Proper preparation for fantasy baseball drafts always includes digging through the farm systems of all 30 organizations to uncover the next crop of potent producers. In this piece, the focus will be on first-base prospects that could make an impact for fantasy managers during the 2024 season.
(Each player included still holds MLB Rookie eligibility)
- More Prospect Rankings: OF
- 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit
- Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings
- Fantasy Baseball Projections
Top Fantasy Baseball First Base Prospects
Kyle Manzardo (CLE)
Acquired from Tampa Bay in exchange for starting pitcher Aaron Civale this past July, Kyle Manzardo could be a mainstay in the Guardians’ starting lineup right out of the gate this year. If that does not end up being the case, the second-round draft pick (2021) should make his MLB debut relatively early in the season.
Manzardo was nagged by a shoulder issue that ultimately cost him six weeks during the middle of the 2023 season. Before that, his overall numbers had slumped a bit compared to 2022. However, after returning to Triple-A Columbus on Aug. 24, he slugged a hefty .590 the rest of the way with six home runs and eight doubles across 92 plate appearances. Manzardo followed that up with a tremendous showing in the Arizona Fall League, posting a .565 SLG with six homers and seven doubles over 103 plate appearances.
That power is what the Cleveland offense craves. Though Manzardo projects more toward the low-to-mid 20s regarding home-run power, he certainly has more time to develop in that area. At age 23, the former Washington State All-American possesses superb plate discipline and barrels the ball regularly.
Nolan Schanuel (LAA)
Nolan Schanuel definitely lags behind the production upside of other prospects at the position. In terms of fantasy potential, the 2023 first-round pick does not bring the power or speed to make him a highly sought-after option. Still, he features an intriguing offensive profile and should see regular playing time for the Angels from the outset of the regular season.
Schanuel barely kept his rookie eligibility intact for 2024, as he debuted at the show on Aug. 18, just a couple of months after the Angels selected him 11th overall out of Florida Atlantic. From then on, Schanuel immediately took over as the main first baseman for the Halos, hitting safely in 23 of 29 games while reaching base at an impressive .402 clip. That OBP is even more remarkable, considering he had just 97 plate appearances in the Minors before getting called up. Is it sustainable? Well, a 15.2 BB%, 28.9 LD% and just 20.4 Chase% in the Majors suggest it absolutely is.
Schanuel managed just one homer and six RBI while slugging only .330 over 132 plate appearances for the Angels down the stretch of 2023, but he also hit a steady .275 with 19 runs scored and finished with more walks than strikeouts. If he finds his way to the top part of the batting order, Schanuel could be a true asset in runs and AVG (OBP).
Matt Mervis (CHC)
After bashing 36 homers across multiple levels of the Minors in 2022 and continuing to display serious power in the subsequent Arizona Fall League, many jumped aboard, perhaps prematurely, the Matt Mervis hype train going into last season. I will enter a guilty plea, too. Even with a disappointing initial go-round against Big-League pitching last summer, it’s worth buying another ticket.
Mervis got into 27 games for the Cubs between May 4 and June 14 last year, struggling to a .531 OPS with just three homers and two doubles across 99 plate appearances. That was all the MLB playing time the Cubs chose to give him. It’s easy to understand why, as the Cubs were surprisingly competitive in 2023, and Mervis was not helping them much with a .167 AVG and an alarming 32.2 K%.
Will Mervis get another shot to prove himself this year? He certainly should. The power is legit, and the currently constructed Cubs need more thump, and neither first base nor DH is a settled situation. Mervis might have faltered in his first opportunity opposite top-level pitching, but he rocked Triple-A arms to the tune of a .282/.399/.533 slash line with 22 long balls over 100 games in 2023.
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