The first base position has traditionally been where most MLB franchises turn to for the pop in their lineup. These American League first basemen certainly fit that bill,\u00a0and will be key weapons for their respective teams in 2017.<\/p>\n
The future Hall of Famer is what other first basemen aim to model themselves after, or at least they should. His .316 average and .956 OPS in 2016 are impressive in their own right; add in 38 home runs and 108 RBI, and the two-time MVP is showing that at 33 years old he has no plans of slowing down. Over his career, he has batted .321 with 446 homers and 1,553 RBI.<\/p>\n
He is the same age as Cabrera and may not have the same career numbers (.295, 240 home runs, 818 RBI), but his 2016 season was certainly memorable. He hit 30 dingers with 111 RBI, while maintaining a more than respectable .286 average. One thing that may surprise some fans is his 276 career stolen bases. Few players put together careers with 300 home runs, 1,000 RBI, and 300 stolen bases, but another couple solid seasons while see Hanley reach this feat.<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old is an imposing presence at the plate, making pitchers question how to approach him with each at-bat. His .221 average and .792 OPS last season were underwhelming, and if he did not hit 38 HR and drive in 84, his bat would have been\u00a0more of a liability than a threat. He had the lowest batting average among all players on this list, by .045 points, so he’ll need to turn that around in 2017 while maintaining his power stroke.<\/p>\n
The First Baseman’s Mitt: Why It Is What It Is<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n