Ranking Every MLB Team's Starting First Baseman for the 2025 Season
Welcome to Bleacher Report's 2025 MLB preseason position rankings!
With the beginning of a new baseball season right around the corner, we'll be ranking each team's starter at every position in the coming weeks to provide a full position-by-position preview for the 2025 campaign.
The trio of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR), Bryce Harper (PHI) and Freddie Freeman (LAD) represent the top tier at first base, while Matt Olson (ATL), Pete Alonso (NYM) and Christian Walker (HOU) are not far behind.
Walker is part of a long list of first basemen who changed teams this offseason, with Paul Goldschmidt (NYY), Nathaniel Lowe (WAS), Josh Naylor (ARI), Carlos Santana (CLE), Jake Burger (TEX), Spencer Horwitz (PIT) and Ty France (MIN) among the other notable first basemen suiting up for new teams in 2025.
Players were ranked based on expectations for the 2025 season. Offensive and defensive contributions were both considered, and past track records played a major role in determining each player's outlook.
Included on each slide is also a look at the next man up at first base. This is who would take over as the starter if the current starter were to miss significant time. In some cases, it's a minor leaguer or bench player, and in others, it's a starter moving over from a different position.
Catch up on the 2025 Position Rankings Series: Shortstops, Third Basemen
Nos. 30-26
1 of 10
30. Matt Mervis, Miami Marlins
Next Man Up: Jonah Bride
Mervis was once viewed as the first baseman of the future for the Cubs, but he failed to stake his claim to the job when given the chance and the team moved on to Michael Busch in 2024. The Marlins acquired him in December in exchange for Vidal Bruján in what amounts to a change-of-scenery move for both former top prospects.
29. Ty France, Minnesota Twins
Next Man Up: José Miranda
A 4.4-WAR player in 2021 and an All-Star in 2022, France had a tough season last year, hitting .234/.305/.365 for a 92 OPS+ with 24 doubles, 13 home runs and 51 RBI in 140 games for the Mariners and Reds. The Twins took a flier with a one-year, $1 million deal, and the first base job is his to lose this spring.
28. Jeimer Candelario, Cincinnati Reds
Next Man Up: Christian Encarnacion-Strand
Spencer Steer (63 G), Jeimer Candelario (32 G) and Christian Encarnacion-Strand (29 G) all saw semi-regular action at first base last season, and the position could be a fluid situation between those three guys once again in 2025. There is nowhere to go but up for Candelario after he logged minus-0.7 WAR over 112 games in the first season of a three-year, $45 million deal last year.
27. Andrew Vaughn, Chicago White Sox
Next Man Up: Joey Gallo
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 draft, Vaughn has been roughly a league-average offensive player over his first four seasons in the big leagues. Over 562 games, he has a 101 OPS+ while averaging 32 doubles, 21 home runs, 79 RBI and 0.3 WAR per 162 games. The 26-year-old was miscast as an outfielder early in his career with José Abreu blocking his path at first base, but he made the full-time move back to first in 2024.
26. Tyler Soderstrom, Oakland Athletics
Next Man Up: Seth Brown
Originally drafted as a catcher with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Soderstrom shifted to first base to put his bat on the fast track to the majors. The 23-year-old made his MLB debut in 2023, and in his first extended MLB action last year he hit .233/.315/.429 for a 114 OPS+ with 10 doubles, nine home runs and 26 RBI in 213 plate appearances.
Nos. 25-21
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25. Rhys Hoskins, Milwaukee Brewers
Next Man Up: Tyler Black
After posting a 125 OPS+ with 148 home runs in six seasons with the Phillies, Hoskins spent his entire contract year in 2023 watching from the sidelines after tearing his ACL in spring training. The Brewers made a two-year, $34 million commitment last offseason banking on his return to full health, and he posted a 98 OPS+ with 26 home runs, 86 RBI and minus-0.2 WAR in 131 games.
24. Nolan Schanuel, Los Angeles Angels
Next Man Up: Niko Kavadas
Just a few short months after going No. 11 overall in the 2023 draft, Schanuel made his MLB debut, and he showed enough in a 29-game audition to claim the everyday first base job heading into 2024. In his first full season in the majors, he hit .250/.343/.362 for a 101 OPS+ with 19 doubles, 13 home runs, 54 RBI, 10 steals and 1.3 WAR in 147 games.
23. Spencer Horwitz, Pittsburgh Pirates
Next Man Up: Jared Triolo
Horwitz posted a 125 OPS+ with 19 doubles, 12 home runs, 40 RBI and 1.2 WAR in 97 games with the Blue Jays last season, and the Pirates acquired him during the offseason in the three-team deal that sent Luis L. Ortiz to Cleveland. The 27-year-old is a bit of a late bloomer, but he comes with club control through the 2030 season.
22. Michael Toglia, Colorado Rockies
Next Man Up: Hunter Goodman
Toglia was the No. 23 overall pick in the 2019 draft out of UCLA, and he finally broke through in the big leagues last year when he posted a 105 OPS+ with 25 home runs and 55 RBI over 116 games in a 2.2-WAR season. The 26-year-old joins Ezequiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle as potential offensive building blocks.
