Fantasy Baseball Draftable First Basemen: A Playoff Star, a Former Catcher, and a Lot of Pop
A look at the first basemen rated in the top 250 ADP by ESPN.
First base is often the easiest position at which to find fantasy production; it's the quarterback of fantasy baseball. Teams hide their mashers who can't play defense anywhere else at first, and while that limits them in real life, it makes for a boon for fantasy owners.
Let's run through the draftable first basemen according to preseason ADP numbers. This is similar to ranking players in tiers, but instead of my own rankings, we are using expected draft slots as our guide.
The number listed in front of each player is his ESPN ranking in points leagues among all players, and those rankings are accurate as of March 9. Most stats are from MLB.com.
Check out the draftables at other positions at the respective links:
Use FantasySP's Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit to keep up with all the analysis as we head toward the start of the regular season!
The Man at the Top
- 21. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
Because production at first base is so prevalent, I usually choose to wait at the position, grab a few multi-positional guys who can slot in at 1B, and know that there will be free agents and even trade targets available through essentially the entire season.
That being said, if you want to grab Guerrero, it's hard to argue. He was a stud in Toronto's playoff run last season. His regular season numbers were down in 2025 compared to 2024 (including just 23 home runs in nearly 600 at-bats), and that's enough for me to stay away given the high draft slot, but I won't fault the owner who grabs Vlad Jr.
The Catcher Cheat Code
- 60. Ben Rice, New York Yankees
Rice is one of my favorite fantasy picks this year, but it's because of his eligibility at multiple positions rather than his status as a top first baseman. Rice can slot in at catcher, something that probably won't be true next season if he holds down first base (as expected). That means we have a rare opportunity to get real 1B production in the catcher slot, a major advantage over what other owners will end up with.
I wouldn't draft Rice this high as simply a first baseman, but I love his value as a catcher at this spot who has the ability to fill the first base slot when needed.
The Heart of the Order
- 75. Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
- 86. Pete Alonso, Baltimore Orioles
- 87. Nick Kurtz, Athletics
- 88. Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
- 89. Rafael Devers, San Francisco Giants
- 97. Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 98. Josh Naylor, Seattle Mariners
- 108. Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
- 110. Tyler Soderstrom, Athletics
- 118. Vinnie Pasquantino, Kansas City Royals
This is where most fantasy owners will get their starting fantasy first baseman at the beginning of the year. The presence of so many good fantasy players here is why prefer to skip Guerrero in the second or third round and instead grab one of these players in the eighth round or later.
Olson doesn't miss games; he has played all 162 in all four of his seasons with Atlanta, taking at least 600 at-bats each year. His numbers have been fairly consistent, though 2023 and 2025 stand out above the even years (a bad omen if you believe in that kind of thing). Olson is a strong pick who you can count on, but don't feel bad if you miss him, as there are big ceilings ranked further down.
Alonso has a few drawbacks that led to a bit of a cooler free agent market than might have been expected both last offseason and this, but those things don't affect fantasy baseball much in 2026 (relegated to first base, doesn't add baserunning or defensive value, right hander who could fade quickly as he ages). We're more worried about the 162 games he has played each of the past two seasons, when he averaged 36 home runs, 36 doubles, 89 runs, and 107 RBI.
Kurtz and Soderstrom will both get the benefit of playing their homes at a minor league park in Sacramento, which played as a major hitter's park last year. Kurtz was better in 2025, hitting 36 homers and 26 doubles in just 420 at-bats with a .290 average and an OPS over 1.000. Soderstrom will play left field and has fantasy eligibility at both 1B and OF, bumping his value, and he also had 25 home runs, 34 doubles, and 93 RBI while playing 158 games.
Harper plays with a high-level lineup in Philadelphia, which should keep his run and RBI totals high. He usually misses some time with injury, topping out at 145 games since the COVID year of 2020 and averaging 129 games in those five seasons. Harper hits when on the field, though, averaging around 30 homers and 40 doubles per 150 games in that span.
