X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Dynasty First Basemen - Top MLB Prospects for Fantasy Baseball

Edward Sutelan's top 10 dynasty first base prospect rankings. Longer-term fantasy baseball dynasty rankings for MLB prospects to make impacts in 2018 and beyond.

Welcome back, RotoBallers. I'll be breaking down impact prospects in dynasty leagues by position over the next several weeks. I’ve already covered catchers. Today I'm bringing you my top 10 first basemen - dynasty prospect rankings for 2018 dynasty baseball leagues.

The group of first base prospects simultaneously lost its star-power and recovered. Cody Bellinger, Josh Bell and Rhys Hoskins, the top three first base prospects in baseball, all reached the majors and put together strong seasons in their rookie campaigns. But then the position saw four players from the 2017 MLB Draft class crack consensus top 10 prospect rankings. It should also receive a boost this upcoming season with players like Seth Beer, Luken Baker and Triston Casas likely heading to early selections in the 2018 MLB Draft.

So without any further ado, here is the dynasty positional prospect rankings for first basemen.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Top First Base Prospects for 2018 Dynasty Baseball Leagues

1. Yordan Alvarez (HOU, A+)
Stats: 252 PA, .277/.329/.393, 3 HR, 6 SB, 7.5% BB%, 16.3% K%
ETA: 2019
There was probably no one who increased his value more in 2017 than Alvarez. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound first baseman slugged nine home runs and posted a .360/.468/.658 slash line in Class-A before being promoted to Advanced Class-A in June. He demonstrated above-average plate discipline while showing off a smooth swing that should be able to barrel up balls consistently in the majors. The power is raw right now and he has some swing-and-miss in his game, but given additional time to develop, he should grow into his frame more and generate 25-plus home run power and should cut down enough on the strikeouts to reach base at a high clip in the majors. He is certainly one of the top up-and-comers in dynasty baseball and should be viewed as a valuable sleeper to target in drafts.

2. Pavin Smith (ARI, A-)
Stats: 223 PA, .318/.401/.415, 0 HR, 2 SB, 12.1% BB%, 10.8% K%
ETA: 2020
The top first base prospect to come out of the 2017 MLB Draft class, Smith put together a strong season while at the University of Virginia. He struck out just 12 times in 228 at-bats while launching 13 home runs in one of the more pitcher-friendly ballparks in college baseball. He also walked 38 times and posted a .342/.427/.570 slash line. Smith’s power will remain the biggest question mark in his game, but his ability to make contact and well above-average plate discipline give him one of the highest floors of anyone on this list. If he develops power by the time he arrives in Arizona, which should not take long given his college experience, he could be a .300-plus hitter with 20-plus home runs on an annual basis.

3. Bobby Bradley (CLE, AA)
Stats: 532 PA, .251/.331/.465, 23 HR, 3 SB, 10.3% BB%, 22.9% K%
ETA: 2018
We go from one guy whose power is questionable to one whose power is undeniable. Bradley now has back-back-to-back seasons in which he has hit over 20 home runs despite now having played in more than 135 in any of the three seasons. The biggest concern with Bradley obviously comes in the strikeout department where he has continued to maintain a rate above 20 percent. On the promising side, he reduced that strikeout rate from 29.7 percent in 2016 to just 22.9 percent in 2017. As a result, the batting average went up 16 points to .251. Swinging and missing will always be a part of his game, it seems, but so long as he continues to produce some thunder, owners will gladly be happy to own him as a potential 30-plus home run bat at first base.

4. Peter Alonso (NYM, AA)
Stats: (from A+) 346 PA, .286/.361/.516, 16 HR, 3 SB, 7.2% BB%, 18.5% K%
ETA: 2018
A right-handed, power-hitting first baseman who doesn’t strike out much and hits for a nice average? No, I’m not talking about Rhys Hoskins, I’m talking about Alonso. The two have started to be compared to one another as Alonso continues to improve with each given season. The former Florida Gator needs to hit to have any value, and he has done just that. His power appears to be enough to be a 25-30 homer threat in the majors, and his ability to limit strikeouts and make plenty of contact last season helped him maintain a solid batting average. Though he is not yet the rising star Hoskins was viewed as, Alonso is a guy whose value is steadily rising and could sky-rocket if he replicates his success in the upper-minors again in 2018.