21. Ryan Mountcastle, Baltimore Orioles
Next Man Up: Ryan O'Hearn
It was another productive offensive season for Mountcastle in 2024, as he posted a 113 OPS+ with 30 doubles, 13 home runs, 63 RBI and a career-high 2.6 WAR in 124 games. Ryan O'Hearn will again serve as a platoon partner of sorts, while top prospect Coby Mayo is waiting in the wings and could take over the starting job in 2026.
Nos. 20-16
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20. LaMonte Wade Jr., San Francisco Giants
Next Man Up: Bryce Eldridge
Similar to his predecessor Brandon Belt, Wade does not have prototypical power for a first baseman, but his strong on-base skills help carry his offensive value. The 31-year-old has hit .258/.376/.401 for a 121 OPS+ with a 15.0 percent walk rate in 920 plate appearances over the past two seasons, and he will be a free agent next winter.
19. Colt Keith, Detroit Tigers
Next Man Up: Spencer Torkelson
The Tigers signed Keith to a six-year, $28.6 million extension last offseason before he made his MLB debut, and he hit .260/.309/.380 with 15 doubles, 13 home runs, 61 RBI and 1.1 WAR in 148 games as the team's primary second baseman as a rookie. With Gleyber Torres added in free agency, he will now shift to first base, pushing former No. 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson out of a starting job.
18. Luke Raley, Seattle Mariners
Next Man Up: Tyler Locklear
Raley had a quietly productive 2024 season after joining the Mariners in an offseason trade with the Rays, posting a 129 OPS+ with 19 doubles, 22 home runs, 58 RBI and 3.2 WAR in 137 games. He will likely see semi-regular action in the outfield again along with his work at first base, and veteran Donovan Solano was signed to serve as a platoon partner against left-handed pitching.
17. Jake Burger, Texas Rangers
Next Man Up: Justin Foscue
The Rangers shipped Nathaniel Lowe to the Nationals in a cost-cutting move, then acquired Burger from the Marlins to fill the void at first base. The 28-year-old does not provide much secondary value outside of what he does in the batter's box, but he has a 111 OPS+ with 63 home runs and 156 RBI in 278 games over the past two seasons. He is under club control through 2028 and will not be arbitration-eligible until next winter.
16. Michael Busch, Chicago Cubs
Next Man Up: Justin Turner
Busch was acquired from the Dodgers last offseason in a deal that sent rising pitching prospect Jackson Ferris the other way, and he immediately took over as the everyday first baseman for the North Siders. The 27-year-old posted a 118 OPS+ with 28 doubles, 21 home runs, 65 RBI and 2.8 WAR in 152 games, and improving against left-handed pitching will be the next step in his development.
Nos. 15-11
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15. Carlos Santana, Cleveland Guardians
Next Man Up: Kyle Manzardo
Two days after sending Josh Naylor to the D-backs in a cost-cutting move, the Guardians signed Santana to a one-year, $12 million deal to fill the void at first base. The 38-year-old is still going strong entering his 16th MLB season, coming off a 2024 campaign where he posted a 109 OPS+ with 26 doubles, 23 home runs, 71 RBI and 2.5 WAR in 150 games.
14. Josh Naylor, Arizona Diamondbacks
Next Man Up: Pavin Smith
Naylor is coming off a career year in 2024 where he posted a 118 OPS+ and set career-high marks in home runs (31), RBI (108) and total bases (257) while earning his first All-Star selection. The D-backs acquired him to replace free agent Christian Walker, and Naylor himself is set to depart in free agency after the 2025 season.
13. Nathaniel Lowe, Washington Nationals
Next Man Up: Josh Bell
Lowe opened the 2024 season on the injured list and got off to a slow start once he returned to action, but he posted an .811 OPS with 10 home runs and 32 RBI in 65 games after the All-Star break. The Rangers shipped him to the Nationals in an effort to shed some payroll, and he will look to add to a list of accolades that includes a Silver Slugger in 2022 and a Gold Glove in 2023.
12. Paul Goldschmidt, New York Yankees
Next Man Up: Ben Rice
Goldschmidt logged a career-low 98 OPS+ last season with 33 doubles, 22 home runs, 65 RBI and 1.3 WAR in 154 games. The Cardinals let him walk in free agency, and he joined the Yankees on a one-year, $12.5 million deal to replace Anthony Rizzo. The surface-level numbers were down across the board last year, but he still graded out well in hard-hit rate (92nd percentile), average exit velocity (82nd percentile) and a variety of other batted-ball metrics.
11. Willson Contreras, St. Louis Cardinals
Next Man Up: Luken Baker
Contreras expressed his preference to stay in St. Louis at the start of the offseason with rumors of a fire sale swirling around the Cardinals, and shortly after it was announced he would be shifting from catcher to first base to replace Paul Goldschmidt. The 32-year-old had always been an offensive standout when healthy, and last year was no exception as he logged a 136 OPS+ with 17 doubles, 15 home runs and 36 RBI with 3.0 WAR in 84 games. Without the grind of catching, he could be in for a career year at the plate.
