How All-MLB Team 1B nominees stack up

November 11th, 2021

Voting for the 2021 All-MLB Team presented by Cue Health is underway, and you can help decide which players will be honored as the best of the regular season at each position, with 50% of the vote coming from fans and 50% coming from a panel of experts.

You can vote right here, and may continue to do so once every 24 hours between now and when voting ends on Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. ET. The 2021 All-MLB Team will be announced Nov. 23 on MLB Network. There will be a first team and second team All-MLB, and voters are asked only to consider performance during the regular season when casting their ballots.

The nominees at each position were revealed Wednesday on MLB Network, and 10 first basemen are up for consideration to be part of the 2021 All-MLB Team, though only two can be chosen.

Here’s a breakdown of each of the All-MLB candidates at first base:

José Abreu, White Sox
2021 stats: .261 AVG, 30 HR, 117 RBIs, 1 SB, .831 OPS
Last year’s American League MVP and the first baseman on the All-MLB second team, Abreu had another strong season in 2021. For the fifth time in his eight-year MLB career, Abreu reached the 30-homer and 100-RBI plateaus in the same season.

, Mets
2021 stats: .262 AVG, 37 HR, 94 RBIs, 3 SB, .863 OPS
While the Mets finished 27th in the Majors in runs scored, Alonso served as a source of stability for the club’s offense. The third-year slugger posted a 134 OPS+ while leading New York in nearly every notable category, including homers, RBIs, hits (147), runs scored (81) and total bases (291).

, Braves
2021 stats: .300 AVG, 31 HR, 83 RBIs, 8 SB, .896 OPS
After winning the National League MVP Award and earning a spot on the All-MLB first team in 2020, Freeman suffered through a slow start this past season. But by the end of the year, his numbers looked like they always do, and Atlanta won its fourth straight NL East crown.

, Cardinals
2021 stats: .294 AVG, 31 HR, 99 RBIs, 12 SB, .879 OPS
Goldschmidt was one of baseball’s best hitters in the second half, posting a .330 average, 18 homers and a 1.020 OPS over 70 games and playing a key role in the Cardinals’ franchise-record 17-game winning streak in September. The 34-year-old ended up finishing with a 143 OPS+ over 158 games, and he also won his fourth Gold Glove Award after leading all first baseman with +10 defensive runs saved.

, Blue Jays
2021 stats: .311 AVG, 48 HR, 111 RBIs, 4 SB, 1.002 OPS
Everything clicked for Guerrero in his third big league season, and the breakout was worth the wait. Guerrero tied Salvador Perez for the Major League lead in homers and led the AL in on-base percentage (.401) and slugging (.601), all at the age of 22. No MLB player had more runs scored (123) or total bases (363) than the young slugger.

, Astros
2021 stats: .319 AVG, 15 HR, 81 RBIs, 1 SB, .846 OPS
After struggling (77 OPS+) during the shortened 2020 season, Gurriel bounced back to post a career-best .319 average and a 131 OPS+ as a 37-year-old in 2021, becoming the oldest player since Barry Bonds in 2004 to win a batting title. Gurriel was also recognized for his defensive work when he won the AL Gold Glove Award.

, Orioles
2021 stats: .255 AVG, 33 HR, 89 RBIs, 4 SB, .796 OPS
Settling in as the Orioles’ starting first baseman after drawing frequent starts in left field early in the season, Mountcastle led all rookies in homers. The 24-year-old really hit his stride as the weather got warmer, recording 29 homers and an .882 OPS in his final 96 games.

, Dodgers
2021 stats: .249 AVG, 36 HR, 94 RBIs, 2 SB, .895 OPS
With Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger and AJ Pollock all missing considerable time due to injuries, the Dodgers’ offense often had to lean on Muncy in 2021, and the left-handed slugger was up to the challenge. Muncy led the 106-win club in homers, RBIs, runs (95) and walks (83) while putting up a 138 OPS+. He was also a positive defensive presence, recording +7 outs above average and +6 DRS as a first baseman.

, Athletics
2021 stats: .271 AVG, 39 HR, 111 RBIs, 4 SB, .911 OPS
Olson put a rough 2020 season (.195 average, 103 OPS+) behind him and made significant strides at the plate in 2021, lowering his strikeout rate by 14.6 percentage points (31.4% to 16.8%) without sacrificing his power production or straying from his patient approach. The A’s first baseman set career highs in homers, RBIs, batting average, runs (101) and walks (88), while recording a 153 OPS+. The two-time Gold Glove Award winner also led the AL with +6 DRS.

, Reds
2021 stats: .266 AVG, 36 HR, 99 RBIs, 1 SB, .938 OPS
Votto entered 2021 having hit just 38 homers in 341 games across 2018-20. He nearly matched that total in 2021, socking 36 dingers over 129 games in a remarkable rebound season. The 38-year-old’s .938 OPS and 136 OPS+ were his highest marks since 2017, when he finished second to Giancarlo Stanton in the NL MVP Award voting.