With Spring Training camps opening throughout Florida (Grapefruit League) and Arizona (Cactus League) this week, BATSBY Sports offers an early preview of the top 25 first basemen for 2020 — factoring in the crucial categories of home runs, RBI, runs, batting average, on-base percentage and OPS.
This list will likely undergo continual updates right up until Opening Day in late March, as we account for injuries, lineup changes and breakout performers from spring action.
POSITIONS
TOP 40 STARTING PITCHERS
TOP 25 FIRST BASEMEN FOR 2020
PLAYER #1
CODY BELLINGER, DODGERS
2019: 47 HR, 115 RBI, 121 runs, .295 BA, .389 OBP, .938 OPS
3-YEAR AVERAGE: 37 HR, 96 RBI, 97 runs, .278 BA, .368 OBP, .928 OPS
BONUS: Bellinger has dual-position versatility (1B/OF) … and stole 15 bases last year
PLAYER #2
FREDDIE FREEMAN, BRAVES
2019: 38 HR, 121 RBI, 113 runs, .305 BA, .406 OBP, 1.035 OPS
3-YEAR AVERAGE: 30 HR, 108 RBI, 108 runs, .303 BA, .392 OBP, .935 OPS
PLAYER #3
PETE ALONSO, METS
2019: 53 HR, 120 RBI, 103 runs, .260 BA, .358 OBP, .941 OPS
PLAYER #4
MATT OLSON, ATHLETICS
2019: 36 HR, 91 RBI, 73 runs, .267 BA, .351 OBP, .896 OPS
2-YEAR AVERAGE: 32 HR, 88 RBI, 79 runs, .256 BA, .342 OBP, .837 OPS
PLAYER #5
PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT, CARDINALS
2019: 34 HR, 97 RBI, 97 runs, .260 BA, .346 OBP, .821 OPS
3-YEAR AVERAGE: 34 HR, 100 RBI, 103 runs, .282 BA, .379 OBP, .902 OPS
BONUS: Goldschmidt has averaged nine steals over the last three seasons
PLAYER #6
ANTHONY RIZZO, CUBS
2019: 27 HR, 94 RBI, 89 runs, .293 BA, .405 OBP, .924 OPS
3-YEAR AVERAGE: 30 HR, 108 RBI, 94 runs, .282 BA, .391 OBP, .889 OPS
PLAYER #7
JOSH BELL, PIRATES
2019: 37 HR, 116 RBI, 94 runs, .277 BA, .367 OBP, .936 OPS
3-YEAR AVERAGE: 25 HR, 89 RBI, 81 runs, .264 BA, .352 OBP, .836 OPS
PLAYER #8
JOSE ABREU, WHITE SOX
2019: 33 HR, 123 RBI, 85 runs, .284 BA, .330 OBP, .834 OPS
3-YEAR AVERAGE: 29 HR, 101 RBI, 83 runs, .286 BA, .337 OBP, .849 OPS
PLAYER #9
DJ LEMAHIEU, YANKEES
2019: 26 HR, 102 RBI, 109 runs, .327 BA, .375 on-base, .893 OPS
3-YEAR AVERAGE: 16 HR, 76 RBI, 98 runs, .306 BA, .358 OBP, .811 OPS
BONUS: LeMahieu has three-position versatility (1B/2B/3B)
PLAYER #10
MAX MUNCY, DODGERS
2019: 35 HR, 98 RBI, 101 runs, .251 BA, .374 OBP, .889 OPS
2-YEAR AVERAGE: 35 HR, 88 RBI, 88 runs, .256 BA, .381 OBP, .927 OPS
BONUS: Muncy has three-position versatility (1B/2B/3B)
PLAYER #11
RHYS HOSKINS, PHILLIES
2019: 29 HR, 85 RBI, 86 runs, .226 BA, .364 on-base, .819 OPS
2-YEAR AVERAGE: 32 HR, 90 RBI, 88 runs, .236 BA, .359 OBP, .834 OPS
PLAYER #12
CARLOS SANTANA, INDIANS
2019: 34 HR, 93 RBI, 110 runs, .281 BA, .397 on-base, .911 OPS
3-YEAR AVERAGE: 27 HR, 86 RBI, 94 runs, .256 BA, .371 OBP, .832 OPS
