Which MLB players make up the 2023 All-Availability Team?

First base

In stark contrast with the catching position, 15 players whose primary position was first base reached the 500 plate appearance plateau in both 2021 and 2022. That’s the most at any position.

First base is also one of the game’s glamour positions, so the talent list is impressive. Freddie Freeman and Vlad Guerrero Jr., qualify, as do Jose Abreu, Paul Goldschmidt, Pete Alonso and Anthony Rizzo.

Among the 15, Goldschmidt had the highest cumulative WAR, at 6.1+7.8 = 13.9. Guerrero ranked second (6.8 +3.9 = 10.7) and Freeman third (4.7 +5.9 = 10.6.)

Matt Olson and Alonso were fourth and fifth.

Goldschmidt also had the highest average OPS+ at 160.5. Guerrero (149.5), Freeman (144.0), Alonso (139.5) and Olson (137.5) trailed.

But the deciding factor at first base turned out to be availability. With 1,404 plate appearances — 97.8 percent of Semien’s standard — Guerrero ranked first in the category, ahead of Freeman, Olson and Abreu.

Goldschmidt, who led both of the first two categories, ranked only fifth with 1,330 plate appearances.

That gave first team honors to Guerrero, with an average ordinal rank of 1.67 based on his seconds in WAR and OPS+ and his leadership in plate appearances.

Goldschmidt (first, fifth and fifth for an ordinal average of 2.33) made second team all-availability. Freeman (2.67) was third, Olson fourth and Alonso fifth.