Nos. 10-6
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10. Yandy Díaz, Tampa Bay Rays
Next Man Up: Jonathan Aranda
Díaz took a step backward at the plate last year after starting the All-Star Game and winning the AL batting title (.330 BA) in 2023, but he was still one of the most productive hitters in the Tampa Bay lineup. The 33-year-old hit .281/.341/.414 for a 116 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 14 home runs and 65 RBI in 145 games, and he could be a summer trade candidate entering the final guaranteed year of his contract.
9. Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox
Next Man Up: Romy González
Casas was a popular breakout pick heading into the 2024 season, but a rib cartilage injury ended up limiting him to just 63 games. The 25-year-old has a 125 OPS+ with 30 doubles, 42 home runs and 109 RBI in 222 career games, and after seeing his name pop up in trade rumors this winter, he enters the new season with something to prove.
8. Vinnie Pasquantino, Kansas City Royals
Next Man Up: Nick Pratto
Pasquantino ranked among baseball's RBI leaders when he suffered a broken thumb on Aug. 29 that brought his season to an abrupt end. The 27-year-old still posted a 111 OPS+ with 30 doubles, 19 home runs and 97 RBI in 131 games, and he will once again be counted on to serve as a key run producer behind Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez in the Kansas City lineup.
7. Luis Arraez, San Diego Padres
Next Man Up: Connor Joe
Arraez has won three straight batting titles and logged his second straight 200-hit season in 2024, yet he remains undervalued in an era when power production and exit velocity are more of a focal point than batting average. The 27-year-old will be a free agent at the end of the season, and he is expected to play primarily first base this year after seeing regular time at second base in the past.
6. Pete Alonso, New York Mets
Next Man Up: Mark Vientos
Alonso has been one of baseball's most potent sluggers since he burst onto the scene with a rookie record 53 homers in 2019, and only Aaron Judge has more home runs over the last six years than the 226 he has launched. That said, there is a reason he ended up having to settle for a two-year, $54 million deal in free agency. The 30-year-old provides zero value outside of what he does in the batter's box, and he does not have a profile that typically ages well.
5. Christian Walker, Houston Astros
6 of 10
Next Man Up: Jon Singleton
Looking to put the disappointing José Abreu signing in the rearview, the Astros inked Christian Walker to a three-year, $60 million deal following another terrific season for the Diamondbacks.
The 33-year-old had a 123 OPS+ over the past three seasons, averaging 29 doubles, 32 home runs, 94 RBI and 3.8 WAR while taking home NL Gold Glove honors at first base each year during that stretch.
Pete Alonso is the superior power threat, but there is little question Walker is the better all-around player, and that is reflected here in these rankings.
4. Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
7 of 10
Next Man Up: Garrett Cooper
Matt Olson had nowhere to go but down following a career year in 2023 when he set Atlanta's single-season record with 54 home runs while posting a 164 OPS+ and tallying a NL-leading 139 RBI in a 7.4-WAR season.
A down year relative to that elite production still saw him log a 118 OPS+ with 37 doubles, 29 home runs, 98 RBI and 3.8 WAR, and he hit .299/.399/.532 with runners in scoring position.
The 30-year-old is also one of the most durable players in baseball, taking the field for all 162 games in each of the past three seasons, and the Braves will hope that continues with five years and $110 million left on his contract.
3. Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
8 of 10
Next Man Up: Alec Bohm
An outfielder for the first 10 years of his career, Bryce Harper played primarily designated hitter in 2022 and 2023 sandwiched around his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
With Rhys Hoskins departing in free agency, the Phillies shifted him to first base last year, and he put together another elite offensive season (149 OPS+, 72 XBH, 4.8 WAR) while also grading out as a terrific defender (5 DRS, 0.9 UZR/150) at first base.
The shift to a less demanding defensive position should keep him healthier over the second half of his career as he chases some major career milestones.
2. Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
9 of 10
Next Man Up: Max Muncy
Freddie Freeman has spent just three seasons with the Dodgers, but he has already chiseled his name into team history with three All-Star selections, two top-10 finishes in NL MVP voting and 2024 World Series MVP honors.
The 35-year-old hit .282/.378/.476 for a 143 OPS+ with 35 doubles, 22 home runs, 89 RBI and 4.7 WAR in 147 games, and his contact-oriented approach should help him age better than most star first basemen.
After going 6-for-20 with four home runs and 12 RBI in last year's Fall Classic, it was tempting to slot him at No. 1 in these rankings, and there is certainly a compelling case to be made based on his long track record of elite production.
1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
10 of 10
Next Man Up: Will Wagner
The Blue Jays failed to come to terms on an extension with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. before his deadline at the start of spring training, and the young slugger is now poised to hit the open market next winter as baseball's most sought after free agent.
The 25-year-old hit .323/.396/.544 for a 166 OPS+ with 44 doubles, 30 home runs, 103 RBI and 6.2 WAR in 159 games last season, putting together his best season since he finished runner-up in 2021 AL MVP balloting.
Given his age, track record of peak production and the bar that Juan Soto set this past offseason, he could be headed for a massive payday of his own with a similar performance at the plate in 2025. Will he be on the move at the deadline if the Blue Jays fall out of the race?
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