First Base Fantasy Baseball Breakout Candidates: Later-Round Draft Values (2026)

February 16, 2026

Jamie's first base (1B) fantasy baseball sleepers and breakout candidates for 2026 drafts. Target these 1B fantasy baseball values in the later rounds of drafts.

First base continues to be a position of depth in fantasy baseball. It's a position you generally look at for power, and there is no shortage of home run hitters going in the early rounds. That doesn't mean you have to take one of the top first basemen in your drafts.

You will also need to fill in the corner infield spot of your rosters in most leagues. Whichever way you attack the position in your leagues, being able to find a later-round first baseman who can provide plenty of production will go a long way to helping you have a successful season.

Here, we will be looking at four first basemen who are being taken in the second half of drafts but are set to provide plenty of fantasy value. Don't forget to download our free mobile app with alerts and to follow the RotoBaller team on X for all your offseason news and articles.

Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers

2025 MLB Stats: .240/.333/.456, 31 HR, 78 RBI, 82 R, 2 SB (649 PA)
2026 ATC Projections: .232/.319/.433, 27 HR, 79 RBI, 76 R, 2 SB (616 PA)

Torkelson has been one of the most frustrating players fantasy managers have rostered in recent seasons. After having a breakout season in 2023, when he hit 31 home runs, Torkelson was a popular pick in 2024 drafts. He ended up being one of the most dropped players in-season.

Torkelson went on to hit just 1o homers and played only 92 games for the Tigers after being demoted to Triple-A midseason. Just as almost everyone was out on Torkelson last year, he reminded us all of his power.

A second 31-homer season in three years still isn't enough to make Torkelson an early-round draft pick in 2026. He currently has an ADP (average draft position) of 187.56 in NFBC (National Fantasy Championship) drafts.

Torkelson is currently being drafted 18th at the position, but only five first basemen are currently projected to hit more home runs than Torkelson. The power isn't the issue, but Torkelson's batting average is a drag on his fantasy value.

He has a career .227/.310/.412 slash line and had a .226 xBA (expected batting average) in 2025, which ranked in the 13th percentile. It is worth noting that Torkelson also posted a 11.1% BB%, ranking in the 81st percentile. He has more value in OBP (on-base percentage) leagues.

There's no reason to think Torkelson won't be able to have another 30-homer season. One thing Torkelson has continued to do in his major league career is increase his fly-ball rate (FB%). As per the graph, Torkelson has continued to hit the ball in the air at a higher rate each year.

Provided he continues to hit the ball hard, flyballs will yield positive results. Hitting in the heart of the Tigers' lineup will help with those positive results, too. Torkelson spent almost the entire 2025 season hitting fourth or fifth in the lineup, and that shouldn't change in 2026.

While Detroit doesn't have a standout offense, it ranked 11th in runs scored last year (758). Torkelson should be able to score and drive in a similar number of runs this year as he did in 2025. If he manages to steal a couple of bases again, great, but you're not counting on any from the slugger.

The only thing Torkelson lacks from being a top-12 first baseman is a better batting average. If he manages to hit ~.240 again, then you will more than likely get plenty of value on his ADP. In leagues that value walks, Torkelson has even more value and potential to be a top-12 first baseman.

Sal Stewart, Cincinnati Reds

2025 MLB Stats: .255/.293/.545, 5 HR, 8 RBI, 11 R, 0 SB (58 PA)
2026 ATC Projections: .263/.325/.448, 18 HR, 63 RBI, 60 R, 7 SB (474 PA)

Stewart is currently going outside the first 200 picks in drafts. With an ADP of 213.18, he is almost an afterthought as a first baseman. Following the Reds' signing of Eugenio Suarez, it's fair to expect Stewart to be taken later and later in drafts as the weeks roll on. That's a good thing.

Stewart has some versatility, able to play first and third base. The Reds will likely want Suarez to be their DH (designated hitter) most days, given his defense is below average. Ke'Bryan Hayes can't hit, but is a stellar defender at third base. As a result, Stewart should still get plenty of playing time in this crowded infield.