5. Chris Shaw (SF, AAA)
Stats: 360 PA, .289/.328/.530, 18 HR, 0 SB, 5.6% BB%, 29.4% K%
ETA: 2018
The 2017 season was a mixed bag for Shaw, but mostly it provided promising results. He crushed Double-A pitching in his brief time there before heading up to Sacramento for Triple-A. There his power surge continued as he slugged 18 homers in 88 games, but the strikeout rate exploded up from 16.9 percent to 29.4 percent while the walk rate dropped from 11.7 percent to 5.6 percent. The batting average did not take a tremendous hit from the .301 number he posted in Double-A, but he should not be expected to maintain such a high average if he continues to strike out. There are holes in his swing, but he should make up for it with the power. He might move to the outfield, which should boost his fantasy value as the positional versatility gives owners flexibility with him. He fits the mold of a typical power-first, contact-second first baseman who should be able to provide the Giants and dynasty owners with power at the expense of a poor batting average.

6. Brendan McKay (TB, A-)
Stats: 149 PA, .232/.349/.376, 4 HR, 2 SB, 14.1% BB%, 22.1% K%
ETA: 2021
For these lists, prospects who play multiple positions will only qualify at one position, the one they are more likely to play in the majors. McKay will be the lone exception to that as it is nearly impossible at this point to tell whether he will be a first baseman or a starting pitcher. The reason he is so low is because of that positional uncertainty remaining with McKay. He certainly has the tools to profile as a potent bat at first base, possessing plate discipline, a well above-average hit tool and plenty of raw power that has turned into real results when he was at Louisville and in the minors. If he sticks at first base, he has a chance to hit .280-plus with 20-plus home runs in the majors. But that is still a pretty big “if,” especially after he appeared rock-solid on the mound and a little shakier at the plate.

7. Evan White (SEA, A-)
Stats: 55 PA, .277/.345/.532, 3 HR, 1 SB, 10.9% BB%, 10.9% K%
ETA: 2020
Deemed by many to be a right-handed batting Cody Bellinger, White joins the Seattle Mariners with an incredibly high floor and tons of athleticism. He is probably the most athletic player on this list, and has a chance to start in the outfield if the Mariners wanted to move him off first base. But for now, that appears his position. His bat profiles well there as he has received plenty of praise for his bat-to-ball skills and patience. He still has raw power left to develop, but he makes up for that by providing far more speed and stolen base upside than nearly any other first baseman in the game. His impeccable defensive skills and advanced approach should make him a fast riser through the minors. What will ultimately determine his fantasy value is how much power he hits for. Should he reach his full potential, his name could be featured atop similar lists as this in one or two years.

8. Ronald Guzman (TEX, AAA)
Stats: 527 PA, .298/.372/.434, 12 HR, 4 SB, 8.9% BB%, 16.1% K%
ETA: 2018
The middle-ground for White between his full ceiling and his floor is probably something similar to what Guzman will provide fantasy owners. Guzman makes a ton of contact and has an incredibly patient approach, which should help him routinely hit for a high average. But his lack of power has frequently frustrated fantasy owners waiting for the 6-foot-5, 205-pound lefty to develop the pop many have expected out of him. With that said, Guzman still has 15-homer pop in his bat and should hit for a .280-plus batting average every year, which is still valuable for owners in keeper leagues.

9. Nick Pratto (KC, ROK)
Stats: 230 PA, .247/.330/.414, 4 HR, 10 SB, 10.4% BB%, 25.2% K%
ETA: 2022
The youngest prospect on this list, Pratto has not made it for any explosive tools that jump off the page. Rather his careful eye at the plate and bat-to-ball mentality have helped give him an advanced profile in the opinions of many evaluators. The power, like many on this list, is still yet to come, but it is rare for someone as young as Pratto to already be viewed as a guy with such a highly regarded hit-tool. His smooth swing and patient approach should push him through the minors at a faster rate than most high school draft picks, and his budding power could make him an elite first baseman by the time he fully develops.

10. Sam Travis (BOS, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 342 PA, .270/.351/.375, 6 HR, 6 SB, 10.8% BB%, 16.7% K%
ETA: 2018
With looking at many of the past prospects, a lot of the evaluation comes down to projecting future skills. There is not a lot of projecting with Travis. Though he is only 24 years old, Travis has pretty much done everything expected of him. He is an excellent hitter who limits strikeouts and puts the ball in play. His walk rate was also quite high in 2017 at Triple-A. But at this point, it is probably too late to expect much out of him from a power perspective. He does not have a ton of raw pop and is appears to be only a .290-plus hitter with 10 homers at the most. He is far from the most exciting prospect out there, but he has already spent time in the majors and could fight for a starting spot in 2018 if the Boston Red Sox don’t add a first baseman over the offseason.

