2026 First Base Rankings: AL First Base Rankings

The name of the game here is at-bats. Not only are you looking to the first base position for the obvious, but we also have to fill a corner infield and utility spot as well. We have to maximize power, and it goes without saying that first base is one of the deeper positions.

To say that things are top-heavy would be an understatement. As we work through the player pool, some depth does exist, but if you wait too long, questions begin to form. Let’s jump right into our 2026 AL-Only First Base Rankings.

American League Only First Base Notes

Vinnie Pasquantino, Kansas City Royals

I’m guilty as charged here. For the past few years, I’ve been a fan of Vinnie Pasquantino, and his 2025 season certainly cemented those thoughts. As we move forward, there’s no reason not to expect Pasquantino to continue his level of success with, perhaps, room for some slight upside.

It’s the off-season, so it’s very easy to get caught up in any and all news that breaks. In the case of the Kansas City Royals, it was announced that they are moving the outfield fences in by 10 feet. While we can certainly estimate how many home runs that will add to Pasquantino’s ledger, it’s clear that it’s going to be beneficial. At the very least, there’s no reason why he can’t repeat his 2025 performance.

After playing in 131 games in 2024, Pasquantino was healthy last year and played 160 games. The career .266 hitter had a .264 batting average while hitting 32 home runs and driving in 113 runs. While the 29 additional games helped, it was a nice improvement over an already impressive 97 RBI from 2024.

Additionally, we saw Pasquantino’s ISO increase from .183 to .211 while his barrel rate rose from 7.1% to 10.8%. That certainly aligns with the performance as his maximum exit velocity rose to 114.4 miles per hour.

Despite the metrics and track record, projection systems generally appear to be expecting a downgrade for Pasquantino. While I might be overly bullish, I can see another 30/100 season for the Kansas City slugger.

Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox

Thanks to a trade from the now rebuilding St. Louis Cardinals, Willson Contreras now calls the American League home. That deepens the playing pool while giving us another solid option to draw from.

Contreras might not stand out as a prolific option, but we shouldn’t allow that to shortchange the veteran. Last season, he hit .257 with 20 home runs, 80 RBI, and 70 runs scored. The trade gives a much-needed change of scenery to Contreras as he joins a contender along with an improved lineup.

What catches my attention, though, are Contreras’ metrics. He had a solid .190 ISO last year, but he also set career highs with a 13.8% barrel rate and 48.9% hard hit rate. Contreras also improved his contact rate from 66.7%to 73.6%. In an AL-only format, targeting someone like Contreras can allow you to focus the early round roster build on other positions.

Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers

While there’s a lot of excitement at the top of the rankings, someone like Spencer Torkelson gives us the freedom to wait on the position or to get an edge at corner infield.

While filled with potential, it took some time for Torkelson to truly find his groove. That was evident as his ISO increased from .155 to .217, which led to a 31-HR, 78-RBI season. With a .240 batting average, that is one part of his profile that we have to acknowledge as not being a strength. However, his 11.1% walk rate does help for those in OBP leagues.

Not only did Torkelson find success, but his 13.5% barrel rate and 45.1% hard hit rate also back that up. Now that he has turned the corner, Torkelson’s performance should be sustainable.

2026 AL-Only First Base Rankings