MLB Projections: Top 10 First Basemen in 2020
#6 – Pete Alonso, New York Mets
Pete Alonso had, arguably, the greatest break-out season of all time. One that will be hard to top, which is why he lands 6th on this list.
We project Alonso to have a slight dip this season and so does the “Steamer” MLB projections system. There are two reasons for that:
- players tend to experience a dip during their 2nd big-league season, and…
- how on earth can anyone replicate the type of performance from the previous year?
In 2019, Alonso hit .260 with a stellar .941 OPS. He set the rookie home run record set by Aaron Judge in 2017 by hitting 53 homers of his own. He also drove in 120 RBI.
Not too shabby, huh?
#5 – Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals
Paul Goldschmidt is one of the most understated players in the game. In nine big-league seasons, he’s slashed .291 / .391 / .524 while also flashing a decent glove. His 4 DRS ranks him 5th alongside Brandon Belt among first basemen that qualify.
Goldy is one of those rare players that will get on-base at around a .400 clip and hit 30 home runs each season. At the start of the 2020 MLB season, he will be 32 years of age, giving him a few more years of good production before a decline starts to set in.
#4 – Matt Olson, Oakland Athletics
Matt Olson established himself last season as the best defensive first baseman in baseball. His 13 DRS was tops in all of baseball last season among first basemen that qualify. What’s more, he flashed a pretty good bat too.
In four big-league seasons, Olson has done nothing but improve with each season. So much so, that during the 2019 MLB season, he posted career highs in home runs with 36, RBi with 91, and AVG with .267.