MLB The Show 23: 10 Best First Basemen, Ranked

A great first baseman is a priority for teams in reality and MLB The Show 23 alike. The position itself usually focuses exclusively on power, the most critical metric of a successful team. Teams without a superior player at the spot typically watch their whole squad underperform.

Still, the best first basemen can do it all. They learn to play the position with defense in mind and can hit for contact as well. MLB The Show 23 recognizes how much of a difference-maker a great first baseman and this typically plays out as team wins in the big leagues.

10 Christian Walker - 83

MLB The Show 23 Christian Walker Player Card

Category	Rating
Contact Versus Righties	59
Contact Versus Lefties	63
Power Versus Righties	83
Power Versus Lefties	67
Vision	65
Discipline	66
Clutch Hitting	57
Bunting Ability	35
Drag Bunt Ability	25
Durability	98
Fielding	90
Arm Strength	36
Throwing Accuracy	70
Reaction	72
Speed	42
Stealing Ability	4
Baserunning Aggressiveness	12

Walker's strength on the defensive end is a welcome aspect for the Diamondbacks as this is always a strong suit for first basemen. The team could use some better starting pitchers to pair with his talented glove, though.

9 Jose Abreu - 83

Category	Rating
Contact Versus Righties	84
Contact Versus Lefties	82
Power Versus Righties	59
Power Versus Lefties	80
Vision	69
Discipline	64
Clutch Hitting	78
Bunting Ability	35
Drag Bunt Ability	25
Durability	96
Fielding	65
Arm Strength	31
Throwing Accuracy	50
Reaction	57
Speed	32
Stealing Ability	1
Baserunning Aggressiveness	6

One of the best in the business for years, Abreu's complete game is part of why the Astros won the World Series last year. The team is hoping to find a new catcher, but every other spot on the team is filled with talent.

8 Rhys Hoskins - 84

MLB The Show 23 Rhys Hoskins Player Card

Category	Rating
Contact Versus Righties	54
Contact Versus Lefties	78
Power Versus Righties	78
Power Versus Lefties	88
Vision	54
Discipline	80
Clutch Hitting	63
Bunting Ability	35
Drag Bunt Ability	25
Durability	95
Fielding	60
Arm Strength	35
Throwing Accuracy	68
Reaction	66
Speed	31
Stealing Ability	8
Baserunning Aggressiveness	16

Great teams typically have great first basemen due to the importance of power in the modern game. Hoskins is one of the reasons the Phillies won the National League pennant last year. If the team gets a much-needed improvement at center, they could easily win it all next time.

7 C.J. Cron - 85

Category	Rating
Contact Versus Righties	75
Contact Versus Lefties	63
Power Versus Righties	78
Power Versus Lefties	82
Vision	56
Discipline	65
Clutch Hitting	90
Bunting Ability	35
Drag Bunt Ability	25
Durability	92
Fielding	73
Arm Strength	58
Throwing Accuracy	55
Reaction	66
Speed	20
Stealing Ability	1
Baserunning Aggressiveness	11

The Colorado Rockies have issues everywhere and the team needs a new shortstop in a bad way. Their one bright spot is Cron, the power hitter that clobbered a 500+ foot home run last year and comes up clutch when he gets the opportunity.

6 Nathaniel Lowe- 85

MLB The Show 23 Nathaniel Lowe Player Card

Category	Rating
Contact Versus Righties	79
Contact Versus Lefties	92
Power Versus Righties	69
Power Versus Lefties	72
Vision	55
Discipline	74
Clutch Hitting	90
Bunting Ability	35
Drag Bunt Ability	25
Durability	96
Fielding	47
Arm Strength	50
Throwing Accuracy	59
Reaction	60
Speed	51
Stealing Ability	12
Baserunning Aggressiveness	15

Lowe is one of the rare first basemen that doesn't mind hitting for contact as well as power. If the team gets an upgrade at third base, the Rangers could go places.

5 Matt Olson - 87

Category	Rating
Contact Versus Righties	62
Contact Versus Lefties	64
Power Versus Righties	82
Power Versus Lefties	92
Vision	60
Discipline	84
Clutch Hitting	62
Bunting Ability	39
Drag Bunt Ability	39
Durability	99
Fielding	70
Arm Strength	27
Throwing Accuracy	76
Reaction	68
Speed	38
Stealing Ability	5
Baserunning Aggressiveness	10

The Braves are ranked first in pitching, spearheaded by some of the best relievers in the game. They are also ranked first in power which is a nod to Olson's abilities at the plate.

4 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - 88

MLB The Show 23 Vladimir Guerrero Jr Player Card

Category	Rating
Contact Versus Righties	80
Contact Versus Lefties	66
Power Versus Righties	78
Power Versus Lefties	72
Vision	76
Discipline	71
Clutch Hitting	79
Bunting Ability	35
Drag Bunt Ability	25
Durability	98
Fielding	71
Arm Strength	71
Throwing Accuracy	56
Reaction	68
Speed	42
Stealing Ability	12
Baserunning Aggressiveness	20

By most metrics, the Blue Jays are one of the best teams in baseball and Guerrero is their highest-rated player going into the season. He's well-rounded and durable.

3 Freddie Freeman - 88

MLB The Show 23 Freddie Freeman Player Card

Category	Rating
Contact Versus Righties	99
Contact Versus Lefties	76
Power Versus Righties	68
Power Versus Lefties	54
Vision	81
Discipline	89
Clutch Hitting	99
Bunting Ability	35
Drag Bunt Ability	25
Durability	97
Fielding	63
Arm Strength	52
Throwing Accuracy	87
Reaction	59
Speed	48
Stealing Ability	17
Baserunning Aggressiveness	12

The Dodgers are one of the few teams that can say they've got one of the league's elite catchers. However, Freeman is usually the one coming through in the clutch when Los Angeles needs a big hit.

2 Pete Alonso - 90

Category	Rating
Contact Versus Righties	77
Contact Versus Lefties	58
Power Versus Righties	90
Power Versus Lefties	97
Vision	66
Discipline	69
Clutch Hitting	70
Bunting Ability	35
Drag Bunt Ability	25
Durability	98
Fielding	54
Arm Strength	43
Throwing Accuracy	37
Reaction	62
Speed	26
Stealing Ability	9
Baserunning Aggressiveness	13

The Mets have some of the best starting pitchers in baseball but they can't ignore the pop that Alonso provides at the plate. He's also one of the increasingly rare durable players at first.

1 Paul Goldschmidt - 96

MLB The Show 23 Paul Goldschmidt Player Card

Category	Rating
Contact Versus Righties	84
Contact Versus Lefties	99
Power Versus Righties	72
Power Versus Lefties	99
Vision	67
Discipline	82
Clutch Hitting	90
Bunting Ability	35
Drag Bunt Ability	25
Durability	92
Fielding	67
Arm Strength	30
Throwing Accuracy	82
Reaction	73
Speed	36
Stealing Ability	18
Baserunning Aggressiveness	67

Last year's National League MVP put together an incredible season at the plate. His team needs a better left fielder to shoulder the load if they want to win the World Series.

MLB The Show 23 is available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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