Top 10 fantasy baseball first basemen heading into the 2022 season

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 01: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays ahead of their MLB game against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on October 1, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 01: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays ahead of their MLB game against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on October 1, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
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Fantasy Baseball
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 17: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves and Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers await the result of a video review during the third inning in Game Six of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field on October 17, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

#4 Max Muncy

Mad Max had one of his best seasons in 2021. He slashed .249/.368/.527/.895 with 36 homers, 26 doubles, 94 RBI, and 95 runs scored, good for an OPS+ of 138. The only Savant metric that isn’t red is his sprint speed, which doesn’t really matter at first base. He finished in the 99th percentile in chase rate, 96th percentile in xSLG, walk rate, and xwOBA, 92nd percentile in barrel rate, 83rd percentile in average exit velo, and 78th percentile in hard hit rate.

Muncy’s combination of power, ability to control the strike zone, and positional versatility is worth a high fantasy baseball draft pick. In most formats, he is also eligible at second base, third base, and DH, and he will likely spend most of his time at those positions since the Dodgers added someone higher on this list.

Even coming off of an elbow injury, he looks good to go to start the season.

#3 Freddie Freeman

The newest Dodger should’ve spent his whole career in Atlanta, but since the Braves failed to re-sign him, he’ll likely finish his career in his hometown. Freeman slashed .300/.393/.503/.896 with 31 homers, 25 doubles, 83 RBI, and he led the National League with 120 runs scored, good for an OPS+ of 133. Freeman’s Savant page doesn’t match his blue Dodgers jersey, but it did match his Braves one. He finished in the 100th percentile in xBA, 98th percentile in xwOBA, 96th percentile in xSLG, 87th percentile in walk rate, 86th percentile in strikeout rate, and in the 77th percentile in hard hit rate and barrel rate.

While his swing mechanics aren’t what I would call teachable, he’s been one of the most consistent producers in the sport for several years and he might be even better in this absurdly deep Dodger lineup.