Who is the best first baseman in MLB? Ahead of the 2026 Major League Baseball season, we're going position-by-position to rank the best players at each position ahead of Opening Day. Today, we're focusing on the best first basemen in MLB at a time when there are some rising stars at the position.
Let's take a look at our list of the 10 best MLB first basemen entering the 2026 season.
1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the best first baseman in MLB. The Toronto Blue Jays superstar has been remarkable over the past two seasons, posting a .308/.389/.506 triple-slash line with an .895 OPS and nearly as many RBIs (187) as strikeouts (190). While he ranked seventh in OPS (.848) at first base last year, he was the only first baseman with a walk rate over 12 percent and a strikeout rate under 20 percent. Guerrero Jr. is also coming off a season where he hit 8 home runs with 15 RBI and a remarkable 1.289 OPS, including a 1.074 OPS in the World Series. Heading into his 27 season, we think Guerrero Jr. is back to putting up over 30 homers and over 100 RBI this year.
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2. Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson has not missed a game in the last four years. He hasn't replicated his excellent 2023 campaign when he finished fourth for NL MVP, posting league-highs in home runs (54), RBI (139) and slugging (.604). Still, he has the 11th-best OPS (.820) over the past two seasons and is fourth in fWAR (9.8) over that two-season span. He brings that run production with a golden glove, as shown in 2025 when he led all first basemen in defensive runs saved (17), almost double the second-best first baseman with over 1,000 innings. Gold Glove defense simply provides added value at first base and Olson is capable of hitting 28-plus homers with an .850-plus OPS again in 2026.
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3. Nick Kurtz, Sacramento Athletics
Nick Kurtz burst onto the scene in 2025 and took home both the AL Rookie of the Year and the Silver Slugger Award in a year in which he had a four-homer game. Playing in a minor-league ballpark certainly helped Kurtz, as demonstrated by his 22 home runs and 1.039 OPS at home. That said, his .967 OPS on the road would still make him the only first baseman in baseball with an OPS over .900. Heading into his Year 23 campaign, Kurtz could be even better this season if he improves against southpaws (.685 OPS). Additionally, the Athletics added some talent to surround them in the lineup.
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4. Freddy Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, entering his 36-year-old season, has built himself quite the Hall of Fame resume. He is now a nine-time All-Star selection and three-time World Series champion, with the NL MVP and World Series MVP in his trophy case. Freeman will also become part of the 2,500-hit club this year and should reach 400 home runs in 2027. Production is starting to decline and Father Time may cause it to decline further, but he is still one of the best first basemen in MLB.
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5. Pete Alonso, Baltimore Orioles
It would be very strange to see Pete Alonso in a Baltimore Orioles uniform this season. With the New York Mets from 2019–25, he posted an .857 OPS with 264 home runs and 951 hits. Now, he's never recaptured the form from that historic rookie campaign, but he's still averaged 39 home runs and 111 RBI per season with an .842 OPS since 2021. Alonso brings negative value defensively, which is saved by his position-worst -9 defensive runs in 2025, but he is just as consistent as a power hitter. He'll never be an All-MLB team caliber player for Baltimore, but looks like one given over 30 homers and 100 RBI.
6. Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
There's a reason Dave Dombrowski called out Bryce Harper this offseason. After posting a .291/.396/.540 line with a .936 OPS in 2020-24 with the Philadelphia Phillies, Harper compiled a .261/.357/.487 line with a .844 OPS last season, including a .808 OPS over the final two months. However, who knows, maybe having his blood removed will bring the 33-year-old back to his former self. Even if Harper repeats what happened last season, he is still a great player.
7. Josh Naylor, Seattle Mariners
Josh Naylor found a home with the Seattle Mariners. He was a very productive player for the Cleveland Guardians (.805 OPS) and Arizona Diamondbacks (.807 OPS) from 2023-25, but the best version of Naylor emerged in Seattle. Maybe it was the special bond with the Mariners' clubhouse lab, Tucker; Naylor hit a .299/.341/.490 line with an .831 OPS, 33 RBI and 9 home runs in 54 games with Seattle. He endeared himself to even more fans with his postseason excellence (.967 OPS). Heading into his 29-year campaign, Naylor has firmly established himself as one of the best MLB first basemen currently.
8. Rafael Devers, San Francisco Giants
It took time for Rafael Devers to adjust to and play first base again after a midseason trade with the San Francisco Giants. This was evident in his production – .236/.347/.460 with an .807 OPS – and his fielding at the position. However, he produced an .886 OPS with 16 home runs over the final two months of the season, and the organization liked his defensive progress. He may not be a top-four player this term, but Devers can still be a perennial All-Star and he's still entering the prime of his career. Plus, San Francisco will be happy to finally have multiple 30-homer hitters in the lineup.
9. Michael Bush, Chicago Cubs
Acquired by the Chicago Cubs in January 2024, Michael Bush took a big step forward in his second full season. Among first basemen, he finished 10th in batting average and second in both home runs (34) and OPS (.881). While the numbers are certainly repeatable, Chicago's first baseman ranked in the 90th percentile for average exit velocity (92.2 mph), 96th percentile for launch angle sweet spot rate (41.1 percent) and 95th percentile for barrel rate (17.1 percent), according to Baseball Savant. Even if Bush is initially negative defensively, he could contribute 30 home runs, 80-plus RBI and a .840-plus OPS to the Cubs lineup.
10. Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox
Some of the best first basemen in MLB have found new homes within the past year, including Willson Contreras with the Boston Red Sox this offseason. The former catcher struggled to start the year in his first full season at first base, but eventually settled in. Contreras slashed .268/.358/.495 with an .853 OPS, 50 RBI, 21 doubles and 14 home runs from June to September last season. He will now get the added boost of playing like a contender and should return to his usual ways at the plate with an OPS over .800.
