With the trade deadline looming and fewer than 60 games left in the MLB season, the pressure is turning up fast. Teams are trying to lock down playoff spots, and the clubs still in the hunt are leaning hard on production from the middle of the order.
At first base, a few familiar names are driving the conversation, while some newer faces have forced their way into the spotlight. Here’s a look at the top 10 first basemen entering the week.
Ben Rice sits at No. 1 after putting together a monster season for the New York Yankees. He’s been the engine of their offense, and the numbers back it up: he leads MLB first basemen in home runs and OPS. He’s also in the mix for the AL MVP Award.
Right behind him is Willson Contreras, who is having the best season of his career in his first year with the Boston Red Sox. He has quickly become a team leader and is carrying a heavy load in the lineup. Entering the week, he leads the Red Sox in home runs, RBI, and total bases.
Matt Olson takes the No. 3 spot for the Atlanta Braves. He remains one of the steadiest hitters at the position and is on pace for a fifth straight season with at least 25 home runs and 90 RBI. Among MLB first basemen, he ranks second in at-bats per home run entering the week.
Nick Kurtz comes in at No. 4 for the Athletics, and he’s building on a strong rookie year with more of the same. He’s on track for a second straight season of 30 home runs and 80 RBI, and he ranks third in OPS among MLB first basemen entering the week.
Freddie Freeman lands at No. 5 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he continues to do what he always does: hit. In a loaded lineup, he’s still the most reliable bat in the group. Entering the week, he leads MLB first basemen in hits and ranks fourth in OPS.
Sal Stewart checks in at No. 6 for the Cincinnati Reds after a sensational rookie season. He’s leading the Reds in nearly every offensive category and, entering the week, tops all MLB first basemen in RBI.
Munetaka Murakami is No. 7 for the Chicago White Sox, and his first Major League season has been a clear success. He’s emerged as one of the team’s leaders while the White Sox sit atop the AL Central. Entering the week, he is tied for third in home runs among MLB first basemen.
Luis Garcia lands at No. 8 for the Washington Nationals and is putting together the best season of his career. His production has helped keep Washington in the Wild Card chase. Entering the week, he ranks in the top 10 in home runs and RBI among MLB first basemen.
Pete Alonso comes in at No. 9 for the Baltimore Orioles after a slow start to his first season in Baltimore. He has picked things up over the past few months and now leads the Orioles in hits, home runs, RBI, and total bases entering the week.
Alec Burleson rounds out the list at No. 10 for the St. Louis Cardinals.
He has played a key role in St. Louis’ push for a Wild Card spot and leads the Cardinals in hits entering the week.
In Other News...
White Sox Farm Just Had The Kind Of Night Fans Needed
Wednesday was one of those nights the White Sox farm system could use more often. Across multiple levels, the affiliates kept sending balls over the fence, with Caleb Bonemer powering Birmingham, Michael Turner and Ryan Galanie doing damage for Charlotte, and Winston-Salem getting enough offense to stay in the fight even in a losing effort.
Bonemers two-homer night gave the Barons a big lift and helped set up a win that felt earned by the middle innings. Charlotte backed up its bats with a 12-5 victory, while Winston-Salem still found pop from Javier Mogollon, James Taussig and Kyle Lodise despite the final result, a reminder that the organization had some real thunder scattered through the system even if not every game finished the same way. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Made A Serious Bet On This Prep Bat
The White Sox kept their draft-day focus on Cole Prosek, the 19-year-old infielder from Mississippi they grabbed with the 41st overall pick after working their way into the selection through trades. Prosek signed for $3.25 million and has already started settling into Chicagos development plan, which centers on making him a versatile infield piece rather than forcing him into one lane too early.
What stands out so far is how quickly the organization has gone to work on the details. White Sox coaches have already been tweaking his defensive approach, including the timing of his pre-pitch movement, and Prosek says the changes have helped his range. Hes also on board with the position path the club has mapped out for him, moving between second and third as the White Sox try to turn a high-upside prep bat into something more complete. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Hicks Is Forcing A White Sox Deadline Rethink
Jordan Hicks return from the injured list has quietly changed the way the White Sox have to think about the trade deadline. Since coming back on June 21, he has given them the kind of late-inning stability that can alter a front offices priorities, especially for a club that entered the summer looking for help wherever it could find it. What once looked like an obvious need for a right-handed bullpen arm now feels a little less urgent, and that matters for a team still trying to sort out where its next meaningful upgrade should come from.
The bigger question is whether Chicago uses that breathing room to chase help elsewhere, with starting pitching and catching now looking like more realistic areas to attack. The bullpen picture is crowded enough already, with several arms in the mix and prospects being shuffled through roles as the White Sox manage both development and depth. Hicks has not solved every problem, but he has made the deadline conversation a lot more complicated than it looked a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]