Who Is The Tallest MLB Player
Major League Baseball (MLB) has seen a plethora of towering athletes grace its fields over the years. The heights of these players have often sparked interest and curiosity among fans and analysts alike. This blog post aims to shed light on the tallest MLB players, both past and present.
Current Tallest MLB Players
As of 2023, the title of the tallest player in the MLB is shared by two individuals - Sean Hjelle and Jon Erich Rauch. Both standing at an impressive height of 6 feet 11 inches, they are the tallest players in the history of Major League Baseball.
Sean Hjelle
Sean Hjelle, a relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, is not only the tallest player in baseball in 2023 but also one of the tallest players ever to play baseball. At just 25 years old, Hjelle has already made a significant impact on the field, striking out 18 batters in his first six outings.
Jon Erich Rauch
Jon Erich Rauch, born on September 27, 1978, is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He shares the title of the tallest player in MLB history with Hjelle. Rauch's career spanned 11 seasons, during which he had a career ERA of 3.90. He last pitched in 2013 with the Miami Marlins. In addition to his impressive height, Rauch is also an Olympic Gold Medalist in baseball.
Tallest MLB Player of All Time
While Hjelle and Rauch hold the record for the tallest MLB players, the tallest player in the history of professional baseball is Ludovicus Jacobus Maria "Loek" van Mil. Standing at a staggering height of 7 feet 1 inch, van Mil was a Dutch professional baseball pitcher. Although he never played in the MLB, his towering stature still holds the record in professional baseball.
Does Height Matter in Baseball?
While there is no written height minimum or maximum for Major League Baseball, the average height of a professional baseball player in the major leagues is approximately 6 feet. However, this can vary depending on the position. For instance, the average height of a pitcher is over 6 feet 2.5 inches, making it the tallest position in the MLB.