Top-75 Dynasty First Base Rankings

The first base position has long been looked at for its power and run-producing monsters. And after a slight step back over the last half-decade, this position is once again on the rise with an elite first two tiers below and plenty of intriguing young talent. Here are my top-75 dynasty first base rankings as we begin the 2022 season.

Fantasy Baseball Dynasty First Base Rankings

Tier 1

1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., TOR: Is there really any debate here? We’re looking at a 23-year-old superstar at the position with the contact skills, approach, and power to remain a first-round talent for a very long time. Even if his numbers were slightly inflated by Sahlen Park and TD Park early in 2021, Vladdy is an annual .300/40 threat with 100+ R and RBI as well. This is the definition of a four-category monster.

The only two players with 30 home runs this season:

Shohei Ohtani … and now Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 🚀

(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/7Mt2jIOQdC

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 17, 2021

Tier 2

2. Freddie Freeman, LAD: It feels weird to put “LAD” next to Freeman’s name and not “ATL”, but his elite value doesn’t change. In fact, he might even get a slight boost as the Dodgers lineup is what I like to call “video game loaded.” Freeman has proven to be one of the best hitters in the game with a career .295/.384/.509 and has eclipsed 30 homers in each of the last two full seasons. He’s a 4-category stud that can also chip in 6-8 steals annually which is just icing on top of the cake. I’m not expecting his production to slip any time soon.

3. Matt Olson, ATL: With his move to Atlanta and their shorter right-field wall, Olson’s value receives a noticeable bump. Getting out of Oakland’s spacious ballpark and limited lineup and into a much better park and lineup cements Olson as my #3 dynasty first baseman. The 2021 season was a career year for the 27 year old with a .271/.371/.540 slash line, 39 homers, 111 RBI, and 101 runs scored. In each of his four full seasons, Olson has recorded a hard-hit rate above 45% and a barrel rate above 12% while vastly improving his contact, whiff, and strikeout rates last season. We could see him post new career-best marks during his first season in Atlanta. To get you excited, here is Olson’s spray chart last year with Atlanta’s park dimensions.

4. Pete Alonso, NYM: We’ve witnessed Alonso’s elite power on many occasions already, including his two HR derby crowns already. Alsonso has cranked 106 homers in his first 1569 plate appearances with a barrel rate of at least 12.8% in each of his first three seasons. We also saw Alonso improve his contact rates in 2021 while cutting his whiff and strikeout rates by around 5.5%. If those improvements stick, Alonso could be in for a career year in an improved Mets lineup.

5. Spencer Torkelson, DET: The 2020 #1 overall pick has skyrocketed through the minors with a Major League debut in his sights early in 2022. Torkelson brings an average to above-average hit tool with plus or better game power and a solid plate approach, giving him .270+/.370+/35 upside in the middle of Detroit order. In 2021, Torkelson slashed .267/.383/.552 with 30 homers in 121 games across three levels, ending in Triple-A. If the AVG can .270+ range, he could surpass Alonso before too long.

Spencer Torkelson AFL mix.

No HR in my three live looks, but had six hits (all below) with a few hard-hit balls. Used the entire field well

Top-10 prospect for me with .270+/35+ upside. Likely up with Detroit mid-2022.#DetroitRoots pic.twitter.com/vRJX5TYo2l

— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) October 17, 2021

Tier 3

6. Alex Kirilloff, MIN: It’s still unsure where Kirilloff will wind up defensively, but for now, he’ll remain first base eligible. Kirilloff proved to be one of the best pure hitting prospects in baseball during his tenure as a prospect, displaying .300+ upside in the AVG department with enough power to settle in as a 25-homer batt annually. He’s battled some injuries so far, including a wrist issue in 2021, which makes him a great buy in dynasty leagues right now while his value is slightly suppressed.

7. Kris Bryant, COL: The former National League MVP hasn’t come close to replicating that glory since, but Bryant remains an impact corner infielder coming off a 2021 season where he posted his best barrel rate and hard-hit rate since 2016. The move to Coors Field is huge for Bryant’s value over the next several years, especially in the AVG department. I’m just not sure how much longer he’ll keep sneaking in first-base eligibility.

8. Paul Goldschmidt, STL: Sure, Goldschmidt is 34 now, but he’s coming off a .294/31/12 season with his best barrel rate, AVG EV, and hard-hit rate in the Savant era (2015). Expecting another double-digit steal season would be risky, but Goldy remains an elite four-category contributor that can add a handful of steals as well. Don’t write him off quite yet as he’s a great trade target for contending teams.

9. J.T. Realmuto, PHI: If you roster Realmuto, it’s likely as a catcher, but he’s retained first base eligibility at least for the 2022 season and might see more time there as he enters his mid-30s.

10. Andrew Vaughn, CHW: While his rookie season can be described as lackluster, Vaughn still posted a 10.9% barrel rate, 91.1 mph AVG, and a 47.7% hard-hit rate with a solid plat approach. If Tony La Russa ever stops messing with Vaughn’s defensive position, the talented young first baseman should be able to settle in and establish himself as a back-end top-10 first baseman for fantasy with .270+/25+ potential.

