San Francisco Giants: Top Ten First Baseman in Team History

By Michael Saltzman

Jan 9, 2017

Aug 31, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (9) extends to catch the ball to retire Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Shelby Miller (26) during the third inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 4, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (9) hits a solo home run in the eighteenth inning against the Washington Nationals in game two of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Brandon Belt (2011-Current)

Wins Above Replacement: 16.9

Belt has played six seasons with the Giants. He went to the All-Star game in 2016 and finished last season with a slashline of .275/.394/.474 for an OPS of .868.

Belt has been consistent throughout his career and his consistency has been the main reason for most fans frustration. While most players would earn praise for consistency, Belt is looked at more as a player who hasn’t improved instead of a player who continues to produce.

Belt will likely hit 15-20 home runs in 2017 with 65-75 runs batted in while hitting .270. He will have a slugging percentage over .450 and he will have an OPS over .800. He is unlikely to hit 30 home runs, drive in 100 runs or hit .300. He will almost certainly not have an OPS over .900. Because fans want that from Belt, fans will continue to be unhappy with the Giants productive and consistent first baseman.

So far, he has played 712 career games at first base in San Francisco and has a career slashline with the Giants of .272/.359/.460 for an OPS of .818. Despite many fans cries for a recount, those numbers are right with J.T. Snow‘s production in San Francisco and both are strong defensive first baseman. Snow certainly has more hardware with Gold Gloves, but Belt is underrated as a defender.