MLB All-Star Countdown: NL First Basemen

The list of National League first basemen is stacked. It was very hard to pick just five top players. Eleven first basemen stuck out to me. Todd Helton, Conor Jackson, Ryan Howard, Prince Fielder, Joe Votto and James Loney will not appear on this list. However, they are to be congratulated for having good seasons so far this year.

5. Mark Teixeira , Atlanta Braves
Mark Teixeira, having played just over 100 games as a Brave is probably still making the transition into being a National League player. Teixeira has a .273 batting average his season. He is responsible for nine home runs, 15 doubles and 42 runs batted in. Teixeira has 102 total bases this season.

4. Derrek Lee, Chicago Cubs
Derrek Lee has had a decent season this year, hitting .291 while smacking 13 long balls, 16 doubles and 71 hits. Lee has driven in 38 Cubs base runners this season. Lee’s only downfall is the struggle he’s been having in the field this year. Lee has the worst fielding percentage on this list, recording five errors this season.

3. Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego Padres
The youngest player on this list, Adrian Gonzalez has competed in the most games out of the five. Gonzalez has a .304 average and 55 runs batted in, the most amongst National League first basemen. Gonzalez meets his downfall in the amount of times he’s struck out this season. Gonzalez has been sat down 52 times while only drawing 20 walks.

2. Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
Albert Pujols has done everything the Cardinals need from him and more. Pujols has a .362 average, 75 hits, 15 doubles, 14 home runs and 39 runs batted in. Most impressively, though, has been his patience at the plate. He has only 20 strikeouts this season while drawing 47 walks.

1. Lance Berkman, Houston Astros
May was a fantastic month for Lance Berkman, who could be expecting Most Valuable Player honors if he keeps up this level of play. Hitting .300 at the beginning of the month, Berkman boosted his average to .400 in just a few days. He also has 57 runs on 81 hits, 22 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs, and 48 runs batted in. Berkman is the real deal.

American League
C        A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox
1B      Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox
2B      Next up (Tentatively scheduled for today)
3B       
SS       
OF      
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OF      
P

National League
C         Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves
1B        Lance Berkman, Houston Astros
2B       
3B       
SS       
OF      
OF  
OF      
P