Former Boston Red Sox All-Star Rafael Devers was ranked eighth on ESPN.com senior writer Buster Olney's list of MLB's top 10 first basemen on Thursday.
Red Sox offseason acquisition Willson Contreras just missed the cut, as he was among seven of Olney's honorable mentions.
"A tough hitter who has adapted well in his position shift to first base. His strikeouts spiked last year to a career-high 142, and his walk rate of 7.8 in '25 was a career low," the veteran MLB insider wrote.
Contreras spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Chicago Cubs, earning All-Star honors in 2018, 2019 and 2022 while serving as their primary catcher.
The 33-year-old played the last three years with the St. Louis Cardinals and transitioned from catcher to first base during the 2025 campaign.
Contreras finished last season with 20 home runs and career highs in plate appearances (563), runs scored (70), hits (126), doubles (31), RBIs (80) and total bases (219) while recording nine errors and a .991 fielding percentage across 120 contests at first base.
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