 

More 2018 Dynasty Baseball Strategy




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Day'Ron Sharpe

Heads to Free Agency
Santi Aldama

Receives Qualifying Offer
Moritz Wagner

has Team Option Declined
Jabari Smith Jr.

Signs Massive Extension
Jusuf Nurkić

Hornets Trading Jusuf Nurkic to Utah
Collin Sexton

Heading to Charlotte
Cam Thomas

Set for Restricted Free Agency
Bobby Portis

Staying in Milwaukee
Jonas Brodin

Expected to Miss Start of Next Season
NHL

Conor Sheary Placed on Waivers for Contract Termination
James Harden

Clippers Agree on a New Contract
Dante Fabbro

Stays with Blue Jackets on Four-Year Deal
Joel Hofer

Commits to Blues for Two More Years
Kevin Bahl

Signs Long-Term Extension with Flames
Jordan Spence

Traded to Ottawa
Petr Mrazek

Heads to Anaheim
John Gibson

Red Wings Acquire John Gibson
Matthew Knies

Inks Six-Year Extension with Maple Leafs
Aaron Judge

Blasts Two Homers
Claude Giroux

Signs One-Year Deal with Senators
Yordan Alvarez

has Chance to Return Next Weekend
Julius Randle

Signs Three-Year Extension
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Opts into Player Option
Luis Robert Jr.

Heads to Injured List
Gabriel Arias

Carted Off on Sunday
Bryce Harper

Faces Live Pitching
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Remains Out on Sunday
Utah Jazz

Bojan Bogdanovic Retiring From Basketball
Dorian Finney-Smith

Declines Player Option
Jaylin Williams

Signing Three-Year Extension
LeBron James

Accepts Player Option
Anfernee Simons

"a Possible Re-Trade Candidate"
Chase Elliott

Ends Winless Skid With Atlanta Victory
Brad Keselowski

Falls Short of Atlanta Victory
NFL

NFL Won't Hold Supplemental Draft This Year
Damon Arnette

Getting Second Chance With Texans
Deommodore Lenoir

Arrested for Obstruction of Justice
Yordan Alvarez

Eyeing Return Before All-Star Break
Kevin Porter Jr.

Declining Player Option
Carson Hocevar

Recovers From Big One to Finish 10th at Atlanta
William Byron

Caught up in Atlanta Big One but Retains Points Lead
Denny Hamlin

Top In-Season Challenge Seed Denny Hamlin Eliminated in Lap 70 Crash
Ty Dillon

Bottom Seed Ty Dillon Upsets Denny Hamlin to Advance in In-Season Challenge
Quinn Priester

Fans 11 in One-Hit Gem
Garrett Temple

Returning to Toronto
Nicolas Batum

Declines Player Option
Spencer Schwellenbach

Dominant in Victory
Keon Johnson

Gets Team Option Picked Up
Rayan Rupert

Staying in Portland
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Expected to Make Second-Year Jump
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Out of Lineup Saturday
Jalin Hyatt

Looking to Flip the Script in 2025
Garrett Mitchell

to Undergo Shoulder Surgery
José Ramírez

Jose Ramirez in Guardians Lineup on Saturday
Kyle Larson

Don't Expect Kyle Larson to Win First Drafting Track Race on Saturday
Christopher Bell

Unlikely to Complete Atlanta Sweep
Brad Keselowski

Seeks Another Clutch Win for Hail-Mary Playoff Bid
Chris Buescher

Unlikely to Lead Enough to Have Much DFS Value
Alex Bowman

Qualifies Best Among Non-Fords but Unlikely to Contend at Atlanta
Ryan Preece

Will Probably Run Better Than Usual at Atlanta
Austin Dillon

Consistently Mediocre at Atlanta
Ty Gibbs

Slightly Faster Lately but Unlikely to be a Factor at Atlanta
Erik Jones

a Low-Key Strong DFS Option
Noah Gragson

Could Have DFS Value as One of the Lowest-Qualifying Fords
Riley Herbst

Unlikely to Replicate February Atlanta Finish
Ty Dillon

Could Benefit from Kaulig Speed
Cody Ware

Rarely Enough Attrition at Atlanta for Cody Ware to Seriously Contend
Ryan Blaney

