A hybrid rectifier is provided including a top diode for conducting current during a positive current portion of a line current, a top transistor connected in parallel to the top diode, a bottom diode for conducting current during a negative current portion of the line current, and a bottom transistor connected in parallel to the bottom diode. A hybrid-rectifier controller is connected to the top transistor and the bottom transistor for implementing a transistor control strategy such that, during the positive current portion of the line current, the top diode conducts current and the bottom transistor conducts current only when the line current is below a sinusoidal reference current. Similarly, during the negative current portion of the line current, the bottom diode conducts current and the top transistor conducts current only when the line current is above the sinusoidal reference current.