In sports there are many situations where the size, height, speed, strength and athletic ability really make a difference.
In fact, when many teams are scouting across sports in general, the first piece of information usually gathered or provided is the height and weight of the player. This provides a general first impression on what the player would look like.
Baseball is a unique sport and has many excellent qualities and elements that draw people to the game. One of the great things for people of all sizes is the important of height.
Does Height Matter in Baseball?
No, there are baseball players of all heights that range from 5’ 6 inches” to well over 6” 5” in Major League Baseball. Typically, there is an advantage to being taller as a pitcher, but as an everyday player in the field, it does not significantly make a difference.
Currently, there are all star level players of every height and weight in Major League Baseball. The first two players that come to mind on the shorter end are Jose Altuve and Jose Ramirez.
Jose Altuve is 5’ 6” and Jose Rameriz is 5’ 9”. Both players hit for a high average, plenty of RBIs and have plenty of home run power. They are also excellent in the field and help their teams out in multiple areas.
There are also pitchers under 6 feet who are all stars and play a significant role on their teams.
The best baseball teams often have players of all heights and talents. As the demands to play middle infield are different from playing corner infield positions. Outfield also has a wide range of heights, as the key really is the speed and the ability to read the ball off the bat in addition to overall arm strength.
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Why Doesn’t Height Matter in Baseball?
There are 5 keys or tools to being an excellent baseball player. They include:
- Hitting
- Hitting for Power
- Running Speed
- Fielding
- Arm Strength
A 5 tool player has all five of these skills and are highly rated in each one. Height does not impact one’s ability to hit for average or power or how fast they are. It also doesn’t negatively impact fielding ability, in fact it might help a middle infielder due to the quickness often required to play shortstop or second base and finally arm strength is not impacted by the height of a player.
All of these factors added up show that height does not impact one’s ability to play baseball at a high level.
If we break it down further, baseball is a sport where you aren’t directly competing with a player. While the pitcher is throwing a pitch, they are 60 feet way from the batter. While in a sport like basketball or football, players are competing directly against each other. Someone trying to do a layup in basketball at 5’ 6” is going to be at a disadvantage if someone that is a 6’ 6”player is covering them.
The same holds true in football. If a 6’ 5” 320 pound offensive lineman is blocking a 5’ 9” 250 pound defensive lineman, the offensive lineman has a major advantage. These size differences do not matter in baseball and it comes down more to the skills needed to play the game at a high level.
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Best Baseball Players of All Time Under 6 Feet Tall
- Hank Aaron
- Willie Mays
- Mickey Mantle
- Mel Ott
- Gary Shefield
- Carl Yastrzemski
- Yogi Berra
- Dick Allen
- Willie Horton
- Adrian Beltre
- Ron Cey
- Ivan Rodriguez
- Al Simmons
- Miguel Tejada
- Rogers Hornsby
- Rickey Henderson
- Craig Biggio
- Jim Wynn
- Joe Altuve
- Jose Rameriz
Most of the players on the list above hit for a high average and had plenty of power. They played well in the field and carried their teams to the plate. The great news for any kid currently playing LIttle League Baseball is there is hope regardless of their size.
The key is to develop skills in each of the 5 areas listed above and become a 5 “tool” player. One that can play many positions, have plenty of speed, play great defense and hit for average and power.
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Average Height of Current MLB Players
The current height is 6’ 2”, but there are plenty of quality players still under 6 foot that are big time players in Major League Baseball.
For years, many of the middle infielders were below 6 feet because of the mobility and range needed to play such a demanding defensive position. With the increase in strength training during the high school and minor league years, even the shorter player can gain strength and become a force at the plate as both a quality average hitter and a power hitter. The overall strength of a player can be improved and help with some of the key elements of the game.
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Where Does Height Matter in Baseball?
The one position where height does seem to make a difference is with pitchers. If you are under 6 feet it can be difficult to get a look from a major college baseball team or a professional team. Speed in pitching is at an all time high and players who are taller generally have additional velocity and there is the thought that they are less injury prone with shoulder or arm issues.
Of course there are always exceptions to the rules and there are some excellent pictures currently under 6 feet in the major leagues and in the history of professional baseball.
Next Steps
Get to work! Find a good way to develop the 5 tools that are key to baseball. There are 12 months in a year with more advances in strength training than ever before. If a player has a desire to be great, they can reach a certain level regardless of their height.
Don’t forget to have fun on the journey to reach your personal best and your goals. Sports like baseball are intended to teach some great life lessons while competing and having fun.
Final Thoughts: Does Height Matter in Baseball?
At the end of the day the most encouraging news for baseball players is that heigh does not play a significant role. One can be a future hall of fame at under 6 foot tall, while this could be very difficult in a sport like baseball.
Compared to football and basketball, height in baseball plays the least amount of significance compared to the other two major sports in America. Other great sports where height plays a smaller role is soccer and golf.
Kids should enjoy all sports growing up, but if they have aspirations at playing at a level beyond high school, even at a DIII college, they should consider their future potential height and see where their measurables will be at a certain age. But the bottom line is that sports should be fun and someone should not be discouraged from a sport because of their height or weight. Work hard, get better and enjoy the journey!