If you have been reading or listening to my content, you have likely heard me reference fScores (named fScores for “fantasy scores”) or use them to compare players. This is a custom fantasy stat I created that aggregates other stats into core skills, weighted against the average player where 100 is average, similar to wRC+ or OPS+.

Drafting based on core skills, rather than attempting a “one size fits all” ranking allows for more customization in team building and team design to target the weak points of your team and allows for more balance.

Please read the article “What is fScore?” for a better understanding before going through the below rankings. The first basemen listed at the top of each tier are where the tier starts and ends.

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2025 First Basemen fScores (Fantasy Baseball)

You will find a complete set of first basemen rankings at the end of this article.

Additional Positions and fScores

• C fScores
• 1B fScores
• 2B fScores
• SS fScores
• 3B fScores
• OF fScores
• SP fScores
• RP fScores

Tier 1 & Notes

• Tier Starter: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B, 3B, DH – TOR)
• Tier Ender: Freddie Freeman (1B – LAD)/Bryce Harper  (1B, DH – PHI)

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. completely went off in the second half last season — 20 bombs and a .358/.423/.652 slash line. It’s easy to forget he’s still only 25 years old (turns 26 in March). 

Freddie Freeman had another Freddie Freeman season. Surprise, surprise.

Bryce Harper in a short season belongs in the Matt Olson and Pete Alonso tier below, but if he plays a full year without injury, he belongs in this top tier.

Tier 2 & Notes

• Tier Starter: Matt Olson (1B – ATL)
• Tier Ender: Pete Alonso (1B – FA)

Matt Olson gets the slight edge despite a down season with a really bad first half. The Braves are getting Ronald Acuna Jr. back, which should only help Olson’s counting stat numbers and help him see better pitches.

Pete Alonso is still a free agent at the time of this writing, however, it seems like a foregone conclusion he will end up back with the Mets. Of course, having Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto hitting in front of you will allow you to get more RBI. This is a fun battle where these two are in the same tier together every season.

Tier 3 & Notes

• Tier Starter: Christian Walker (1B – HOU)
• Tier Ender: Jake Burger (1B, 3B, DH – TEX)

Christian Walker signing with Houston helped jump him to the front of this tier. He’s going to dominate the Crawford Boxes in Minute Maid Park and arguably has a better lineup around him with Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez projected to hit in front of him.

*Read the second baseman rankings for more on Spencer Steer.

Triston Casas is a beast for power, but he needs to stay healthy. Additionally, where will he play? Rumors are floating around the Red Sox are considering moving Rafael Devers to first base and bringing in a new third baseman. We will see how the Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado markets evolve.

Paul Goldschmidt signed with the Yankees. Houston and New York were the best possible outcomes for him from a ballpark and lineup standpoint. Yankee Stadium is considerably better to hit in than Busch Stadium. Being in the middle of an Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger sandwich could do wonders for getting a bunch of nice pitches to hit next year.

Speaking of which, Bellinger could not have landed in a better situation — a lefty in Yankee Stadium and his dad played for the Yankees. I think he will have something a little extra in him this season.

Josh Naylor was traded to the Diamondbacks in kind of a strange move where the Guardians then brought back Carlos Santana when the move originally looked like the purpose was to open up the position for Kyle Manzardo. This is probably still the end goal and it didn’t save much money. Weird. Good for the Diamondbacks, though, as Naylor and Eugenio Suarez are both RBI machines to drive in Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte.

Mark Vientos could be in a precarious position as there are also rumors the Mets are looking to bring back Pete Alonso and add Alex Bregman. If this happens, Vientos might move to first with Alonso becoming a designated hitter or a trade might be on the horizon.

Jake Burger may take a bit of a bath and be slightly average in points leagues. In categories leagues, though, the hit tool is average and the power is real. He is moving out of Miami into the middle of a good Rangers lineup and is coming off a second half in which he hit 23 home runs.

Tier 4 & Notes

• Tier Starter: Nathaniel Lowe (1B – WAS)
• Tier Ender: Alec Burleson (1B, OF, DH – STL)

Nathaniel Lowe was moved to the Nationals where he will be the veteran on a young growing team and sit in the middle of an interesting lineup with CJ Abrams, James Wood and Dylan Crews around him. The Nationals could be a sneaky good team in 2025.

Michael Busch started 2024 on fire, slowed down in the summer and finished strong. Like Lowe, there’s not a carrying tool here, but there is generally above-average production.

