Fantasy Baseball 2019 First Baseman Rankings

The first base position is pretty deep in 2019. You will have no problem drafting a solid performer for your fantasy baseball team.

The first base position is deeper than the catcher position but after a certain number, the talent level drops off compared to other positions. Still, you can find good fantasy baseball production for your starting first baseman from many parts of the draft.

First base and third base is where a lot of power for your fantasy team comes from. Just look at the names on this list. The majority of these hitters won’t hit over .260 but will hit 25 home runs. There are a few that will hit close to .300 but you’ll have to pay a premium for their services.

There were 17 first basemen that hit at least 20 home runs. Only four hit .290 or better. Power, and I mean reliable power, is becoming more common while batting average across the league continues to drop.

There will also be very little speed coming from your first baseman. Only three players stole at least 10 bases. Then again, steals is going to cost a lot in most fantasy leagues this season.

When ranking the players for the rest of the hitter positions (not pitchers), any player with multi-position eligibility will be listed only once at what I think their primary position will be to start the season. There may be some DH-eligible players on the list but I’m not doing a DH ranking, so if they can slot as a first baseman, they’re listed here.

Some players may gain additional eligibility throughout the season based on injury, poor performance or defensive shifts. Unfortunately, I have no way to predict that. Anthony Rizzo, for example, gained second base eligibility due to Joe Maddon’s use of the shift. I’m not sure he’ll get there again so he won’t be in my second base rankings.

With that out of the way, here are my top-30 first basemen for the 2019 fantasy baseball season.

30. Mitch Moreland – Moreland played in 20 fewer games than his previous two seasons. As a result, he hit just 15 home runs, 68 RBIs and .245. In a good Red Sox offense, Moreland will drive in another 60 runs but will hit .240 as a result. He’s a good off-day fill-in or utility option.

29. Justin Bour – The Angels brought in Bour as a fill-in for the injured Shohei Ohtani. He brings good power and defense to the team. Once Ohtani is back, though, it’ll be a rotation between them and Albert Pujols at first base. Bour is a good bench option for cheap power.

28. Jay Bruce – Bruce will start the season with the Seattle Mariners. Knowing their history, who knows if he’ll finish the season there. The offense is still good even after all of the trades and the AL West ballparks favor hitters. Bruce had a down year in terms of games played. As the Mariners DH, he should be able to play in another 140 games.

27. Ryon Healy – Healy is currently listed as a bench option. His value is predicated on Bruce and Edwin Encarnacion (their first baseman) staying healthy. He hit 24 home runs last season but saw his batting average drop 35 points. If you draft the other two options, I’d stash Healy in deeper leagues.

26. Tyler White – White hasn’t played a full season since joining the Astros lineup. With Evan Gattis gone from the lineup, White is expected to take over the DH duties. He hit 12 home runs, 42 RBIs and .276 in 66 games. In a full season, I expect White to hit 18 home runs, 55 RBIs and a .265 average.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 First Baseman Rankings

25. Brandon Belt – I mentioned this when I ranked the catchers and Buster Posey, but the Giants do not have the best team in baseball. The ballpark is a struggle for hitters and the division as a whole tends to favor pitchers. Belt hit 14 home runs, 50 RBIs and .253 in 112 games. If he can get back to 140 games played (my minimum for a “full season”), then 18 homers, 70 RBIs and a .255 average.

24. Ryan Zimmerman – Zimmerman dealt with injuries last year, limiting him to 85 games. Coming back as the Nationals first baseman, he will hit in the heart of the order. His projections are all over the place in terms of games played. I think he’ll hit close to 20 home runs and .260. If you draft him, however, look to draft a viable backup just in case.

23. Kendrys Morales – The Blue Jays DH is first-base eligible this season. He continues to hit for good power with a manageable average. If he plays his typical 135 games, Morales will hit 22 home runs and .250. He is still walking at a good rate, helping those in OBP leagues.

22. Yonder Alonso – The acquisition of Alonso moves Jose Abreu to DH. This benefits both players. They will have another power bat in the lineup for protection. However, the AL Central does not have the most hitter-friendly ballparks for home runs. Alonso will still hit 20 home runs but the RBI total will be a little low based on the lineup. Don’t forget about his .245 average.

21. C.J. Cron – The Twins made a lot of moves this offseason, starting with the addition of Cron. He hit a career-high 30 home runs with Tampa Bay last season. I don’t think he reaches that number again in 2019 but 22 home runs, 72 RBIs and .260 is more likely. The Twins have Nelson Cruz, Eddie Rosario and Miguel Sano in the lineup. A lot of power in Minnesota.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 First Baseman Rankings

20. Josh Bell – Bell saw a big drop in his power from 2017 to 2018. His batting average went up a bit but not enough to offset the power loss. The NL Central is going to be a competitive division, with all five first basemen on this list somewhere. The lineup may not be the best but baseball, at a certain level, is a one-on-one sport. If Bell can take advantage of the average pitching in the division, and it’s possible, a 20 HR/73 RBI/.270 line is likely.

