Let’s kick of the 2021 season in style here at BretskyBall with our first base rankings. It’s a fun group of power bats to anchor your squad. The tough decisions start right at the top with Freddie Freeman and Cody Bellinger battling it out in the top tier. Bellinger showed us his upside in 2019 with a .305-121-34-115-15 line before struggling a bit out of the gates last season. Still, 12 home runs and six steals in 56 games is nothing to scoff at from Dodgers stud. The primary worry about Cody coming into the season is the health of his shoulder — injured celebrating his Game 7 NLCS bomb — but all indications are that the slugger should be just fine.
Freddie Freeman capture the NL MVP award in the shortened 2020 season, slashing .3341/.462/.640 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI over 60 games. He’s been a rock at the dish, putting together a .306-110-34-108-8 per 162 pace.
When forced to choose between the top two first baseman, Bellinger gets the slight edge in our ranks with his ability to provide double digit steals. Both are fine picks in the late-first, early-second rounds but the strength of the second tier at this position likely has us looking elsewhere early in the first this season.
ADP Targets
New York sluggers Luke Voit (57) and Dominic Smith (120) leap off the page as some of our favorite values in drafts so far this season. Two of 2020’s breakout players should both continue to mash in prime run-producing spots in the middle of productive lineups. Digging a little deeper, betting on a bounceback from Josh Bell as he moves from Pittsburgh to DC to add a little pop behind Juan Soto in the Nationals lineup. Bell is currently the 141st player taken in drafts on average.
Looking even deeper, C.J. Cron in Coors is an intruiging late round option as is Jeimer Candelario who should be entrenched in the middle of the Tigers lineup.
Top 40-ish First Base Rankings for 2021
| Rank | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | ||
| 1 | Cody Bellinger | LAD |
| 2 | Freddie Freeman | ATL |
| Tier 2 | ||
| 3 | DJ LeMahieu | NYY |
| 4 | Jose Abreu | CWS |
| 5 | Luke Voit | NYY |
| 6 | Pete Alonso | NYM |
| 7 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | TOR |
| 8 | Dominic Smith | NYM |
| 9 | Max Muncy | LAD |
| 10 | Anthony Rizzo | CHC |
| Tier 3 | ||
| 11 | Brandon Lowe | TB |
| 12 | Alec Bohm | PHI |
| 13 | Mike Moustakas | CIN |
| 14 | Paul Goldschmidt | STL |
| 15 | Matt Olson | OAK |
| 16 | Wil Myers | SD |
| 17 | Josh Bell | WSH |
| 18 | Rhys Hoskins | PHI |
| Tier 4 | ||
| 19 | Travis d'Arnaud | ATL |
| 20 | Yasmani Grandal | CWS |
| 21 | Jake Cronenworth | SD |
| 22 | Austin Nola | SD |
| 23 | Ryan Mountcastle | BAL |
| 24 | Miguel Sano | MIN |
| 25 | Jeimer Candelario | DET |
| 26 | C.J. Cron | COL |
| 27 | Joc Pederson | CHC |
| 28 | Eric Hosmer | SD |
| 29 | Trey Mancini | BAL |
| 30 | Christian Walker | ARI |
| Tier 5 | ||
| 31 | Rowdy Tellez | TOR |
| 32 | Andrew Vaughn | CWS |
| 33 | Edwin Encarnacion | FA |
| 34 | Brandon Belt | SF |
| 35 | Daniel Vogelbach | MIL |
| 36 | Bobby Dalbec | BOS |
| 37 | Niko Goodrum | DET |
| 38 | Buster Posey | SF |
| 39 | Christian Vazquez | BOS |
| 40 | Carlos Santana | KC |
| 41 | Jared Walsh | LAA |
| 42 | Yuli Gurriel | HOU |
| 43 | Mark Canha | OAK |
| 44 | Jesus Aguilar | MIA |
| 45 | Hunter Dozier | KC |
| 46 | Tommy La Stella | SF |
| 47 | Ryan McMahon | COL |
| 48 | Joey Votto | CIN |
| 49 | Nate Lowe | TEX |