Luis Arraez does have a carrying tool, but it’s the hit tool with very little power or speed. Arraez is a build guy — if you have a Max Muncy-type on your team then you want Arraez to balance out the batting average loss. He’s also a killer in points leagues because of all the hits.

Alec Burleson had some nice spurts last year with the Cardinals and showed he can be a middle-of-the-lineup bat (though he should be like a 6-7 hitter). He has the skills to put up a .280 season with 25 bombs, but it will be difficult in Busch Stadium, which is not friendly to lefties. There’s also a little position flexibility here as a first baseman or outfielder

Tier 5 & Notes

• Tier Starter: Luke Raley (1B, OF – SEA)
• Tier Ender: Vinnie Pasquantino (1B, DH – KC)

Luke Raley is streaky because the plate skills are sub-par. However, he did manage to hit 22 bombs with 11 steals last year. That is valuable, especially in deeper leagues. Additionally, there’s some position flexibility here as a first baseman or outfielder.

Rhys Hoskins had some power spurts in 2024, but the hit tool was inconsistent in his first season back from injury. He was about 25-30 points off his career batting average on balls in play (BABIP) and batting average, so we will see this season if that drop is permanent or if it was only a blip as he was returning from injury.

*Read the second baseman rankings and third baseman rankings for more on Isaac Paredes.

*Read the second baseman rankings for more on Brendan Donovan and Jake Cronenworth.

Yandy Diaz is still a strong target in points leagues, but he doesn’t hit for enough power to make him a regular option for standard 12-team categories leagues. He also doesn’t have the position flexibility of some of the above names in this tier which makes them useful bench players.

Tier 6 & Notes

• Tier Starter: Alec Bohm (1B, 3B – PHI)
• Tier Ender: Spencer Torkelson  (1B – DET)

*Read third baseman rankings for more on Alec Bohm.

Carlos Santana signed with the Guardians. He had a pretty solid season last year. He could be useful in deeper leagues for counting stats and around 20 bombs.

Spencer Torkelson is coming off a disastrous 2024. The gains he made in the second half of 2023 didn’t translate. It will be interesting to see if he can rebound or if he falls into the abyss of failed first-round first basemen like Andrew Vaughn.

Tier 7 & Notes

• Tier Starter: Nolan Schanuel (1B – LAA)
• Tier Ender: Josh Bell (1B, 3B – FA)

This is a larger tier, so I’m only going to highlight a few names.

Nolan Schanuel might be a good bargain in points leagues and could develop into a Yandy Diaz-type from a stat line perspective.

Will Tyler Black get playing time? I think he could be a solid hitter with 15/30 skills, which is weird for a probably first baseman type, but will he get enough at-bats?

Nolan Jones is a big name to watch. Was 2023 an outlier or was he injury-ridden last season? I would like to take a lot of deep stabs on Jones this year because he should be very cheap just to see how this one plays out.

Tyler Soderstrom might be my favorite cheap catcher target in 2024, as he should get regular plate appearances at first base at least until Nick Kurtz breaks through.

Speaking of which, I love Kurtz and think he’s going to be an absolute beast. The Athletics seem to be getting aggressive with some of their young guys and are spending some money this season. Will Kurtz come up sooner than we might think?

Pavin Smith could hit 25 bombs after a power outbreak in 2024. But will he get regular playing time or be a platoon player?

Is Jonathan Aranda finally going to get some run to see if the AAA stats can translate? Or will he be blocked all year again?

How much will Santana block Manzardo? Manzardo looks like a doubles and on-base percentage (OBP) beast, but he needs the playing time to fully develop.

Will Heston Kjerstad play in 2025?

Tier 8 & Notes

• Tier Starter: Jared Triolo (1B, 2B, SS, 3B – PIT)
• Tier Ender: Tre’ Morgan (1B, OF – TB)

Like Tier 7, this is a larger tier and I’ll be selective with my little blurbs.

I’m of the mind Coby Mayo and Heston Kjerstad are both better than Ryan Mountcastle and will take playing time from him ala Colton Cowser in 2024.

Bryce Eldridge moved so fast in 2024. It will be interesting to see when they want to pull the trigger on a call-up in 2025. It might depend on their early season success and we could see a similar timeline to James Wood’s call-up.

Hunter Goodman has always destroyed the Minors, but really struggled in the Majors. He has power in Colorado, making him an interesting name to watch.

Tyler Locklear could very well start at first base in 2025 for the Mariners pending some further deals.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Deyvison De Los Santos are birds of a feather. They could both get hot and have some good weeks, but with their terrible plate skills, I would not expect any consistency.

2025 fScores First Basemen Rankings

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