19. Jake Bauers – Bauers moves to Cleveland and will get a huge opportunity. He hit 11 home runs in 96 games with the Rays. Now in the middle of a better lineup, Bauers will hit the 20 HR/70 RBI threshold. Bauers will see a drop in average as he sells out for power but that is the norm among first basemen at this level. He’s a great stash in keeper and dynasty leagues.

18. Luke Voit – Voit going to New York as the best thing for him. He was blocked in St. Louis and Greg Bird’s performance opened doors for Voit to explode. In his 39 games with the Yankees, Voit hit 14 home runs, 28 RBIs and .333. He strikes out a bit too much, so expect a .270 average paired with his 20 home runs and 60 RBIs. Voit is listed as the No. 8 hitter. He could be in the top half for a majority of teams. There is still Bird looming around, so Voit may not play all season, hurting his value.

17. Yuli Gurriel – Gurriel is a solid hitter, providing good power and contact in 140 games. He is also third base eligible, giving you some lineup flexibility. The pitching in the AL West is not the greatest, so Gurriel and the rest of the Astros should be able to score a decent amount of runs.

16. Miguel Cabrera – How the mighty have fallen. Cabrera is dealing with a lot of injuries. He played in just 38 games last season, down from 130 in 2017. His power has also declined. Cabrera can still hit for contact and get on base at a high rate. I’m going to project Cabrera on the low side with 14 home runs, 60 RBIs and a .285 average. Still a good player but not what we expect from Cabrera.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 First Baseman Rankings

15. Carlos Santana – Santana is back in Cleveland where he had a lot of success. Slotting in as the DH will keep Santana healthy. If you play in an OBP league or one that values walks, Santana is someone to target higher. He finished with more walks than strikeouts last season. The average may not be there, .250, but 25/85 will help you later in the draft.

14. Ian Desmond – Desmond hasn’t been an OBP guy, a career 6.5 walk rate. That was okay because he was hitting .280 as well. Last year may have been the introduction to the new Desmond. He hit .236 with 22 homers and 82 RBIs. He will likely play outfield, increasing his injury risk. A 16 HR/65 RBI/.260 line is a good bounce-back season but not someone you want as a starter.

13. Joey Gallo – Gallo is the typical all-power hitter. He has back-to-back 40-home run seasons while hitting under .210. I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Gallo, according to Roster Resource, will move to left field. I don’t agree with the move but the Rangers don’t have many other options. If your team has a good batting average, you can afford to draft Gallo.

12. Eric Hosmer – The move to San Diego was clearly for the money because Hosmer did not perform like he did in Kansas City. He hit 18 home runs, 72 RBIs and .253. Petco Park does not favor hitters. The lineup is still rebuilding so Hosmer doesn’t have that much lineup protection. He’ll hit 20 home runs but gone are the days of a .290 average. Hosmer will hit closer to .270 with a higher strikeout rate.

11. Matt Olson – Olson has shown great power in every level of baseball he’s played in. I think we’ll see his first 30-home run season in the majors. The A’s have a solid middle of the lineup with Olson, Matt Chapman and Khris Davis. A 33 HR/82 RBI/.245 line is a good projected line for Olson. He’s one of my sleeper sluggers this season.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 First Baseman Rankings

10. Edwin Encarnacion – Encarnacion will play in Seattle. Like I said with Bruce and Healy, health is a concern but Encarnacion hasn’t had that issue over the last four seasons. He hit 30-plus home runs with a .240 average. The RBIs may be less due to the team but he should reach at least 70.

9. Jesus Aguilar – Aguilar burst on the fantasy scene not too long ago and took the first base spot from Eric Thames. His 35/80/.274 season proved the management right. The lineup got even better with Yasmani Grandal and Aguilar will hit right in the middle of the lineup. Another 30-home run season is more than likely but if your league scores negatively for strikeouts, you might want to stay away.

8. Matt Carpenter – The addition of Paul Goldschmidt will keep Carpenter at third base. Though, he will have first base eligibility. He crushed 36 home runs and 111 RBIs with a .257 average. Carpenter is another high-strikeout hitter but that’s been his M.O. He’ll hit 28 home runs, 105 RBIs and .255 this season.

7. Jose Abreu – With the addition of Alonso, many thought Abreu would be traded. It can still happen if the White Sox fall in the standings. Even if he stays, Abreu will post another 30 HR/100 RBI season. He saw a jump in his strikeout rate last season. If he can offset that by staying healthy and racking up the hits, he should be able to get back to a .282 average.

