Making the Grade: Ranking First Basemen in the AL Central

Mar 8, 2015; Surprise, AZ, USA; Cleveland Indians gloves and caps sit in the dugout during to a spring training baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The American League Central is packed full of elite first basemen.

The division has had four AL MVPs since 2009 and three of those awards currently reside with the division’s first basemen – Miguel Cabrera and Joe Mauer. Last year’s AL Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu led the AL in batting average (.317) and home runs (36) at the position and Eric Hosmer won his second Gold Glove. Carlos Santana led all of baseball with 113 walks last season while putting together an impressive second half.

This piece highlights the elite first basemen who occupy the division and ranks them, from 1-5, in reverse order from most productive to least productive.

Next: No. 5

No. 5: Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals

Jun 17, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) at bat against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Hosmer is still young and, at 25 years old, he is certainly capable of quickly ascending toward the top of this list. He demonstrated an ability to hit for both average (.302) and power (17 home runs) in 2013 before watching his numbers dwindle last season.

But the progression of young athletes in baseball is oftentimes not linear.

In a rather pedestrian season, Hosmer still batted .270 and hit a career-high 35 doubles. But he failed to eclipse the double-digit mark in home runs and contributed a career-low 58 RBIs.

The biggest difference over the last two seasons was Hosmer’s performance at home in Kansas City. He hit just .219 in Kauffman Stadium last season, hovering closer to the Mendoza line at different points in the season. By comparison, Hosmer was a consistent .299 hitter on his home field in the year prior.

In positive news, Hosmer crept closer to the .300 mark toward the second half of the season, hitting .366 in July and .290 in September. Hosmer then helped carry the load in the postseason, torturing opposing pitchers with a .351 batting average to go along with 12 RBIs and eight runs scored.

When it was all said and done, Hosmer was a cog in the Royals’ machine that surprised the baseball world on their way to the World Series last season. That is more than the other names on this list can say, but it still does not make up for a full season of mediocrity.

But, as I mentioned, he is still young and there is room for a rapid ascension up this ranking if he puts together a season that more closely reflects his 2013 campaign.

Next: No. 4

No. 4: Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins

Sep 3, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer (7) hits a RBI single in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Not long ago, Joe Mauer would have topped the previous “Making the Grade” list as the best catcher in the division – if not all of baseball.

After making the full-time move out from behind the dish, Mauer was supposed to be more productive for the Twins in 2014 and fell way short. He hit more than 40 points below his career average (.319) and hit just four homeruns. Mauer labored through his least productive season since arriving in the big leagues and, at 31 years old, it does not seem likely that he rights the ship and returns to his 2009 MVP form.

While it is not farfetched to assume he can put up another .300-plus season from the dish, his dwindling power numbers and increasing strikeout rate is cause for concern.

Chalk it up to a transition year if you will, but it is unlikely Mauer belongs in the conversation about the division’s best any longer.

Next: No. 3

No. 3: Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians

Sep 14, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) at bat against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

There was time last season when Carlos Santana seemed destined for the bench. He hit .157 in the first month of the season and followed that up with a putrid .169 performance in May.

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Santana has always seemed to play the game on feel and rhythm and his unproductive first half was no different. Playing behind the dish for the previous four seasons, Santana moved into the field first time and was forced to adjust to life bouncing between third base and first base on a regular basis. He struck out at a much higher clip and regressed drastically after several promising years for the Tribe.

But the real Santana showed himself after the All-Star break, slashing .260 / .385 / .475 in his final 242 at-bats. He cut his strikeouts in half and drove the ball into the gaps, tallying 26 extra-base knocks on 63 total hits.

Santana was a different player in the second half of the season and he was the middle-of-the-order bat Cleveland needs to compete in 2015. Expect him to pick up where he left off last season and help carry the load as the Tribe competes for the AL Central crown.

Next: No. 2

No. 2: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

Jun 19, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) hits an RBI double in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe Miguel Cabrera is getting the LeBron James treatment. That is, he has been so good for so long that we have been spoiled. If he does not produce Triple Crown numbers every season, we are no longer impressed.

Or, perhaps, Cabrera really has slipped to number two on this list.

The 31-year-old Venezuelan has been hampered by a number of injuries over the last two seasons and he has been slowed by a stress fracture in his ankle again this spring. When he is healthy, Cabrera is the most prolific offensive player in the game.

But he’s not.

Entering his 13th professional season, Cabrera saw a pretty significant decrease in production last season. His average was 35 points down (.348 in 2013, .313 in 2014) and his power numbers – at least in terms of home runs – fell from 44 to 25.

With another injury creeping up already, Cabrera may again experience a drop in his power numbers. He seemed to have an inability to drive the ball at times in 2014 and, with another lower body injury, there is little reason to believe that will not be the case again.

The sudden fall is cause for minor concern, just as it was with Albert Pujols in 2013. But Pujols rebounded tremendously last season. If Cabrera follows suit, he could very well reclaim his seat at the top of the division.

Next: No. 1