Even though first base is not the elite position it once was in terms of fantasy baseball, there is plenty of talent to choose from in a group of sluggers who can rake with the best of them.
Similar to other positions, there is one elite player and a ton of serviceable options after that, but this time, we have grouped everything so you do not have to do all the research. Here are the Top 10 first basemen ahead of the 2026 fantasy baseball season.
The Top 10 First Basemen for 2026 Fantasy Baseball
1) Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
2) Nick Kurtz, Athletics
3) Pete Alonso, Baltimore Orioles
It would be foolish to consider Pete Alonso as anything below the Top 3 when it comes to analyzing the best first basemen in baseball, fantasy or in real life.
The slugger will play in new surroundings in 2026 after agreeing to a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles in December 2025, but he should thrive in Camden Yards. The 31-year-old had one of his better seasons in 2025 with the New York Mets, slashing .272/.347/.524 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs.
It would be safe to expect that kind of production once again, as Alonso has hit at least 34 homers in each of his last five seasons while posting an OPS of at least .822 four times over that stretch.
That elite consistency means he should not need much of an adjustment in going from the NL to the AL. Plus, he is moving to a hitter-friendly environment that was made for right-handed hitters after the Orioles moved the left-field wall in prior to the 2025 season. Statcast projected that if Alonso had played for the Orioles in 2025, he would have hit 45 homers, not 38.
4) Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
5) Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
6) Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
Freddie Freeman has already earned a place in Cooperstown as one of the best first basemen of the last two decades, and the veteran slugger continues to play an important role for the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of his fifth season in Dodger Blue. The word “consistency” is perhaps the best adjective to define Freeman’s career.
He has hit at least 20 homers in each of his last nine full seasons while recording at least 70 RBIs and 80 runs scored each time. Plus, the last time he hit below .275 was in 2012, and he has hit .295 or higher in all but one of his last 10 seasons. He might not have the same eye or the same power he had during the prime of his career, but he will not need that to remain an excellent option at first base.
7) Rafael Devers, San Francisco Giants
8) Josh Naylor, Seattle Mariners
9) Ben Rice, New York Yankees
10) Vinnie Pasquantino, Kansas City Royals
Josh Naylor is a tough player to analyze because he is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, but he is extremely unlikely to repeat some of the things he achieved in 2025. The first thing that jumps off the page is that he stole 30 bases over 147 regular-season contests. For the sake of comparison, he had stolen 25 bases over the previous six years of his career combined.
Naylor also hit .295 with an .816 OPS, but it remains to be seen if he will be able to replicate the .299/.341/.490 line he had in 54 games with the Seattle Mariners after the trade in a full season playing in one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in the majors.
Naylor should be good enough to project as a Top 10 first baseman once again, but proceed with caution here. He might not be as good as his 2025 numbers indicate.
Leave a Reply