Our next list of 2025 MLB power rankings looks at the best first basemen in the league right now. It’s a list that features several players that either have changed their in-season home address this winter, or could in the coming weeks.
10. Jake Burger
We’ll start our top 10 with new Rangers infielder Jake Burger, who started more games at third last season but still played a significant amount (69 GP, 50 GS) at first. Had Burger played enough to qualify at first base, Burger’s 63 home runs from 2023-24 would have ranked third among players at the position, and 11th in OPS (.793). The 28-year-old slugger slamed 29 home runs for Miami, easily leading the Marlins in both that category and RBI (76).
Burger will likely see the majority of his time in 2025 either as a DH or first base, with Josh Jung entrenched at third base. It’s a sound move, given the 28-year-old showed below-average range (-5 Outs Above Average) at the hot corner in 2024. However, the bat is the true draw for Burger, who could do very well with more protection around him in Texas.
9. Carlos Santana
Veteran first baseman Carlos Santana belongs here, as he begins his third tour of duty in Cleveland. Santana had another terrific campaign with the Twins in 2024, hitting 23 home runs, with a .749 OPS. At 38 years of age, Santana ranked well among his peers. The Guardians first baseman, from 2023-24, finished ninth among first baseman (min. 40% GP at 1B) in home runs (46) and 12th in total bases (455).
However, arguably Santana’s best asset is not his power, nor his ability to get on base. It’s his defensive ability. The 38-year-old won his first Gold Glove last November and metrics have largely heralded him as one of the best defenders at the position. Santana’s +16 Outs Above Average was second-best in baseball between 2023-24.
8. Nathaniel Lowe
Weeks after the Rangers picked up Jake Burger, Texas flipped Nathaniel Lowe to the Nationals. One could call it a strategic trade, given Burger is a better power hitter — a tool the Rangers need — and has two years more of control than Lowe. But, that shouldn’t diminish the new Nationals infielder’s value whatsoever. Despite hitting less than 20 home runs in ’23 & 24, Lowe recorded the second-most walks (164), sixth-most hits (292), and 13th-most total bases (453) among first baseman
Much like Santana, Lowe is a terrific defender. The 29-year-old ranked third-best in Outs Above Average (+12) at first over the last two years.
7. Josh Naylor
Arizona lost a key piece to their 2023 NL championship team this past offseason. The D-Backs, though, quickly filled it with Josh Naylor. This past year was a career season for Naylor, who belted a career-high 31 home runs. He did strike out a career-most 105 times. But, keep in mind his 633 PA were easily the most of his career and overall, Naylor doesn’t whiff a lot despite an aggressive approach at the plate.
Naylor joins a team heavy on left-handed bats in Arizona but one that needed extra pop. And aside from his bat, the 27-year-old has made gains defensively at first. He was roughly average (0 OAA) at the position in 2024. But two years ago, ranked well-above-average (+5 OAA) in terms of range.
6. Pete Alonso
As far as power goes, Pete Alonso still ranks above the best in baseball. And, that holds true among first basemen. The 30-year-old hit the second-most home runs (80) among players at the positon. His OPS (.804, 8th) and total bases (565, 4th) indicate that Alonso can still do big damage.
Alonso’s bat is his true calling card. The 30-year-old ranked 29th (-9 OAA) among first baseman in range over the last two seasons. And, it is important to note Alonso’s OPS has dipped significantly over the years. Two seasons ago, Alonso sported an impressive .869 OPS, along with a NL-high 131 RBI. Since then, the strikeouts have gone up and in 2024, he had a .788 OPS. It’s not a bad number. But, down quite a bit.
5. Christian Walker
The Astros filled their years-long power void at first with Christian Walker in December. And given what Walker did with Arizona, it’ll be very interesting to see how the right-handed slugger does in Houston. Over the last two seasons, Walker finished third in total home runs (59), & sixth in total bases (513) and in OPS (.818) among first basemen. Those numbers are more impressive, when taking into account Walker missed a month in 2024.
There’s arguably no better defender at first currently in baseball than Walker. Walker won the NL Gold Glove three times (2022-24) and ranked first among players at the position (+24) in Outs Above Average from 2023-24.
4. Matt Olson
A year after Matt Olson hit a career-high 54 home runs, a return to norms was likely in the wings for the Braves slugger. However, the numbers were quite strange for Olson in 2024. Yes, he hit the ball hard; his Barrel% and Hard Hit% both ranked in the top 20% of the league. At the same time, Olson seemed to get snake-bitten at times, often getting just underneath the ball too much.
It led to Olson hitting 29 home runs, his fewest in a full season since 2018. Still, Olson ranked best in home runs (83) and SLG (.531) among first basemen from 2023-24. Given his track record, a rebound season wouldn’t be shocking.
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
In terms of raw power, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has arguably the best at the position. Guerrero Jr. posted Barrel% above 10% each of the last four seasons. However, 2023 was a strange one for the 25-year-old, who posted the worst SLG (.444) of his career since 2019 that year. Last year, though, Guerrero Jr. rebounded significantly. He slashed .323/.396/.544 (.940 OPS) with 30 home runs, numbers not seen from Guerrero Jr. in three years.
Despite a terrific 2024, Guerrero Jr. doesn’t crack the top-two. Part of that is due to Guerrero Jr.’s downturn in production two seasons ago. The other issue for Vlad is defense. Guerrero Jr. ranked worst among first basemen (-22) in Statcast’s Outs Above Average metric from 2023-24 — and it wasn’t close. Andrew Vaughn, who ranked second-worst, posted a -16 OAA.
2. Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper‘s second half last year was not as impressive, compared to his first. Harper slashed .301/.403/.580 with 21 home runs and 42 extra-base hits. The Phillies star looked like the old Harper, the one Philadelphia fans saw in 2021 before two injury-shortened seasons. However, Harper posted a .793 OPS in the second half and a .598 OPS in July.
Those numbers but a damper on what was still a great season for Harper, who hit 30+ home runs for the fifth time in his career. On top of that, Harper (+8 OAA) looked great defensively at first base.
1. Freddie Freeman
Freddie Freeman ranked top among first basemen in our rankings last year. He’s back at #1 again in 2025. It’s hard not to rank Freeman at #1, especially when taking into account what he went through last season. Freeman hit .282/.378/.476 (.854 OPS) with 22 home runs and 59 extra-base hits in the regular season, then overcame injury to play a key role during the 2024 World Series.
Despite what was a down campaign for Freeman, no player at the position has topped how impressive he’s been overall. Freeman is a good defender, hits for power and contact, and can even steal if needed. What does that combination lead to? Second in stolen bases (32), second in slugging (.525), first in hits (364), first in runs scored (212), and first in OBP (.395) among first basemen from 2023-24.
Make sure to check out our power rankings for the best relievers and catchers heading into 2025.