Andrew Vaughn ties it in the 9th! 💪 pic.twitter.com/QmsSA7b59K

— MLB (@MLB) May 23, 2021

11. Jake Cronenworth, SDP: Cronenworth doesn’t stand out in any one area, but his multi-positional eligibility is valuable and he can contribute solidly across the board without hurting you in any one area. In 2021, Cronenworth finished with 94 runs, 21 homers, 71 RBI, and four steals with a .266/.340/.460 slash line. His OBP skills should keep him high in San Diego’s lineup where more 90/20/70 seasons are certainly possible.

12. Max Muncy, LAD: The only reason for Muncy being at the bottom of this tier instead of the top is the concerns surrounding his left elbow. Muncy has proven to be incredibly consistent with 35 or 36 homers in each of his last three full seasons while providing eligibility at both first base and second base. If his elbow issue proves to be behind him, Muncy will rise several spots in these rankings throughout the season.

13. Jose Abreu, CHW: Speaking of remarkable consistency, you’re looking at the poster child for that here with Abreu. His age is sure to scare off many dynasty managers, but Abreu has shown no signs of slowing down in his mid-30s with another 30/100 season in 2021, his 6th 25+/100+ campaign in seven full seasons. He would’ve reached that level in 2020 as well if the season was 162 games.

Tier 4

14. Jared Walsh, LAA: While the metrics don’t jump out at you, Walsh has a barrel rate above 11% in each of his three Major League seasons and will likely bat somewhere in the middle of a potential top-10 lineup for the Angels if everyone is healthy. There might not be further upside past 2021 levels, but batting right behind Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout isn’t a bad spot to be.

15. Kyle Schwarber, PHI: Schwarber was an absolute beast last season with a 17.5% barrel rate, 52.2% hard-hit rate, and 25 homers in only 303 PA. However, Schwarber has only exceeded 500 PA twice in his career and is a .237 career hitter with zero speed. He should be a force in HR, RBI, and R but the durability and AVG keep him in tier 4. If you play with OBP, bump him up into tier 3.

16. Rhys Hoskins, PHI: A lot of what I just said with Schwarber can be applied here with Hoskins. He’s shown elite power metrics with a good OBP, but has only hit .241 in his career and has missed around 1/3 of games since the start of 2020.
17. Ryan Mountcastle, BAL: Mountcastle has seemingly traded AVG for more power since he was a prospect, but it’s a power profile that I don’t believe in. With middle-of-the-road power metrics and a deeper left-field wall in Camden, Mountcastle is likely more of a 25 homer bat with an okay average, lower OBP, and minimal speed. He’s a solid CI bat long-term, but not someone I’d be looking to roster as my starting first baseman.
18. Josh Bell, WAS: Bell has been so up and down throughout his career, I’ve usually shied away in redraft and dynasty leagues. However, he’s coming off one of the best years of his career, including his best AVG EV and hard-hit rate, and will be batting behind Juan Soto this season which is always a positive. If he can remain in the .260/30 level, he’s a solid CI fantasy bat for years to come.

19. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., TOR: What you see is what you get with Lourdes Gurriel. He’s proven to be around a .280 hitter with 20-25 homers and good counting stats annually hitting in Toronto’s loaded lineup. I’m just hoping he can stay healthy more often moving forward.

20. Triston Casas, BOS: If anyone in this tier could vault into tier two by next year, it’s Casas. The hulking first baseman has shown above-average contact skills with a patient approach at the plate and is still tapping into his 70-grade raw power. This could be a .270+/35+ middle-of-the-order force within the next few seasons.

Triston Casas single. Good piece of two-strike hitting. #DirtyWater pic.twitter.com/qi3wRgXr68

— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) October 16, 2021

21. C.J. Cron, COL: Cron is a perfect fit in Colorado and put together the best year of his career in 2021 with a .281/.375/.530 slash line and 28 homers in 142 games. With the thin air in Coors Field, Cron should have no problems replicating this production over the next few years.

22. Ty France, SEA: The profile isn’t exactly sexy, but France finished 2021 hitting .291 with 18 homers and improved as the season progressed. He’s an above-average that doesn’t whiff or strikeout much and might even have more power in the tank. There’s zero speed to speak of, but France could settle in as a good four-category player

23. DJ LeMahieu, NYY: The arrow is certainly pointing down here, but I’m not sure we’re done seeing LeMahieu as a viable CI or MI for fantasy purposes. he’ll once again have 1B/2B eligibility and could see a nice bounceback this season as he was dealing with a core injury for most of last season which really affected him.

Tier 5

24. Trey Mancini, BAL: The feel-good story of 2021, Mancini returned from beating cancer to post a .255/77/21/71 line for Baltimore. Is he going to be a tier 3 player? Probably not. But there’s more upside in the tank than we saw last year.

