Ranking the top 10 basemen in MLB for 2024

Don’t be surprised if a few first basemen from this era end up in the Hall of Fame in 10 to 15 years. The following group has won 32 All-Star selections, 17 Silver Slugger Awards, 12 Gold Glove Awards, 5 MVP Awards, 5 home run titles, 3 Rookie of the Year Awards, and 3 Championship Rings. It’s a competitive course and most of these names won’t be retiring anytime soon.

Our nine-part position series will identify the 10 best first basemen for the 2024 season.

1. Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers

2023 stats: .331/.410/.567, 29 HR, 163 wRC+, 7.9 fWAR
2024 ZiPS projections: .299/.384/.503, 25 HR, 140 wRC+, 4.4 fWAR

2. Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves

2023: .283/.389/.604, 54 HR, 160 wRC+, 6.7 fWAR
2024 ZiPS: .260/.360/.515, 37 HR, 131 wRC+, 3.7 fWAR

3. Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies

2023: .293/.401/.499, 21 HR, 142 wRC+, 3.3 fWAR
2024 ZiPS: .281/.388/.527, 26 HR, 142 wRC+, 3.7 fWAR

Harper only played in 36 games as a first baseman last year, all of which came in the second half of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he was praised for his defensive ability. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski even said Harper could win a Gold Glove at his new position.

With Rhys Hoskins settled in Milwaukee, this will be Harper’s first full season as a first baseman, and early reports from Phillies camp suggest the transition has been smooth. Of course, the slugger is still on his way to becoming a Hall of Famer and has another big season ahead of him. There are still eight years left on his 13-year, $330 million contract, but Harper has performed so well in Philadelphia that he wants and will likely get another extension.

4. Pete Alonso, New York Mets

2023: .217/.318/.504, 46 HR, 121 wRC+, 2.8 fWAR
2024 ZiPS: .245/.337/.491, 37 HR, 128 wRC+, 2.8 fWAR

5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays

2023: .264/.345/.444, 26 HR, 118 wRC+, 1.0 fWAR
2024 ZiPS: .278/.357/.492, 31 HR, 133 wRC+, 3.2 fWAR

6. Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals

2023: .268/.363/.447, 25 HR, 122 wRC+, 3.7 fWAR
2024 ZiPS: .267/.354/.452, 23 HR, 121 wRC+, 2.8 fWAR

Goldschmidt, 36, is expected to perform about the same from 2023 onwards. This can be seen from her two perspectives. Last year was the beginning of a clear decline for the seven-time All-Star, with his performance dropping significantly across the board compared to his great MVP campaign in 2022. His .810 OPS was actually his lowest since 2011.

At the same time, this version of Goldy is still a better first baseman than most and has bounced back from a relatively poor year in the past (2019). He will be extremely motivated because he knows how important the next few years will be in cementing his Hall of Fame status. Additionally, 2024 is his year of travel, so he’ll need to perform if he wants to challenge the final leg of his outstanding career in St. Louis.

7. Cody Bellinger, Chicago Cubs

2023: .307/.356/.525, 26 HR, 134 wRC+, 4.1 fWAR
2024 ZiPS: .267/.327/.441, 19 HR, 106 wRC+, 2.8 fWAR

The Cody Bellinger Renaissance is coming back to Chicago. He found a new All-Star swing with the Cubs last year and improved dramatically after an unfortunate ending in Los Angeles. Now, it will be interesting to see if the last year has become the new normal for him. Eschewing power shots and taking a more contact-oriented approach, the former MVP developed a completely different hitting profile over the course of his career.

This unique change also explains his three-year, $80 million contract he signed last month. By opting out of his contract after each of his first two seasons, the 28-year-old Bellinger will have another chance to reshape the market. He also looks forward to taking on new leadership positions. The Cubs are hoping top prospect Pete Crowe-Armstrong will be the long-term solution in center field, likely moving Bellinger to first base. He was outstanding last year alone, saving five runs in 421.1 innings over 59 games.

8. Yandy Díaz, Tampa Bay Rays