Getting on a listing of the highest first baseman in 2024 is among the most unique lists in baseball proper now. Among the greatest first basemen in 2024 are among the many greatest stars in baseball proper now.
In reality, a couple of of them have already staked a declare among the many greatest first basemen in MLB history. In different phrases, this place is loaded heading into the upcoming season.
Greatest MLB First Basemen in 2024
To be trustworthy, rating the highest first basemen in 2024 wasn’t straightforward. Limiting our record to the ten greatest gamers at that place was equally tough with some notable names being left off.
Admittedly, these rankings are up for debate. However he’s our rating of the ten greatest first basemen in 2024.
10. Nathaniel Lowe
We will’t overlook the function that Nathaniel Lowe performed within the Rangers profitable the World Collection final 12 months with three well timed dwelling runs within the postseason. Greater than that, he’s introduced wonderful consistency to Texas over the past three seasons.
Lowe isn’t going to showcase elite energy in comparison with different first basemen. However he’s able to hitting near .300 and pushing for 20 or extra homers, which is sufficient to earn a spot on our record.
9. Yandy Diaz
There’s little question that Yandy Diaz was one of many prime hitters in baseball final season. The man batted .330 with an OPS of .932.
The query is whether or not the 32-year-old can replicate that success. He confirmed some indicators of breaking out in 2022, so final 12 months wasn’t an enormous shock. Nevertheless, Diaz is in the direction of the tip of his prime and doesn’t have an important observe document in relation to dwelling runs, so we’re giving him an opportunity regardless of some causes to be skeptical.
8. Triston Casas
The Pink Sox should be thrilled with the season that Triston Casas had final 12 months. In his first prolonged motion, he hit 24 dwelling runs and produced an OPS of .857.
Clearly, the strain is on to copy that very same success and present some consistency. However we predict Casas will likely be nice and ought to be among the many prime 10 first basemen in baseball for a few years to return.
7. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Some most likely suppose he ought to be a DH, however Vladimir Guerrero Jr. appears to be like like he’ll be Toronto’s major possibility at first base this season. Except for his protection, the opposite drawback with Guerrero is that he’s coming off the worst offensive season of his profession. After all, he’s barely 25, so there’s no purpose to put in writing him off simply but.
There’s a respectable probability that Guerrero can bounce again in 2024 and finish the season a lot increased on this record than we now have him proper now.
6. Paul Goldschmidt
At age 36, we’re beginning to see slightly decline from Paul Goldschmidt. It’s been a few years since he gained a Gold Glove, however he’s nonetheless a top-notch defender and is simply two years faraway from being MVP.
His numbers, particularly his energy, dipped slightly in 2023. However there’s no purpose to suppose that Goldschmidt shouldn’t be among the many second-tier of first basemen in 2024.
5. Christian Walker
Regardless of serving to the D’Backs get to the World Collection final 12 months, Christian Walker is amongst baseball’s most underrated first basemen.
His numbers gained’t blow anybody away, however he’s smashed 30-plus homers in back-to-back seasons. Walker has additionally gained the Gold Glove in back-to-back seasons. Whereas he’s most likely near the tip of his prime, Walker is significantly better than he will get credit score for.
4. Bryce Harper
It’s official, Bryce Harper is a primary baseman. He was moved there largely out of necessity however seems in line to be Philadelphia’s major first baseman in 2024.
Defensively, he’ll be a step behind the highest first basemen in baseball. However now that he’s additional faraway from the harm that sidelined him in 2022 and the primary a part of final season, Harper shouldn’t have any drawback being an affect offensive participant after batting .293 with an OPS of .900 final 12 months.
3. Pete Alonso
With free company approaching, Pete Alonso ought to be set as much as have an enormous 12 months. It’s not as if Alonso has ever had a nasty season since he was the house run king and Rookie of the 12 months in 2019.
Granted, his .217 common final 12 months was slightly disappointing, which hurts his standing slightly. Nevertheless, Alonso has by no means hit fewer than 37 homers in a full season and is a secure wager to hit 40-plus in 2024. Along with his protection slightly underrated and Alonso poised for a giant 12 months earlier than changing into a free agent, he’ll be among the many prime first basemen this season.
2. Matt Olson
Coming off a season by which he was the house run king, there are massive expectations for Matt Olson in 2024.
Do not forget that he additionally led the majors in RBIs final season and has two Gold Gloves on his mantle. Olson additionally had a career-high batting common in 2023. Whereas final 12 months was undoubtedly nice for him, maybe the 30-year-old is solely hitting his prime, so there is no such thing as a purpose to anticipate an enormous drop-off in his productiveness this 12 months.
1. Freddie Freeman
He might not be the youngest participant on the place, however there is no such thing as a query that Freddie Freeman remains to be the most effective first baseman in MLB proper now. He’s coming off a season by which he hit .331 with an OPS of .977, so there is no such thing as a indication that the 34-year-old is slowing down.
Even Freeman’s energy numbers haven’t taken a lot of successful. We’re additionally speaking a couple of former MVP and among the finest defensive first basemen in baseball. Till we see proof on the contrary, we now have to place Freeman on the prime of the record of the most effective first basemen within the massive leagues.