PLAYER #13
YULI GURRIEL, ASTROS
2019: 31 HR, 104 RBI, 85 runs, .298 BA, .343 on-base, .884 OPS
3-YEAR AVERAGE: 21 HR, 88 RBI, 75 runs, .296 BA, .333 OBP, .819 OPS
BONUS: Gurriel has dual-position versatility (1B/3B)
PLAYER #14
TREY MANCINI, ORIOLES
2019: 35 HR, 97 RBI, 106 runs, .291 BA, .364 on-base, .899 OPS
3-YEAR AVERAGE: 28 HR, 78 RBI, 80 runs, .275 BA, .334 OBP, .814 OPS
BONUS: Mancini has dual-position versatility (1B/OF)
PLAYER #15
MIGUEL SANO, TWINS
2019: 34 HR, 79 RBI, 76 runs, .247 BA, .346 OBP, .923 OPS
3-YEAR AVERAGE: 25 HR, 66 RBI, 61 runs, .242 BA, .333 OBP, .837 OPS
BONUS: Sano has dual-position versatility (1B/3B)
PLAYER #16
RYAN MCMAHON, ROCKIES
2019: 24 HR, 83 RBI, 70 runs, .250 BA, .329 on-base, .779 OPS
BONUS: McMahon has three-position versatility (1B/2B/3B)
PLAYER #17
CHRISTIAN WALKER, DIAMONDBACKS
2019: 29 HR, 73 RBI, 86 runs, .259 BA, .348 OBP, .825 OPS
PLAYER #18
DANNY SANTANA, RANGERS
2019: 28 HR, 81 RBI, 81 runs, .283 BA, .324 OBP, .857 OPS
BONUS: Santana swiped 21 bags last year … and has a quintet of positional versatility (1B/2B/3B/SS/OF)
PLAYER #19
MIGUEL CABRERA, TIGERS
2019: 12 HR, 59 RBI, 41 runs, .282 BA, .346 OBP, .744 OPS
BONUS: For those who follow Cabrera on Instagram … Miggy lost a lot of weight during the offseason, while seemingly adding strength to his new frame
PLAYER #20
HUNTER DOZIER, ROYALS
2019: 26 HR, 84 RBI, 75 runs, .279 BA, .348 OBP, .870 OPS
2-YEAR AVERAGE: 18 HR, 59 RBI, 56 runs, .259 BA, .320 OBP, .790 OPS
BONUS: Dozier has three-position versatility (1B/3B/OF)
PLAYER #21
JOC PEDERSON, DODGERS
2019: 36 HR, 74 RBI, 83 runs, .249 BA, .339 OBP, .876 OPS
2-YEAR AVERAGE: 30 HR, 65 RBI, 74 runs, .249 BA, .331 OBP, .861 OPS
BONUS: Pederson has dual-position versatility (1B/OF)
PLAYER #22
YANDY DIAZ, RAYS
2019: 14 HR, 38 RBI, 53 runs, .267 BA, .340 OBP, .816 OPS
PLAYER #23
ERIC HOSMER, PADRES
2019: 22 HR, 99 RBI, 72 runs, .265 BA, .310 OBP, .735 OPS
3-YEAR AVERAGE: 22 HR, 87 RBI, 81 runs, .278 BA, .339 OBP, .779 OPS
PLAYER #24
C.J. CRON, TIGERS
2019: 25 HR, 78 RBI, 51 runs, .253 BA, .311 OBP, .780 OPS
2-YEAR AVERAGE: 28 HR, 76 RBI, 60 runs, .253 BA, .317 OBP, .799 OPS
PLAYER #25
JOEY VOTTO, REDS
2019: 15 HR, 47 RBI, 79 runs, .261 BA, .357 OBP, .768 OPS
3-YEAR AVERAGE: 21 HR, 71 RBI, 84 runs, .289 BA, .412 OBP, .884 OPS
THE NEXT WAVE
EDWIN ENCARNACION, WHITE SOX
2019: 34 HR, 86 RBI, 81 runs, .244 BA, .344 OBP, .875 OPS
ERIC THAMES, NATIONALS
2019: 25 HR, 61 RBI, 67 runs, .247 BA, .346 OBP, .851 OPS
LUKE VOIT, YANKEES
2019: 21 HR, 62 RBI, 72 runs, .263 BA, .378 OBP, .842 OPS
JI-MAN CHOI, RAYS
2019: 19 HR, 63 RBI, 54 runs, .261 BA, .363 OBP, .822 OPS
ALBERT PUJOLS, ANGELS
2019: 23 HR, 93 RBI, 55 runs, .244 BA, .305 OBP, .734 OPS