Three elite first basemen once called home to the NL Central division, but this season not one National Leaguer cracks the top five list of offensive first basemen. While Joey Votto missed significant time as a result of injuries, Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder crack the list with new teams in the American League. The bigger surprises on this list are Royals sudden slugger Billy Butler and Blue Jays breakout star Edwin Encarnacion.
Top 5 First Basemen
5) Albert Pujols, Angels
By the time that the season is finished very few people will remember the slow start from Albert Pujols. The memories have faded considering Pujols has been his usual self over the past 105 games with a .319 average, 26 home runs, 86 RBI, and even seven stolen bases.
It is clear that Pujols is not as dominant as he once was. This is now the fourth consecutive season that the legend’s average has declined and the third straight season that the home runs have edged down. Regardless, with 30 home runs, 102 RBI, and a .287 average Pujols remains amongst the elite in baseball. At 32 years old, there are still several stellar seasons to come from the future Hall of Famer who sits just 25 home runs shy of 500 for his career and 69 RBI shy of 1500.
4) Billy Butler, Royals
Just when we thought the book was written on Billy Butler, the long-time Royals designated hitter evolved into a completely different type of hitter. The 26-year-old veteran had become known as a doubles machine with good plate discipline and a .300 lifetime average. However, this season he is swinging for the fences, something Robinson Cano ignored when selecting the home run derby AL representatives for the 2012 All-Star game played in Kansas City.
Butler has blasted 29 home runs with 106 RBI, easily 10 more than his previous highs in both categories. Considering first basemen and designated hitters have long been a source of power output, the sudden change in Butler’s performance carries great fantasy relevance.
Butler is off to an incredible start in his young career as he leads all Major League players aged 26 or younger in hits. In fact, the next closest in that category is Justin Upton, a 25-year-old outfielder, who has 220 fewer hits in his career. Butler is just 48 hits shy of 1,000 for his career, putting him on track to follow Royals legend George Brett into the 3,000 hits club.
3) Prince Fielder, Tigers
Despite playing for the same franchise as his father and having a similar physique, Prince Fielder is a remarkably different player than Cecil Fielder. While the senior was more of an all-or-nothing slugger, Prince is incredible for his consistency. He has blasted at least three home runs in every month with at least 10 RBI and 10 walks.
Even though Fielder is set to have his lowest home run total since his rookie season, the Tigers are not complaining. After all, Fielder will enjoy his first season with an average north of .300 and his strikeouts will be a career-low.
At 28 years old, Fielder is enjoying his prime and despite everyone’s concern about his 275 lbs. on a 5’11 frame, Fielder has been remarkably durable never missing more than five games in a season. Fielder will once again be considered a safe bet in the 2013 fantasy baseball drafts.
2) Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays
Certainly the greatest surprise to make this list Edwin Encarnacion made the leap from a dangerous threat to a reliable slugger. The 29-year-old first baseman / designated hitter had some fine moments from 2010 to 2011, and yet if you combine his home runs and RBI over that stretch, it fails to reach this year’s totals in each category.
What makes Encarnacion a fantasy superstar is that similar to his teammate Jose Bautista, he did not simply start swinging for the fences. Instead, Encarnacion has improved in nearly every facet of his game. He is drawing significantly more walks, stealing more bases, and should be able to keep his strikeouts in double digits.
While Encarnacion is enjoying a dream season, even greater things could await in 2013 when Bautista returns to create the most formidable 1-2 slugger’s punch in baseball. That could translate to more runs and improved run production for Encarnacion.
1) Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
A lock for the American League MVP, the only question for Miguel Cabrera is whether he can finish with a flourish that will earn him the league’s Triple Crown. Cabrera currently leads the AL with a .327 average and 136 RBI, while he’s tied with Josh Hamilton with 43 home runs.
Cabrera has long been one of the elite players in baseball. He has been in the top-five voting for the MVP award in five different seasons including in each of the last three years. Sure, he is not as well-rounded as Albert Pujols, specifically when it comes to defense and his ability on the base paths, but Cabrera has matured to become as complete a hitter as there is in the game. Best of all, the Tigers star is not even 30 years old yet.
As it stands, Cabrera is easily the most accomplished hitter in baseball under 30 years old. He has 300 more hits than the next closest (Jose Reyes), better than 60 home runs more than Prince Fielder, and 300 RBI more than David Wright. To think that Cabrera is only getting better explains why he’s likely the top pick in next year’s fantasy drafts.
Biggest Busts
3) Mark Teixeira, Yankees
Yankees fans were able to ignore the sudden decline in batting average a few years ago from Mark Teixeira as his batting clip declined from .292 to .256 then to .248, since he still offered the 30-plus home runs and 100-plus RBI. However, this season the wheels have fallen off for Big Tex as his home run total of 23 home runs is the lowest of his career. Teixeira remains an excellent defensive first baseman and his plate discipline remains strong, but when it comes to fantasy contributions his value has endured a steep decline.
2) Gaby Sanchez, Pirates
Just a year ago, Gaby Sanchez looked like a star on the rise for the Florida Marlins, blasting 19 home runs for a second straight season. Even more impressive was his 74 walks leading to a solid .354 on base percentage. The franchise’s transformation to the Miami Marlins was only supposed to help Sanchez as Jose Reyes was brought in to jumpstart the lineup. Instead, Sanchez had just three home runs and a .202 average to show for the first 55 games of the season and he was demoted to the minor leagues.
The Pirates have since acquired Sanchez and he has hit .262 with four home runs in 46 games with an impressive .346 on base percentage. At 29 years old, Sanchez is far from a prospect, and his disastrous 2012 season may now keep him from securing a starting gig in the big leagues.
1) Eric Hosmer, Royals
A can’t-miss prospect completely missed this season! Eric Hosmer had a stellar rookie campaign with 19 home runs and a .293 average last season, but he has been lost at the plate in 2012. Hosmer’s 14 home runs and 16 steals are respectable, but it comes with a .232 batting clip. The third pick of the 2008 draft will now enter 2013 with everything to prove.