{"id":1261,"date":"2024-02-23T14:44:09","date_gmt":"2024-02-23T18:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/br-blog\/?p=1261"},"modified":"2025-11-03T11:54:43","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T15:54:43","slug":"top-14-tallest-players-in-mlb-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/br-blog\/2024\/02\/top-14-tallest-players-in-mlb-ever\/","title":{"rendered":"Tallest Players in MLB History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(last updated on November 3, 2025)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Height in baseball can certainly help \u2013 think of a first baseman stretching out to make a play or a pitcher using leverage for more speed and power. However, unlike a sport like basketball, it isn\u2019t a requirement for excellence. For example, Jos\u00e9 Altuve is one of the best infielders of his generation despite being 5\u20196\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the average height in MLB is surely higher than the national average, exceptionally tall players 6\u20198\u201d and over are very rare. So who is the tallest of the tall? Here is the list of the tallest MLB players ever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\n\n
\"Photo\"Photo\n<\/div>
\n\t

\n\t\tJon Rauch<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n

\n Position:<\/strong>\n Pitcher\n \n<\/p>\n\n

\n\tBats: <\/strong>Right\n  \u2022 \n\tThrows: <\/strong>Right\n \n<\/p>\n\n\n

6-11<\/span>, 290lb<\/span> (211cm, 131kg) <\/p>\n\n\n

\n Born:<\/a><\/strong>\n \n September 27<\/a>, 1978<\/a>\n <\/span> (Age: 45-126d)<\/span>\n\n \n \n \n in Louisville, KY<\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n us<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Draft<\/strong>: Drafted by the Chicago White Sox<\/a> in the 3rd round<\/a> of the 1999 MLB June Amateur Draft from Morehead State University (Morehead, KY)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n

High School:<\/strong> Oldham County HS (Buckner, KY)<\/a><\/p>\n \n \n \n

School:<\/strong> Morehead State University (Morehead, KY)<\/a><\/p>\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n

Debut:<\/a><\/strong>\n \n April 2, 2002\n <\/a>\n (Age 23-187d,\n 18,012th in major league history)\n
   vs. SEA<\/a> 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER\n \n <\/p>\n\n \n

Last Game:<\/a><\/strong>\n May 17, 2013<\/a>\n (Age 34-232d)\n
   vs. ARI<\/a> 1.0 IP, 4 H, 1 SO, 1 BB, 2 ER\n <\/p>\n\n\n \n\n\n\n

\n Rookie Status:<\/a><\/strong>\n \n Exceeded rookie limits during 2004 season\n \n \n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n

\n National Team:<\/strong>\n us<\/span>\n USA (Pro,Oly)\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n

\n Full Name:<\/strong> Jon Erich Rauch \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n

Pronunciation<\/strong>: \\RauSHH<\/a>\\<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n

\n Twitter:<\/a>\n <\/strong>\n @jrauch60<\/a><\/p>\n \n\n \n\n

\n View Player Info<\/a> \n from the B-R Bullpen<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t

\n\t\n 51 \n\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n 51 \n\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n 51 \n\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n 57 \n\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n 60 \n\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n 60 \n\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n 60 \n\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n 60 \n\n\t<\/a>\n\t
+7<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n
\nSUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n\n

Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

\n
\nWAR<\/strong><\/span>\n

6.2<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nW<\/strong><\/span>\n

43<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nL<\/strong><\/span>\n

40<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nERA<\/strong><\/span>\n

3.90<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

\n
\nG<\/strong><\/span>\n

556<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nGS<\/strong><\/span>\n

11<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nSV<\/strong><\/span>\n

62<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

\n
\nIP<\/strong><\/span>\n

595.0<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nSO<\/strong><\/span>\n

475<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nWHIP<\/strong><\/span>\n

1.240<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Listed at 6\u201911\u201d and 290lbs, pitcher Jon Rauch was not only the tallest pitcher in MLB during his playing days, but he is tied for the honor of the tallest MLB player ever. Rauch spent most of his career as a reliever but has 11 career starts to his name. In 2004 while playing for the Montreal Expos, Rauch hit a home run<\/a> in a game against the Houston Astros. Though this was his only hit of the season, he would make history as the tallest player to hit a home run in the Majors. Rauch retired in 2013 after 11 MLB seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n\t
\n\t\n\n
\"Photo\"Photo\n<\/div>
\n\t

