Freddie Freeman continues to solidify his legacy as a premier first baseman, topping MLB Network's The Shredder rankings for the third straight year and the sixth time overall. Freeman's consistent excellence has kept him in The Shredder's spotlight for 13 consecutive seasons, with a top-two finish every year since 2018.
While MLB Network host Brian Kenny sees Freeman as the second-best first baseman for 2026, analyst Sean Casey places him sixth. Despite what some might call a down year by his lofty standards, Freeman still delivered a solid .295/.367/.502 slash line, with 39 doubles, 24 homers, and 90 RBI across 147 games.
At 36, Freeman added another highlight to his postseason resume, smashing a walk-off homer in the 18th inning of Game 3 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Since 2022, his 149 wRC+ is unmatched among first basemen with at least 1,000 plate appearances.
Injuries have hampered Freeman over the past two seasons, but he's back to full health and drawing praise from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts during Spring Training. Entering his fifth season with the Dodgers, Freeman has expressed a desire to finish his career in Los Angeles.
“I would like that, yeah,” Freeman said. “I love being here.
I’m from Southern California. I’ve had a great time.
The fans, you guys treat me great. Everyone’s treating my family good.
So that’s out of my control.”
Freeman, a nine-time All-Star, isn't focused on contract talks, with two years remaining on his current deal. Instead, he's eyeing a milestone: reaching 3,000 career hits. Currently leading active players with 2,431 hits, Freeman would need to average 142 hits per season to achieve this goal by 2029.
Here's a look at MLB's Top-10 First Basemen for 2026:
The Shredder Rankings: 1.
Freddie Freeman (Dodgers) 2.
Nick Kurtz (Athletics) 3.
Matt Olson (Braves) 4.
Bryce Harper (Phillies) 5.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays)
- Rafael Devers (Giants)
- Yandy Díaz (Rays)
- Pete Alonso (Orioles)
- Michael Busch (Cubs)
- Willson Contreras (Red Sox)
Sean Casey's Rankings: 1.
Matt Olson (Braves) 2.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays)
- Pete Alonso (Orioles)
- Bryce Harper (Phillies)
- Nick Kurtz (Athletics)
- Freddie Freeman (Dodgers)
- Josh Naylor (Mariners)
- Michael Busch (Cubs)
- Vinnie Pasquantino (Royals)
- Jonathan Aranda (Rays)
Freeman's journey continues to be one of remarkable consistency and impact, keeping fans and analysts alike eager to see what he accomplishes next.