FanGraphs looks at the disconnect between the perception of Eric Hosmer as a good first baseman and the reality of average to below average play. Hosmer is very good at scooping throws. First basemen don’t field many balls compared to most other defensive positions, so when you see Hosmer making great scoops, you get the impression that he is a great defensive player:

But scoops are just a part of a first baseman’s defense. Even elite scoop artists like Hosmer save just a couple runs per season with this ability. The bigger part of any defender’s game is range, and Hosmer’s manager Ned Yost admitted in Dodd’s piece that “[Hosmer] doesn’t have exceptional range.” And that’s the very reason Hosmer has graded out as the worst defensive first baseman in baseball this year.

On top of that, the Royals are known as an excellent defensive team. That builds a bias in our minds toward Hosmer being good.

Of course, the job of the first baseman, in mind, is to hit and be able to catch balls thrown right at him. Hosmer does both of those, so I would not be too worried about his range.