6. Joey Votto – The Reds made a lot of moves to improve both sides of the ball. Votto and the rest of the Reds will have more lineup protection with Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp in the lineup. Votto has posted an OBP over .400 in four straight seasons. There was a big dip in power but I think it settles around mid-20s with 85 RBIs and a .288 average.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 First Baseman Rankings

Cody Bellinger is one of the few young hitters in the Dodgers lineup. I thought that Abreu would have made a great fit at first base since Bellinger seems to be slotted in right field.

Bellinger will have first-base eligibility. If he was outfield only, his value would not be as high, at least to me. He had a good walk rate but a 23.6 strikeout rate. Despite playing in all 162 games last year, he declined in power.

Bellinger hit just 25 home runs and 84 RBIs. Not a bad line but compared to the 39 and 87 he hit in 2017, it was a bit of a disappointment. Bellinger did steal 14 bases, the second most among first basemen.

The lineup is solid with recent addition A.J. Pollock in the leadoff spot. Bellinger is slotted to hit cleanup behind Corey Seager and Justin Turner.

I think Bellinger in keeper leagues. In a re-draft league, however, I’m not rushing to draft him. He’ll hit 30 home runs and 90 RBIs but the .255 average is a bit too low for a fifth-round pick.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 First Baseman Rankings

Rhys Hoskins played in his first full season last year. He hit 34 home runs, 89 RBIs and .246. I think we’ll see an increase in power as he hits closer to 40 home runs.

The Phillies improved their lineup with Jean Segura and Andrew McCutchen. While they are not Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, they can still hit and get on base.

Citizens Bank Park is a top-five hitter-friendly ballpark. Nationals Park is also in the top five. Hoskins will benefit from calling CBP his home park.

While he will have to hit against the Washington trio and the two aces in New York, Hoskins will still hold his fantasy value.

Hoskins is being drafted as a fifth-round pick. Even with the low average, the potential of a 40-home run season makes him valuable. He’ll score close to 100 runs in the process.

Hoskins is also outfield eligible but that position is crowded enough. He’ll have more fantasy value as a first baseman.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 First Baseman Rankings

Anthony Rizzo is currently the third first baseman coming off the board as a fourth-round pick. He had a bit of a down year in terms of power but luckily, we don’t draft for last year’s stats. They do help in terms of projections but it could have also been an off-year and will bounce back greatly.

I think it’s the latter for Rizzo. He continues to be patient at the plate with his career 11.2 walk rate and 16.1 strikeout rate. A combination of 30 home runs, 95 RBIs and .280 average makes Rizzo one of the few first basemen able to reach those numbers.

The lineup also helps Rizzo’s value. The middle of the Cubs order is a dangerous one. Kris Bryant, Rizzo, Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber. If you were a pitcher, which hitter would you intentionally walk and which ones would you pitch to? It’s a tough decision.

The NL Central doesn’t feature many hitter-friendly ballparks but that hasn’t hurt Rizzo during his career. He’s a lock as a top-five first baseman.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 First Baseman Rankings

Freddie Freeman is one of the few consistent first basemen in the league. He hit over .300 in each of the last three seasons. He hit at least 23 home runs in the same span. Freeman also stole 10 bases for the first time in his career.

The Braves are still rebuilding but their young pieces stepped up and provided Freeman protection. Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies were solid. Veterans like Nick Markakis had a great season. The Braves also brought in Josh Donaldson and Brian McCann to fill some needs and create a stronger lineup.

Like Hoskins, Freeman will have to face the great Nationals and Mets pitchers. It also hurts that SunTrust Park is very pitcher-friendly. He was able to hit 13 home runs at home compared to 10 on the road.

Freeman is a lock for 90 runs, 90 RBIs and a .300 average. It’s hard to find that type of player at any position. He’s being drafted as a late second-round pick. If you draft a top pitcher in the first round, Freeman is a great choice for your first hitter.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 First Baseman Rankings

Getting Paul Goldschmidt out of Arizona was a priority for his fantasy value. Once they installed the humidor in Chase Field, everyone saw the impact immediately.

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Goldschmidt hit 12 home runs at home and 21 on the road last season. In 2017, he hit 20 at home and 16 away from Chase Field.

The Diamondbacks hit just 80 home runs at home. They hit 122 home runs at home in the prior season.

Now that Goldschmidt is in the NL Central, he’ll be able to hit home runs evenly at home and away from Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals have a better lineup than Arizona, so Goldschmidt will have some protection from Paul DeJong, Marcell Ozuna and Matt Carpenter.

Goldschmidt is being drafted in the third round. That may be one round too early for me but because the position isn’t as deep as previous seasons, owning Goldschmidt will cost you.

Whether you are targeting power early or late, you should have no problem finding it with these players. Many of them have multi-position eligibility, allowing you to draft two or three from this list and be able to start them on a daily basis. Plus, it prevents your opponents from getting them.

Writer’s Note: My apologies as I forgot to rank Justin Smoak. He is in my mid-20s among first basemen.

Next position up is second base. Stay tuned!