Do not be stunned when, in 10 to fifteen years, we’re speaking about a number of gamers from this era of first basemen getting inducted into the Corridor of Fame. The group beneath has mixed for 31 All-Star choices, 11 Silver Slugger awards, seven Gold Glove honors, 4 house run titles, three MVP awards, two Rookie of the Yr nods, three championship rings, one batting title and one World Sequence MVP. It is a heavy-hitting class, and none of those gamers are retiring anytime quickly.
Our eight-part place collection continues with the highest 10 first basemen coming into the 2025 season.
2024 stats: .262/.315/.446, 19 HR, 108 wRC+, 1.5 fWAR
2025 ZiPS projections: .262/.331/.470, 22 HR, 121 wRC+, 1.8 fWAR
Coming off a 97-RBI season earlier than his 12 months prematurely ended with a damaged thumb, Pasquantino would possibly simply be on the verge of breaking out in Kansas Metropolis, the place he can lead the supporting forged batting behind star Bobby Witt Jr. Pasquantino lacks the ability of the heavy hitters on this listing, however he has wonderful plate self-discipline. Now he simply has to remain wholesome lengthy sufficient to lastly report his first full season.
2024: .262/.380/.468, 15 HR, 140 wRC+, 2.6 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .238/.341/.423, 16 HR, 117 wRC+, 2.9 fWAR
The Cardinals this spring have been pleased with the best way Contreras has dealt with the place change from catcher to first base, the place he is solely performed 11 MLB video games, and none since 2019. There’ll doubtless be some rising pains on the defensive facet, however the 33-year-old is projected to almost duplicate his 2024 numbers, particularly because of a decreased bodily burden now that he isn’t catching.
2024: .281/.341/.414, 14 HR, 120 wRC+, 1.9 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .285/.362/.425, 14 HR, 131 wRC+, 2.6 fWAR
Diaz had a down 12 months final 12 months after successful the American League batting title and ending sixth in MVP voting in 2023, however he is projected to enhance in his age-33 season, maybe partly as a result of the ball will fly on the Rays’ new non permanent house, George Steinbrenner Subject.
2024: .243/.320/.456, 31 HR, 118 wRC+, 2.3 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .264/.330/.450, 22 HR, 112 wRC+, 1.8 fWAR
Naylor is coming off profession highs in house runs and RBI (108) whereas incomes his first All-Star award — and, at 27 years previous, is simply now coming into his prime. It will be fascinating to observe the slugger, who traded common for energy with Cleveland, shift his skills to the desert this 12 months earlier than turning into a free agent within the coming offseason.
2024: .251/.335/.468, 26 HR, 119 wRC+, 3.0 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .232/.317/.445, 26 HR, 116 wRC+, 2.7 fWAR
Will probably be refreshing to see a top-10 first baseman manning first base for the Astros after their catastrophe with Jose Abreu’s signing. It is a good signal that, at age 34, Walker remains to be projected to place up the identical constant plate manufacturing from the previous few years. He is not as a lot of a power-threat as a lot of the gamers ranked larger than him at first base, however he is a superb all-around hitter and defender at first.
2024: .240/.329/.459, 34 HR, 122 wRC+, 2.1 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .244/.337/.470, 33 HR, 126 wRC+, 3.1 fWAR
With contract negotiations behind him, the assumption is that Alonso will be capable of discover consistency on the plate all year long, a optimistic departure from the ebbs and flows we noticed within the 2024 common season. Positive, there are actual long-term issues about Alonso’s sturdiness and plate strategy, however we will depart these apart for 2025. The very best home-run hitter the Mets have ever had, Alonso needs to be a fair higher participant this 12 months after his beneficial postseason expertise.
2024: .247/.333/.457, 29 HR, 117 wRC+, 2.6 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .252/.345/.483, 32 HR, 127 wRC+, 3.2 fWAR
Olson got here again right down to earth final 12 months after his unbelievable 2023 season (MLB-best 54 HR and 139 RBI), however there’s purpose to consider he can come near these marks once more, notably with the advance in his projections. Olson goes for his fourth consecutive 162-game season in 2025 — and the Braves are motivated to take again the Nationwide League East.
2024: .282/.378/.476, 22 HR, 137 wRC+, 4.1 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .298/.384/.492, 22 HR, 143 wRC+, 4.3 fWAR
Issues about his lingering rib discomfort apart, Freeman in some way solely missed 15 video games final 12 months given a late-season ankle harm and his son’s scary well being issues. His contact-driven strategy on the plate is on the heart of his elite manufacturing, and after his 4 house runs, 12 RBI and .300 batting common within the World Sequence, there’s an argument to be made that he needs to be even larger in these rankings. Freeman is starting to depart little question in regards to the chance that he leads to the Corridor of Fame.
2024: .285/.373/.525, 30 HR, 145 wRC+, 5.2 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .284/.380/.519, 26 HR, 145 wRC+, 4.0 fWAR
Harper’s final full season was in 2019, his first 12 months with the Phillies, and but the prolific slugger has continued his Corridor of Fame trajectory with aplomb. Coming into his 14th 12 months within the huge leagues, he is chasing main profession milestones all whereas being motivated to win a championship with Philly. If he can keep away from lacking time with harm, Harper has the possibility to win his third profession MVP award, his first since 2021.
2024: .323/.396/.544, 30 HR, 165 wRC+, 5.4 fWAR
2025 ZiPS: .291/.371/.503, 30 HR, 148 wRC+, 4.4 fWAR
It looks like yearly we’re prepared for this to be the season that Guerrero replicates his runner-up MVP 2021 season (48 HR, 1.002 OPS, 161 G). If the 26-year-old may even come near these numbers in 2025, his remaining 12 months below workforce management, Guerrero will probably be in Juan-Soto-contract territory. All eyes will probably be on the slugger’s contract 12 months after his eye-popping 2024 season.
Honorable mentions: Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox; Paul Goldschmidt; New York Yankees; Nathaniel Lowe, Washington Nationals; Jake Burger, Texas Rangers; Michael Busch, Chicago Cubs
Deesha Thosar is a MLB reporter and columnist for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand lined the Mets for 4 years as a beat reporter for the New York Day by day Information. Observe her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
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