
With spring training in full swing, it’s time to assess the landscape of baseball. In our preview for the 2025 MLB season, ESPN’s Buster Olney resumes his series on positional rankings, gathering insights from industry experts to identify the top 10 players at each position.
Today, we focus on ranking the premier talents at first base.
The aim here is to spotlight the top performers for the upcoming 2025 season, rather than speculating on who may be the best in the long term. Over the next two weeks, we’ll unveil the rankings for one position each day. The schedule is as follows: catchers (2/17), second basemen (2/19), third basemen (2/20), shortstops (2/21), corner outfielders (2/24), center fielders (2/25), designated hitters (2/26), starting pitchers (2/27), and relievers (2/28).
As you examine the list of top 10 first basemen, you’ll notice an intriguing trend beyond their shared position. Freddie Freeman stands out as one of the top left-handed hitters of his era, despite being a right-handed thrower. Similarly, Bryce Harper bats left and throws right, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Pete Alonso are also right-handed throwers.
Notably, only one player among the top 10 is a left-handed thrower, which is surprising given the advantages left-handed throwers typically have at first base — such as quicker tags on pickoffs and improved angles for throws to other bases. The defensive finesse of historic greats like Keith Hernandez, Don Mattingly, J.T. Snow, and Anthony Rizzo deserves recognition as some of the most visually appealing plays in baseball.
However, statistics reveal a significant decline in the presence of left-handed throwing first basemen since 2000, as shown by data compiled by Sarah Langs:
2001: 1,905 (games played by left-handed throwing 1B)
2006: 1,589
2011: 1,836
2016: 1,356
2021: 944
2024: 1,173
A diverse group of evaluators, ranging from major league coaches to general managers, have expressed their astonishment regarding this trend. “I’m not sure why,” admitted one front-office professional. “There’s no overarching strategy I can connect it to.”
Another respondent remarked, “I can’t think of any reason. Perhaps it’s purely coincidental?”
One insider noted that many first basemen have transitioned from other infield positions. Harper exemplifies this, having been a catcher in his youth before the Nationals shifted him to the outfield and ultimately to first base after elbow surgery.
Matt Olson and Paul Goldschmidt are both right-handed throwers, as are the current Gold Glove winners Christian Walker and Carlos Santana.
It’s indeed puzzling.
Now, let’s delve into the Top 10 first basemen, compiled from insights gathered by evaluators:
