The All-Century High School Team: Best First Baseman Since 2000

High school baseball is where legends first take shape. Before the big-league contracts, ESPN highlights, and packed stadiums, the game belonged to the dreamers — kids with outsized talent and even bigger ambition.

With the All-Century Team, we're digging into the archives to spark the ultimate debate. Who were the top high school players at each position since 2000 that we saw? This series isn’t just about who made it in the pros. It’s about who owned the diamond when they were still rocking metal spikes and eye black under Friday night lights.

Let’s kick it off with a good one and look at first base. Would you take Eric Hosmer over Pete Alonso in high school?

Runner-Up: Eric Hosmer (American Heritage, FL)

Hosmer’s senior year at American Heritage was the stuff of legend. He hit over .470 with double-digit home runs and nearly a .990 slugging percentage. More than just numbers, Hosmer carried himself like a future star. Scouts loved the lefty stroke, the body, the presence. He led his team to a state title and looked like he belonged in a big-league lineup even as a teenager. There was polish, power, and poise. In another group, he might take the top spot. Here, he's our runner-up.

Pete Alonso  (Plant High School, Florida)

Alonso wasn’t subtle. He hit baseballs hard, often, and far. At Plant High in Tampa, he slugged his way to a .460 average, racked up nearly 100 RBI, and piled up doubles and home runs like they were BP reps. They called him “Polar Bear” for a reason and not just because he’s colder than a toenail. He played with aggression and a chip on his shoulder. The swing wasn’t textbook, but it didn’t have to be. His power was undeniable. Alonso’s intensity and production made him one of the most feared prep hitters in Florida, and it set the stage for his meteoric rise in New York.

Joey Votto (Richview Collegiate, Ontario)

Votto’s high school career flew under the radar, mostly because he wasn’t in a baseball hotbed. But the foundation was solid. The swing was quiet, efficient, and repeatable. He had an advanced approach that made scouts take notice despite the lack of gaudy numbers. Drafted in the second round straight out of Richview Collegiate, Votto’s precision and discipline at the plate would become his trademarks. His high school career didn’t come with the same fireworks, but it came with clues: subtle, sharp, and long-lasting.

Our Winner: Freddie Freeman (El Modena High School, California)

Freeman had that swing. The kind you remember. At El Modena in Southern California, he hit over .400, drove in runs with ease, and looked like a natural from the first pitch of the game. He was long, smooth, and deceptively powerful. He also pitched, but no one could take their eyes off the bat. His mechanics were advanced, his timing impeccable, and the sound off his barrel was unforgettable. There was a calm about him, a quiet star in the making. He became an MVP and a World Series champ, but the blueprint was all there in high school. He’s our pick to anchor first base on the All-Century Team.

Why Freeman Wins the Debate

Hosmer had the polish. Alonso brought the fire. Votto was wise beyond his years. But Freeman combined it all: the bat, the balance, the presence. He was the most complete high school first baseman of the last 25 years.

Think we got it right? Sound off and tag us.