25. Frank Schwindel, CHC: A late-bloomer, Schwindel was one of the best hitters in baseball for the last two months of the season once he stepped in as a full-time starter for the Cubs. The power metrics are good but not great, so I’m not expecting 30+ homers any time soon, but Schwindel was a career .286 hitter in the minors and could settle in as a .275/20+ bat in a favorable home ballpark.

26. Bobby Dalbec, BOS: Dalbec is a tough one to rank right now as he was atrocious early in 2021 and went on a tear to end the season, vastly improving his contact and swing metrics while maintaining his elite power. Over the course of a full season, Dalbec could hit 40 homers, but he also has Triston Casas breathing down his neck and could easily revert to a bench role if he struggles early in 2022. He’s one of the few bats on this list that could be in tier three or tier six by this time next season.

The first homer of Spring Training belongs to Bobby Dalbec! pic.twitter.com/ZGlBh3atmw

— MLB (@MLB) March 17, 2022

27. Jose Miranda, MIN: At this point, all Jose Miranda needs is a spot to play. Will that come at first base, second base, or third base, who knows. But the bat is 100% legit. Think Ryan McMahon with more AVG upside. In 2021, Miranda slashed .344/.401/.572 with 32 doubles and 30 homers in 591 PA between Double-A and Triple-A.

28. Anthony Rizzo, NYY: He’s still productive now in a .260/25 sort of way, but the arrow next to Rizzo is certainly pointing down. Could have a solid 2022 as a lefty bat in Yankee stadium though.

29. Vinnie Pasquantino, KCR: Believe the hype, Vinnie Pasquantino is legit folks. He posted contact rates above 80% at both levels last season with an ISO over .200 and as many walks as strikeouts. He’s a better pure hitter than Pratto or Melendez, and I believe he’s going the be the best fantasy player of this trio longterm. We could see him later in 2022 as well.

30. Miguel Vargas, LAD: Honestly, Vargas has the potential to be in tier three within the next few seasons. He’s likely the heir apparent to Justin Turner at the hot corner and has hit .316 in the minors with a 15.6% strikeout rate and budding power. The upside is a .290+ hitter with 25 homers and a handful of steals annually.

31. Nathaniel Lowe, TBR: While he was inconsistent month to month, Lowe still finished with 18 homers and eight steals last season, and has seen the Rangers lineup improve exponentially this offseason. With his above-average power metrics and solid speed, Lowe has 20+/5+ upside moving forward and could crack 90 RBI this season hitting behind Marcus Semien and Corey Seager. Lowe also gets a nice OBP bump thanks an a walk rate that has been above 10% in each of the last two seasons.

32. Eduardo Escobar, NYM: I’m admittedly not the biggest Escobar guy around, but he’s exceeded 20 homers in each of his last four seasons and has averaged 31.5 homers and 99 RBI over his last two full seasons. You could do worse with your CI spot at the moment.

33. Brandon Belt, SFG: Belt continues to produce elite power and tantalizing per-game numbers, but he’s had a hard time staying healthy throughout his career and will be 34 in April. I’m not expecting his durability issues to magically improve in his mid-30s.

34. Nick Pratto, KCR: While he bounced back from an atrocious 2019 showing to post a .265/.385/.602 slash line with 36 homers and 12 steals in 545 PA in 2021, Pratto still struck out 28.8% of the time with a contact rate below 66% in both Double-A and Triple-A. There’s legit 25+/8 upside here with Pratto, but I’m not sure he’s more than a .250 hitter. Although, he gets a nice bump in OBP formats.

35. Jonathan Schoop. DET: Schoop continues to get undervalued despite five straight full seasons over 20 homers. The profile doesn’t offer more upside than what we’ve seen, but a dual-eligible 20-homer bat in an up-and-coming Detroit lineup still provides solid fantasy value. Schoop is still only 30 as well.

36. Jhonkensy Noel, CLE: Noel busted out in a big way in 2021, hitting .340 with 19 homers in 290 PA. He’s an average or better hitter with plus or better power potential that should wind up at one of the corners for Cleveland in the next couple of years.

37. Luke Voit, SDP: The 2020 AL Home run champion gets a second chance after an early-March trade from the crowded Yankees to the less-crowded Padres. Voit is already 31, so don’t go overboard to acquire him, but his value is very reasonable right now given how 2021 went and he could easily crank 30 homers over a full season in San Diego while flirting with 90 RBI.

38. Rowdy Tellez, MIL: He might wind up in a strong-side platoon, but Tellez should still push 500 PA this season and posted an impressive 11.6% barrel rate and 48.1% hard-hit rate last season. Over a full season, Tellez possesses .270/25 upside.

39. Miguel Sano, MIN: We know what Sano is at this point and have for several years now. He’s an elite power bat that doesn’t make enough contact and strikes out way too much. If you want that on your team, be my guest. I’ve given up expecting more.

Remainder of the Top-75

Media Credit: SportCenter/MLB,

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