Top MLB Players Ranked by Height: A Guide

Baseball enthusiasts and rookies alike often find the physical attributes of MLB players captivating, and height stands out as a characteristic of particular interest. The question is, does height correspond to a player’s success in Major League Baseball? Are taller players more accomplished, or do shorter players grasp an advantage in this sport?

To shed light on this topic, we’ve delved into extensive research, compiling an all-encompassing analysis of MLB player heights and their corresponding performance statistics. This comprehensive guide serves as a valuable resource for long-time baseball aficionados, new supporters, and those with a budding interest in the sport.

The Tallest Major League Baseball Players of 2023

Baseball fields are not just graced by average-sized athletes. In fact, some Major League Baseball players tower over their teammates. The tallest player for the 2023 season is a true giant among men—Sean Hjelle of the San Francisco Giants, who stands an impressive 6′ 11″ tall.

In the list below, we’ve compiled the names of all MLB players who stand 6′ 7″ and taller. Surprisingly, you’ll notice that most of these athletes are pitchers, suggesting that height might serve as a distinct advantage in this position.

Here’s a comprehensive roster of the tallest athletes in the MLB:

1. Sean Hjelle – San Francisco Giants, Pitcher (P), 6′ 11″;
2. Bailey Ober – Minnesota Twins, Pitcher (P), 6′ 9″;
3. Tyler Wells – Baltimore Orioles, Pitcher (P), 6′ 8″;
4. Chris Martin – Boston Red Sox, Pitcher (P), 6′ 8″;
5. Sean Reynolds – Miami Marlins, Pitcher (P), 6′ 8″;
6. Trevor Megill – Minnesota Twins, Pitcher (P), 6′ 8″;
7. Stephen Ridings – New York Mets, Pitcher (P), 6′ 8″;
8. Michel Baez – San Diego Padres, Pitcher (P), 6′ 8″;
9. Tyler Glasnow – Tampa Bay Rays, Pitcher (P), 6′ 8″;
10. Jackson Rutledge – Washington Nationals, Pitcher (P), 6′ 8″;
11. Miguel Castro – Arizona Diamondbacks, Pitcher (P), 6′ 7″;
12. Michael Tonkin – Atlanta Braves, Pitcher (P), 6′ 7″;
13. Gavin Hollowell – Colorado Rockies, Pitcher (P), 6′ 7″;
14. Forrest Whitley – Houston Astros, Pitcher (P), 6′ 7″;
15. Tylor Megill – New York Mets, Pitcher (P), 6′ 7″;
16. Bryce Montes de Oca – New York Mets, Pitcher (P), 6′ 7″;
17. Aaron Judge – New York Yankees, Center Field (CF), 6′ 7″;
18. Domingo Acevedo – Oakland Athletics, Pitcher (P), 6′ 7″;
19. Kyle Muller – Oakland Athletics, Pitcher (P), 6′ 7″;
20. A.J. Puk – Oakland Athletics, Pitcher (P), 6′ 7″;
21. James McArthur – Philadelphia Phillies, Pitcher (P), 6′ 7″;
22. Oneil Cruz – Pittsburgh Pirates, ShortStop (SS), 6′ 7″;
23. Colin Holderman – Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitcher (P), 6′ 7″;
24. Chris Clarke – Seattle Mariners, Pitcher (P), 6′ 7″;
25. Adam Wainwright – St. Louis Cardinals, Pitcher (P), 6′ 7″;
26. Zach Thompson – Toronto Blue Jays, Pitcher (P), 6′ 7″.

As you can see, height brings a unique advantage to these players, both in perception and performance. It’s interesting to note how these athletes utilize their unique physical stature to excel in MLB.

A Peek at the Shortest MLB Players of 2023

While Major League Baseball might be packed with skyscraping athletes, it’s important to remember that height doesn’t equate to talent or success. The 2023 MLB season provides us with the perfect examples of this, with some of the league’s shortest players packing some serious skill and talent. In this instance, standing head and shoulders above the crowd isn’t necessarily a guarantee of success.

The title for the shortest player of the 2023 MLB Season is shared by Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros and Tony Kemp of the Oakland Athletics, both measuring a respectable 5’ 6″. What they might lack in height, they certainly make up for with skill, proving that “size isn’t everything” when it comes to dominating on the baseball field.

To further illustrate that height is far from the most important factor in baseball, we’ve compiled a list of all players who are 5′ 8″ and below. It’s worth remembering that these players are among the best in the world, competing at the very top level, regardless of their stature.

Here’s a snapshot of the shortest athletes in MLB:

1. Jose Altuve – Houston Astros, Second Base (2B), 5′ 6″;
2. Tony Kemp – Oakland Athletics, Second Base (2B), 5′ 6″;
3. Marcus Stroman – Chicago Cubs, Pitcher (P), 5′ 7″;
4. Kolten Wong – Seattle Mariners, Second Base (2B), 5′ 7″;
5. Ozzie Albies – Atlanta Braves, Second Base (2B), 5′ 8″;
6. Chadwick Tromp – Atlanta Braves, Catcher ©, 5′ 8″;
7. Cedric Mullins – Baltimore Orioles, Center Field (CF), 5′ 8″;
8. Ceddanne Rafaela – Boston Red Sox, Third Base (3B), 5′ 8″;
9. Masataka Yoshida – Boston Red Sox, Outfield (OF), 5′ 8″;
10. Nick Madrigal – Chicago Cubs, Second Base (2B), 5′ 8″;
11. Leury Garcia – Chicago White Sox, Second Base (2B), 5′ 8″;
12. Rylan Bannon – Houston Astros, Third Base (3B), 5′ 8″;
13. Nick Allen – Oakland Athletics, Shortstop (SS), 5′ 8″;
14. Josh Harrison – Philadelphia Phillies, Second Base (2B), 5′ 8″;
15. Jonatan Clase – Seattle Mariners, Outfield (OF), 5′ 8″;
16. Francisco Mejía – Tampa Bay Rays, Catcher ©, 5′ 8″;
17. Alejandro Kirk – Toronto Blue Jays, Catcher ©, 5′ 8″.

2023 MLB Player Average Height

In the 2023 MLB season, players most commonly stand at 6 feet 2 inches tall.

According to the 2023 data, MLB players generally range in height from 6 feet to 6 feet 4 inches, with 6 feet 2 inches being the most prevalent height.

2023 MLB Player Height Averages by Position

Here’s a breakdown of the mean heights for players in Major League Baseball during the 2023 season, categorized by their respective positions:

• Pitchers (P) and First Basemen (1B) both average 6 feet 2 inches;
• Designated Hitters (DH) also average 6 feet 2 inches;
• Right Fielders (RF), Center Fielders (CF), and Left Fielders (LF) all average 6 feet 1 inch;
• Third Basemen (3B) also average 6 feet 1 inch;
• Catchers (C) and Shortstops (SS) have an average height of 6 feet;
• Outfielders (OF) also average 6 feet;
• Second Basemen (2B) have the shortest average height at 5 feet 11 inches.

Conclusion

To sum up, Major League Baseball is a rich tapestry of diverse athletes, each bringing their own unique physical attributes, talents, and skills to the game. This analysis highlights how height, while providing certain nuances to the game, does not dictate the success of an MLB player. Regardless of their stature, every player swings bat and catches ball with the same underlying determination, passion, and love for baseball. Ultimately, it’s these attributes, rather than the inches on a measuring tape, that truly measure a player’s greatness.