Happy Opening Day Baseball Fans

Here’s a look at the wide variety of shapes and sizes of the athletes that we will see on the mound this year.

First, let’s take a look at this scatter plot of the height and weight of every pitcher on an MLB 40-man roster

Averages

Here are the average scores of the 660 (ish) pitchers listed on the 40-man roster for each MLB organization

1.Height – 74.6 inches (6’2.6”)

2.Weight – 210 lbs

3.BMI – 26.6

Here’s an average-looking guy: Jose Urena of the Rockies

Max and Min

1. Height – 6’8” & 5’7” (difference of 13 inches)

*if Sean Hjelle gets called up by the Giants his 6’11” frame changes that to 16 inch difference.

2. Weight – 285 & 160lbs (difference of 125lbs)

3. BMI – 35.9 & 19.4 (difference of 16.6)

Tallest

One of the few guys listed at 6’8” – Tyler Wells @ 260 lbs

Again, if Sean Hjelle gets called like he did last fall he easily becomes the tallest pitcher.  The tallest of all time.  We are inching our way closer and closer to seeing a 7-footer toe the rubber

Shortest

Marcus Stroman is the shortest player in the MLB.  He’s 7.6 inches shorter than league average.

He’s 5’7” but he tips the scales at 180 lbs.

Another elite athlete, Matt Bush, is the second shortest at 5’9”.

Lightest

Here’s Reiver Sanmartin at 160lbs and his average height of 6’2”

Heaviest

This year’s title goes to the Blue Jay’s Opening starter Alek Manoah @ 285 lbs and 6’6”

The mechanics these athletes use have to differ based on their shape and size yet they can all produce MLB stuff. Learn more about how these differences play out in my free e-book.

https://glheman.gumroad.com/l/maxitf

Here’s to a great 2023 baseball season

Graeme Lehman, MSc, CSCS