the top two guys are off the board, Miggy is your guy.
2. Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
The 26-year-old has developed into one of the premier players in the league. He hits in the middle of the best lineup in baseball and has hit 30 home runs in the last three seasons. Rizzo is the perfect pick in a keeper and dynasty league with his upside and consistency. He is not only a good source of home runs, RBIs but he will also have a good average and on-base percentage.
Rizzo will be an MVP caliber player for the next three to five years and this might be the last chance you will be able to get him at a discounted draft position.
1. Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
Goldy has been as consistent as it comes in fantasy baseball over the last four years (Besides in 2014 when he only played in 109 games) Over those years he has a batting average of .306, with 31 home runs, 110 RBI’s, 103 runs and 22 stolen bases. Those are elite fantasy numbers across the board. Stolen bases are down as a whole throughout the league and to possess a first baseman who can get you 20 in a year gives you an advantage.
He gives you plus numbers in every category at his position and is worthy of being the No. 1 first basemen off the board. He is still an elite option in keeper and dynasty leagues.