As the 2024 Major League Baseball season comes to a close, Moneyline presents its final positional rankings of the year. Throughout the season, monthly updates were released for position-by-position evaluations, identifying the top 10 players at each position. This conclusive exercise expands the list to feature the 25 best players at each spot, focusing solely on performance during the 2024 campaign without consideration given to past production or future expectations. Each player was eligible for consideration at one position only, and this article highlights the top first basemen of the 2024 season.
Among the players that were considered but ultimately did not make the final Top 25 list were Jonathan Aranda from Tampa Bay, Jake Bauers from Milwaukee, Josh Bell from Miami/Arizona, Jonah Bride of Miami, Mark Canha from Detroit/San Francisco, Ty France from Seattle/Cincinnati, Joey Gallo from Washington, Connor Joe from Pittsburgh, Anthony Rizzo from New York (Yankees), Dominic Smith of Boston/Cincinnati, Tyler Soderstrom from Oakland, Rowdy Tellez from Pittsburgh, Spencer Torkelson from Detroit, and Juan Yepez of Washington.
In the finalized rankings, Jon Singleton of the Houston Astros claimed the 25th spot after making a notable return to first base, achieving a .234 batting average with 13 home runs and 42 runs batted in across 405 plate appearances. Rhys Hoskins of the Milwaukee Brewers followed at 24th, returning from an injured 2023 season to hit 26 home runs. Chicago White Sox's Andrew Vaughn secured the 23rd position, leading a struggling team in multiple offensive categories. Nolan Schanuel from the Los Angeles Angels entered the rankings at 22nd after making his MLB debut and proving worthy of the starting role, while Boston’s Triston Casas took the 21st spot despite missing significant time due to injury.
The ranking continues with 20th position going to Paul Goldschmidt of the St. Louis Cardinals, who registered an OPS+ below 100 for the first time in his career, and 19th to Jake Burger of the Miami Marlins, who had a breakout season with significant power numbers. Colorado Rockies' Michael Toglia and LaMonte Wade Jr. of the San Francisco Giants occupy the 18th and 17th ranks respectively, with Wade emerging as an elite on-base threat. Ryan O'Hearn from the Baltimore Orioles is 16th after experiencing a career renaissance in 2024.
Jake Cronenworth of the San Diego Padres, listed at 15th, had an emphasized role switching between second base and first base, while Yandy Díaz of the Tampa Bay Rays followed at 14th after starting the All-Star Game the previous year. Ryan Mountcastle of the Baltimore Orioles held the 13th spot, showing his typical middle-of-the-order production, and Vinnie Pasquantino from the Kansas City Royals was ranked 12th after an impactful season despite missing time due to injury. Carlos Santana, now with the Minnesota Twins, earned the 11th position, illustrating continued success at the age of 38.
The top ten begins with Michael Busch of the Chicago Cubs at the 10th position, who made a significant transition and produced a solid performance in his first year with the team. Nathaniel Lowe of the Texas Rangers, ranked 9th, recovered from an early-season injury to finish strong. Luis Arraez, recently acquired by the San Diego Padres, clinched the 8th spot after winning his third consecutive batting title. Christian Walker of the Arizona Diamondbacks came in 7th after consistently performing at a high level over recent seasons.
Ranking at 6th was Josh Naylor of the Cleveland Guardians, who set new career highs in home runs and RBIs, demonstrating his potential for further improvement. Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves claimed the 5th position and showcased resilience after a 54-homer season in 2023. Pete Alonso of the New York Mets took the 4th place, known for his consistent power-hitting and durability, while Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers ranked 3rd, providing elite offensive production.
Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies secured the 2nd position, providing a breakout year as a full-time first baseman and ensuring solid defensive metrics. Finally, the number one spot in the rankings goes to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, whose impressive numbers underscore his prominence in the league, as well as drawing attention to his upcoming free agency.