Is Always Strong at Atlanta
Joey Logano

Wins Pole, Looking for Third Atlanta Win
Chase Burns

Slated to Make Next Start on Monday
Dylan Sampson

Being Used as a Receiver
Carson Schwesinger

Figures to be in Full-Time Role in 2025
Cedric Tillman

Should Have Full-Time Role
Bryce Young

Looking More Comfortable, Showing More Intensity
Charlie Coyle

Blue Jackets Acquire Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood From Colorado
Jack Quinn

Signs Up for Two More Years with Sabres
Brandon Saad

Stays in Vegas on One-Year Deal
Trent Frederic

Inks Eight-Year Extension
Josh Naylor

Exits Friday's Contest Early with Neck Stiffness
Emil Heineman

Shipped to the Islanders
Noah Dobson

Traded to Montreal
John Tavares

Agrees to Four-Year Extension with Maple Leafs
Sam Bennett

Signs Eight-Year Extension with Panthers
NYI

Islanders Select Matthew Schaefer With No. 1 Pick in NHL Draft
José Berríos

Jose Berrios Tosses Seven Scoreless Innings in Fourth Win
Nick Martinez

Flirts With No-Hitter, Settles for Win
Gary Sánchez

Gary Sanchez Homers, Reaches Five Times in Onslaught
Trea Turner

Blasts Two Homers, Steals Base
Los Angeles Angels

Ron Washington to Remain on Medical Leave for Rest of the Season
Jeremy Peña

Imaging Negative on Jeremy Pena's Ribs on Friday
Spencer Steer

Slugs Three Home Runs in Win
Aaron Rodgers

Roman Wilson Could Fit Nicely With Aaron Rodgers
Josh Simmons

on Schedule to Open the Year as a Starter
Micah Parsons

Contract Length an Issue for Cowboys, Micah Parsons
Denver Broncos

Broncos Unsure How Their Running Back Room Will Look
Russell Wilson

Not the Only Leader in Giants Clubhouse
Jihaad Campbell

to Begin at Inside Linebacker
Josh Conerly Jr.

to Play Right Tackle for Now
Tyleik Williams

Expected to Fill Big Role Right Away
Malaki Starks

Should Make an Immediate Impact
James Pearce Jr.

Impressing the Falcons
Jaxson Dart

has "Excellent" Spring
Donovan Jackson

has Inside Track on Starting Job
Charles Oliveira

Can Become A Two-Time Lightweight Champion
Ilia Topuria

A Favorite At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Can Become The New Flyweight Champion
Alexandre Pantoja

Set For Fourth Title Defense At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Looks For His Third Win In A Row
Renato Moicano

Returns At UFC 317
Beneil Dariush

An Underdog At UFC 317
Payton Talbott

Looks To Bounce Back
Felipe Lima

Set To Open Up UFC 317 Main Card
Daniil Tarasov

Panthers Bring in Daniil Tarasov
Frederick Gaudreau

Kraken Pick Up Frederick Gaudreau From Wild
Michael Thorbjornsen

Returns in Detroit at Rocket Classic
Adam Hadwin

Could Struggle Over the Weekend in Detroit
Cam Davis

Hopes Detroit Magic Can Spark Turnaround
Matt Wallace

a Boom-or-Bust Option at Rocket Classic
Joel Dahmen

Not Cutting it Lately
Michael Kim

Searching for Spark at Rocket Classic
Rasmus Hojgaard

a High-Ceiling Play in Rocket Classic
Matt McCarty

a Wild Card Heading into Detroit
Emiliano Grillo

Rolling into the Summer Season
Rickie Fowler

Looking for More Magic at Rocket Classic
Wyndham Clark

Brings High Upside to Detroit Golf Club
Max Greyserman

Could Make Noise at Rocket Classic
Akshay Bhatia

a Strong Value Play at Rocket Classic
Eric Cole

Hoping for Better Times at Rocket Classic
Beau Hossler

Searching for Form at Rocket Classic
PGA

Byeong Hun An in Good Form Heading into Rocket Classic
Cameron Young

Looking For Redemption and Possible First Career Victory in Detroit
Collin Morikawa

is The Headliner This Week in Detroit For Good Reason
Si Woo Kim

Back in Competition After Last Week's Withdrawal
PGA

Alex Noren Finishes Tied For 30th at Travelers Championship
Kurt Kitayama

Misses The Cut at RBC Canadian Open
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF