Average Baseball Player Height: What’s the Standard?
As the years and the decades have passed, the Major League Baseball players have continued to get taller and bigger. In the early days of MLB, speed was valued more than power. These days, teams look to build their lineups with home run hitters and pitchers who can hit triple digits on the radar gun.
Not every batter will resemble the 6-foot-7, 280-pound Aaron Judge, and not all the pitchers who stand 6-foot-9 like Minnesota starter Bailey Ober. However, bigger is definitely better when scouting for the next wave of big leagues.
Let’s take a look at the average baseball player’s height.
Introduction to Muscular Baseball Players
One of the most hyped recent draft picks is 2023 No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes. The 6-foot-6, 260-pound LSU pitcher was the obvious No. 1 selection. He has not disappointed since making his MLB debut.
There are plenty of other rising stars who are 6-foot-4 or taller. That will be the rule and not the exception in the coming years when it comes to the average height of baseball players.
Understanding the Average Height of Baseball Players
How Tall is the Average Baseball Player in MLB?
For those asking how tall is the average baseball player, the answer is that the average player in the major leagues during the 2025 season stands a little over 6-foot-1. What a difference some years can make. There was a time when that number was closer to 5-8.
Some teams don’t have players in the 5-7 to 5-8 range. The Kansas City Royals did not have a pitcher under six feet tall on its opening day roster, compared to five pitchers 6-foot-4 or taller. That impacts the average MLB height.
We’ll examine how the average heights vary by position (credit to JokerMag.com and stathead).
Breaking Down the Average MLB Height
Average MLB Pitcher Height: How Tall Are They?
The average pitcher in the MLB stands between 6’2” and 6’3”. It is not unusual for a pitching staff to feature multiple players 6’6” or taller.
There is more to being a productive pitcher than height. Marcus Stroman of the New York Yankees stands just 5’7”. The San Francisco Giants sent 6-foot-11 reliever Steve Hjelle to the minor leagues to start the season. When he returns to the Giants, his height will impact the average MLB pitcher height.
Average Height of MLB Players by Position
What’s the Typical Height for an MLB Shortstop?
Thanks to Cal Ripken Jr. and Alex Rodriguez, the days of diminutive players manning the shortstop position are a thing of the past.
There is still a place for the Miami Marlins’ 5-foot-8 Xavier Edwards. However, more shortstops are 6-foot-2 or taller.
We are getting dangerously close to the average height of a shortstop exceeding 6 feet, which would have been unheard of just 20 years ago.
The average height of MLB shortstops took a hit when the 6-foot-7 Oneil Cruz was moved from shortstop to the outfield. There is still the 6-foot-5, 200-pound Elly De La Cruz to serve as the face of the modern-day MLB shortstop.
Average MLB Height for a First Baseman
Putting the tallest infielder at first base begins in Little League as a rangy first baseman gives the other infielders more of a target to aim for.
The ability of first basemen to reach the high throws and scoop the low throws can be invaluable.
Nathaniel Lowe of the Washington Nationals is one of the taller first basemen at 6-foot-4. Many top first basemen, including Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies, check in at 6’2”.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Ryan Mountcastle of the Baltimore Orioles is another of the bigger MLB first basemen. Vinnie Pasquantino of the Kansas City Royals stands 6’3” and weighs 245 pounds.
What’s the Average Height for an MLB Outfielder?
Even though Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and James Wood of the Washington Nationals are 6-foot-7, the average height for an MLB outfielder is between 6’0” and 6’1”.
Leadoff hitters often play in the outfield and are well under 6 feet tall.
It further proves that MLB stars come in different sizes and shapes.
Judge is annually among the top home-run hitters. Perhaps he will be considered among the greatest MLB players of all time. The 6-foot-4 Kyle Tucker is another super-sized first baseman with the production to match his frame, while Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers is another 6-foot-4 first baseman.
How Height Affects Performance in Baseball
If a scout has a choice between a player standing 5’10” or 6’4”, they will give the edge to the taller player.
With the focus on physically fit players, more players resemble NFL stars. The stronger the play, the more likely they can send a ball out of the park or at least into the gap.
It is a similar deal with pitchers. Finesse hurlers have been replaced with prodigies who can reach 100 miles per hour on the radar gun.
Does the Average Height of a Baseball Player Matter?
Many factors make a great baseball player. It doesn’t hurt to be the biggest and strongest player. However, Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros, the shortest player in MLB, still has a place in the game.
A few extra inches can also be beneficial on defense. It might be the difference between a ball getting past a third baseman or turning into a key out. The average height of an MLB player by position will continue to grow.
Average Height of Baseball Players: Insights and Trends
Major League Baseball players continue to be bigger, faster, and stronger. During the steroid era, a bulked-up player might have been subjected to inquiries about his training habits. That is not the case anymore, as teams love to see their players look like they know their way around a weight room.
Power is a priority for hitters and pitchers in MLB, and that won’t change any time soon as teams look for bigger pitchers and hitters.