Devers was in the news for the consternation between himself and the Red Sox last year more than his play. He hit well (while playing 163 games due to the mid-season trade), but his rate stats and counting numbers were all worse on a per-game basis in San Francisco, a more pitcher-friendly park than Fenway. I'm a little skeptical of Devers while still believing he can produce; I'm probably skipping him in 2026.
Freeman's numbers have been down a bit the past two seasons, when he played 147 games apiece and averaged 23 homers, 37 doubles, 81 runs, and 90 RBI. In his first two years in LA, Freeman averaged 25 home runs, 53 doubles, 124 runs, and 101 RBI while batting at least .325 each year. It's safe to project something closer to his 2024-25 numbers.
Naylor was traded from a good hitter's park (Arizona) to a poor one (Seattle) much like Devers, but unlike the San Fran 1B, Naylor actually saw his numbers improve after the trade, including his power. Naylor also stole 30 bases last year, and though pitchers might be watching him more closely now, that's a major benefit that very few first basemen add.
Perez and Pasquantino are another group of teammates who will share first base duties, with Perez also doing plenty of catching. Like New York's Rice, I love Perez as a dual-position player who can slot in at both catcher and first base; he's a fine Plan B if you miss Rice. Perez had 30 home runs and 35 doubles last year, while Pasquantino had 32 and 33, respectively.
Multi-Position Bench Value
- 143. Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals
I'll point out Burleson by himself before the next group because he is ranked 25 spots higher than the next first baseman and can also slot in at OF.
Having a guy who can play 1B and a position where you need three players every day gives you great flexibility, and Burleson's .290 average along with 18 homers and 26 doubles in just under 500 at-bats makes him a good bet to have another strong year.
Bench Guys
- 168. Yandy Diaz, Tampa Bay Rays
- 174. Christian Walker, Houston Astros
- 184. Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers
- 194. Michael Busch, Chicago Cubs
- 206. Ryan O'Hearn, Pittsburgh Pirates
- 215. Luis Arraez, San Francisco Giants
With so much pop and fantasy value above this point, some of these players might not get drafted despite their ADP rankings saying they should be. Over the past three years, Diaz has averaged 144 games, 20.3 home runs, and 31.7 doubles while batting around .300. He also doesn't strike out a lot, a rarity in today's game.
Walker was expected to help boost Houston's offense and defense last year. While his counting stats stayed fairly consistent from 2024, it took Walker over 100 more at-bats to get there, causing his slash numbers to see a major drop (along with 177 Ks, 44 more than the year before). There's a chance for a bounce-back, but Walker turns 35 at the end of March and could see further decline also.
Torkelson and Busch had similar numbers last year, with Busch having better slash numbers and less strikeouts and walks. They both had at least 25 doubles and over 30 home runs, and they are strong bets to have similar seasons, with Torkelson having maybe a bit more upside but also a lower floor.
O'Hearn doesn't have the same power numbers as the others, as though his .281 batting average is nice, he has never topped 22 doubles or 17 home runs. Arraez is a low-power, high-contact player who is a good bet to flirt with 180 hits and a .300 batting average. Arraez is expected to mostly play second base this season, so he will have dual eligibility at both 1B and 2B soon into the season.
Still Draftable
- 245. Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox
- 246. Nolan Schanuel, Los Angeles Angels
Contreras is intriguing as a right-handed batter with some pop heading to Fenway. He had 31 doubles and 20 homers last season, and I wouldn't be surprised to see those numbers jump. While he has struggled with injuries at times, playing first base full time (probably with some DH at-bats) without catching could help matters.
Schanuel was rushed to the majors (as several of the Angels' recent first-round picks have been) and is probably still developing more than many big leaguers we see. His numbers haven't been impressive yet (45 doubles and 26 home runs in more than 300 games and 1,100 at-bats), and I'm staying away until we see more.