Although a small sample, Stewart showed off his power potential in 2025. He had a 52.5% hard-hit rate and a 17.5% barrel rate. Stewart's five home runs were legit, and he had no problem making loud contact. But there is more to Stewart than just some thump.

Although he didn't attempt a stolen base in the majors, Stewart showed some wheels in the minor leagues. Before his promotion, Stewart played 118 games across Double-A and Triple-A last year, where he stole 17 bases to go with his 20 home runs and a .309/.383/.524 slash line.

First base isn't a position you expect steals to come from. Stewart doesn't even have to reach double-digit stolen bases to provide a boost in that regard. If he only matches his ATC projection of seven steals in 2026, that will push Stewart's value even higher.

The Reds' lineup looks like it should score plenty of runs, and playing in a hitter-friendly ballpark will help. More reasons why Stewart is set to provide value on his ADP. Stewart has the potential to go from being the Reds' number one prospect to the biggest breakout star of 2026.

Andrew Vaughn, Milwaukee Brewers

2025 MLB Stats: .254/.307/.411, 14 HR, 65 RBI, 35 R, 0 SB (447 PA)
2026 ATC Projections: .250/.309/.419, 19 HR, 73 RBI, 55 R, 0 SB (534 PA)

It's fair to say Vaughn had two very different seasons in 2025. After some consistent, productive years in Chicago, Vaughn struggled massively to begin 2025. As a result, the White Sox were willing to move on and traded their first baseman to Milwaukee.

In return, the White Sox received Aaron Civale, who made 13 starts and had a 5.37 ERA. Civale ended the season with the Chicago Cubs, while Vaughn ended 2025 as one of the hottest hitters in baseball.

The table below shows just how different Vaughn was as a member of the Brewers.

Vaughn wasn't as bad in Chicago as his numbers suggest. He had a .248 xBA and .451 xSLG, which are similar to his career numbers. It's also not wise to believe he'll be able to replicate his numbers in Milwaukee over a full season. But there's no reason to believe Vaughn can't have a career year in 2026.

Milwaukee's American Family Field isn't ranked much more hitter-friendly than the White Sox's Rate Field. However, according to Statcast Park Factors, American Family Field was the sixth-best home run ballpark for right-handed hitters (RHH), while Rate Field ranked 18th.

The Brewers also have a considerably better offense. They ranked third in runs scored last year (806) while the White Sox ranked 27th (647). Vaughn has every chance to set career-highs in home runs, RBI, and runs over a full season in Milwaukee.

Vaughn will be 28 years old on Opening Day, so he should be in his prime. While he might yield some playing time to Jake Bauers, Vaughn is only going to cost you a very late-round pick. His ADP is 312.23 (28th among first basemen), but isn't someone you ignore in the later rounds to fill in your corner infield spot.

Josh Bell, Minnesota Twins

2025 MLB Stats: .237/.325/.417,  22 HR, 63 RBI, 54 R, 0 SB (533 PA)
2026 ATC Projections: .247/.328/.417, 20 HR, 65 RBI, 60 R, 1 SB (540 PA)

Bell has become one of the most boring yet consistent first basemen in recent years. With an ADP of 475.19, he's barely being drafted in anything other than deep leagues. The Minnesota Twins signed Bell this offseason to a one-year deal, making them Bell's seventh MLB team.

Last year, Bell played 140 games, which were the lowest he's ever played across a full major league season. Bell still hit 22 homers with a .237/.325/.417 slash line and 107 wRC+. The shortened 2020 season remains the only year in which Bell hasn't had at least 100 wRC+.

If we look at Bell's Statcast profile from last year, it might surprise some people why he's so overlooked.

Bell was an above-average hitter in 2025. He needs to be, given that he's very much a below-average defender and is one of the slowest players in baseball. Seeing as the Twins are more focused on their future than the present, Bell should have no problem being a regular in the lineup.

It's also more than likely that Bell will hit in the heart of the lineup. He should have plenty of volume and remain one of the most reliable and consistent hitters. Although there is little upside, taking Bell is still set to provide plenty of value at his ADP.

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