Playing first base, like a lot of other positions, can be a thankless job. When you do exactly what you are supposed to do, nobody hears about it. However, missing a grounder, or failing to scoop a less-than-perfect throw from another infielder, will have the first baseman feeling the scorn of fans, announcers, and potentially teammates.
At the plate, there have been a wide array of types of hitters that have played first representing the National League (NL). There have been the power hitting first basemen, with some of the best-known being Mark McGwire (583 home runs with 220 as a St. Louis Cardinal), Willie McCovey (521 home runs, best known as a San Francisco Giant), and Albert Pujols (481 home runs, best known as a Cardinal). In contrast to the sluggers, there have been the hit-for-average, more finesse hitters. Some of the better NL examples of that include Keith Hernandez, Stan Musial (who combined it with power), and going back to the late 1800’s, Dan Brouthers (.342 NL average).
Another big part of the first baseman’s game is their glove. As a position involved in a majority of infield outs, being solid with the leather is vital. The NL’s tradition there is solid as well. Hernandez won 11 straight Gold Gloves between 1978-1988. Since 2000, Paul Goldschmidt and Anthony Rizzo have won four, while Todd Helton, Derek Lee and Adrian Gonzalez have three.
When thinking about the 2024 All-Star first basemen for the Senior Circuit, as Abbott and Costello made famous, “Who’s on first?” Here is a look at the Top Three candidates to start for the NL in the Mid-Summer Classic at first base, through the lens of power, average, and fielding.
Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
A new entrant to the first base field in 2024, Harper is the favorite to start at first for the National League. After starting his career in the outfield, before shifting to DH when he returned from Tommy John surgery, Harper began playing first in 2023 when Phillies starter Rhys Hoskins went down with an injury. After discussing his situation with the front office heading into 2024, the move became a permanent one and Harper (and the Phillies, for that matter) have not looked back since.
From a power perspective, Harper has been one of the most feared hitters in the game. One can argue that he has been helped by playing home games at the friendly confines of Citizens Bank Park, a hitter’s ballpark in Philadelphia. While his home run pace has accelerated, he hit 184 homers as a member of the Nationals, which was a home run every 21.5 plate appearances. With Philadelphia, he has a home run every 20.1 plate appearances. This season, Harper has hit 19 home runs which leads NL first basemen heading into play on June 23rd.
Harper’s .303 average entering play on June 25th is leading NL first basemen, ahead of the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman (.300). Harper’s career average is .282 so he has stepped up this year, ahead of what a normal season would be.
At the plate, his power and average are big drivers of his OPS performance, along with his 46 walks (second among NL first basemen behind Freeman’s 47). His OPS is .978, ahead of Freeman’s .901. After those two, Michael Busch of the Cubs is next at .802.
Learning a new position, especially one like first base, can obviously be a challenge. Harper has done fairly well with it. In 71 games at first, Harper has only committed two errors and has a fielding percentage of .997. His DWAR (Defensive Wins Above Replacement) is flat at -0.0. In fact, Christian Walker of Arizona (who has won the past two NL Gold Gloves at first base) has the only positive DWAR at +0.3.
It would be quite an upset to not see Harper in the starting lineup as the National League first basemen for the All-Star Game. His popularity with fans is another factor. As of the first update on fan voting on June 17th, Harper had 1,110,562 votes. If he finishes Phase I of voting (June 27th) leading the NL as he does now, he will automatically receive a starting spot.
Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
A mainstay on the NL All-Star Team at first base has been Freeman, as he has earned the honor seven times. That was before Harper switched positions of course. Whether with the Atlanta Braves (where he spent his first 12 years), or now with the Dodgers (in his third year in LA), Freeman has been a measuring stick for all other first basemen.
Over a 162-game sample, Freeman averages 27 home runs, along with 41 doubles. He is a good power hitter and has been helped through his career with good protection in the lineup. His career high for home runs was in 2019 where he hit 38 with the Braves. In 2024, he has hit 11 home runs, which put him sixth among NL first basemen entering play on June 25th. Ahead of him are Harper (19), Walker (17), Pete Alonso of the Mets (16), Jake Cronenworth of the Padres (12), and Matt Olson (his replacement with the Braves, 12).
Freeman is a career .301 hitter, hitting for both power and average. His average has accelerated since joining Los Angeles, with his average in Atlanta at .295 compared to a .323 average with the Dodgers. This season, entering play on June 25th, his .300 average puts him second among NL first basemen, only behind Harper’s .301.
A good eye at the plate generates a lot of walks, enhancing on-base percentage and ultimately OPS. Freeman is no exception. As mentioned above, he hits for both power and average. His 47 walks entering play on June 25th leads all NL first basemen. The resulting OPS of .901 puts him second behind only Harper.
In the field, Freeman has been good through his career. He won a Gold Glove in 2018. This year, his .997 fielding percentage ties him for first among first basemen with Rowdy Tellez of Pittsburgh, Harper, and reigning Gold Glover Walker.
Absent the arrival of Harper to the first base field, Freeman would have been the runaway starter at first base for the NL in the 2024 All-Star Game. Instead, he’ll likely be a backup.
Christian Walker, Arizona Diamondbacks
With a trip to the World Series in 2023, and back to back Gold Glove awards, Walker has done well to make a name for himself at first base in the NL. He is a feel good story who hit his stride in 2019 with the Diamondbacks and has not looked back.
On the offensive side, Walker profiles as more of a power hitter than a first baseman that hits for average. His career high for home runs in a season was in 2022 when he hit 36 for Arizona. He also delivered 33 homers in 2023 and 29 in 2019. So far in 2024, Walker has hit 17 home runs. This places him second among NL first basemen, trailing only Harper.
In terms of batting average, Walker profiles as a .250 hitter and that is what his career average is. This season, entering play on June 25th, he has hit .252. He is fifth among NL first basemen in average, trailing Harper (.303), Freeman (.300), Cronenworth (.266) and Busch (.259).
Walker does not walk as much as other first basemen, but does okay in that department. The resulting OPS of .801 puts him fourth among NL first basemen behind Harper (.978), Freeman (.901) and Busch (.802).
In the field, it’s hard to compare to Walker. Hands-down he is the cream of the NL crop at first base. The winner of the NL Gold Glove at first base in both 2022 and 2023, he has kept up the pace in 2024. His .997 fielding percentage is tied for first among NL first basemen and he is the only player within the competitive set with a positive DWAR at +0.3.
Walker has a good shot at making the team in a backup capacity, depending on the requirement of every team being represented by a player, including how other Diamondbacks fare.
Honorable Mention
Pete Alonso, New York Mets
Alonso will probably take part in the Home Run Derby, which he has won twice. Beyond that, the best chance the Polar Bear has of making the team would be as the ceremonial Mets representative because no teammates at other positions get named. Entering play on June 25th, Alonso had hit 16 home runs (3rd among NL first basemen), and carried an average of .241 (ninth) and OPS of .792 (fifth).
Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
It is hard to replace a star like Freeman was in Atlanta, but Olson has done so admirably. He was rewarded with a 2023 All-Star appearance. This season, Olson is at a .246 average (sixth among NL first basemen) with 12 home runs (tied for fourth) and an OPS of .770 (seventh).
Stats by espn.com, baseball-reference.com and mlb.com
Photo Credit; MLB
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