\n\t\tSean Hjelle<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n

\n Position:<\/strong>\n Pitcher\n \n<\/p>\n\n

\n\tBats: <\/strong>Right\n  \u2022 \n\tThrows: <\/strong>Right\n \n \n<\/p>\n\n\n

6-11<\/span>, 247lb<\/span> (211cm, 112kg) <\/p>\n\n

\n Team:<\/strong>\n San Francisco Giants<\/a> (minors)\n <\/p>\n\n\n

\n Born:<\/a><\/strong>\n \n May 7<\/a>, 1997<\/a>\n <\/span> (Age: 28-175d)<\/nobr><\/span>\n\n \n \n \n in Fridley, MN<\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n us<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Draft<\/strong>: Drafted by the San Francisco Giants<\/a> in the 2nd round<\/a> of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n

High School:<\/strong> Mahtomedi HS (Mahtomedi, MN)<\/a><\/p>\n \n \n \n

School:<\/strong> University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)<\/a><\/p>\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n

Debut:<\/a><\/strong>\n \n May 6, 2022\n <\/a>\n (Age 24-364d,\n 22,634th in major league history)\n
   vs. STL<\/a> 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER\n \n <\/p>\n\n\n \n\n\n\n

\n Rookie Status:<\/a><\/strong>\n \n Exceeded rookie limits during 2023 season\n \n \n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \n

\n 2025 Contract Status<\/strong>:\n Pre-Arb Eligible\n \n <\/p>\n\n \n

\n \n \n \n Service Time (01\/2025)<\/strong>: 1.072\n\n \n \n \n  \u2022 \n Arb Eligible<\/strong>: 2027\n \n\n \n  \u2022  \n Free Agent<\/strong>: 2030\n \n\n \n <\/p>\n \n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n

\n Full Name:<\/strong> Sean Anthony Hjelle \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n

Pronunciation<\/strong>: \\JELL-ee<\/a>\\<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n View Player Info<\/a> \n from the B-R Bullpen<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t

\n\t\n <\/rect> <\/circle> <\/circle> 64<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n
\nSUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n

2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

\n
\nWAR<\/strong><\/span>

-0.4<\/p>\n

-0.8<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nW<\/strong><\/span>

1<\/p>\n

7<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nL<\/strong><\/span>

1<\/p>\n

8<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nERA<\/strong><\/span>

7.80<\/p>\n

5.11<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

\n
\nG<\/strong><\/span>

12<\/p>\n

93<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nGS<\/strong><\/span>

1<\/p>\n

1<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nSV<\/strong><\/span>

0<\/p>\n

0<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

\n
\nIP<\/strong><\/span>

15.0<\/p>\n

149.2<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nSO<\/strong><\/span>

11<\/p>\n

145<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nWHIP<\/strong><\/span>

2.000<\/p>\n

1.470<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

While Rauch enjoyed the honor of being the single tallest player in Major League history for nearly two decades, 6\u201911\u201d pitcher Sean Hjelle made his debut for the San Francisco Giants on May 6, 2022<\/a>, the day before his 25th birthday. Despite his physical stature and claim as the tallest pitcher in MLB currently, Hjelle has had limited success in his three seasons in the Majors. He has pitched in 93 games, posting a 7-8 record and a 5.11 ERA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n\t
\n\t\n\n
\"Photo\"Photo\"Photo\n<\/div>
\n\t

\n\t\tRandy Johnson<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n

\n Position:<\/strong>\n Pitcher\n \n<\/p>\n\n

\n\tBats: <\/strong>Right\n  \u2022 \n\tThrows: <\/strong>Left\n \n<\/p>\n\n\n

6-10<\/span>, 225lb<\/span> (208cm, 102kg) <\/p>\n\n\n

\n Born:<\/a><\/strong>\n \n September 10<\/a>, 1963<\/a>\n <\/span> (Age: 60-143d)<\/span>\n\n \n \n \n in Walnut Creek, CA<\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n us<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Draft<\/strong>: Drafted by the Atlanta Braves<\/a> in the 4th round<\/a> of the 1982 MLB June Amateur Draft from Livermore HS (Livermore, CA)<\/a> and the Montreal Expos<\/a> in the 2nd round<\/a> of the 1985 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n

High School:<\/strong> Livermore HS (Livermore, CA)<\/a><\/p>\n \n \n \n

School:<\/strong> University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)<\/a><\/p>\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n

Debut:<\/a><\/strong>\n \n September 15, 1988\n <\/a>\n (Age 25-005d,\n 15,564th in major league history)\n
   vs. PIT<\/a> 5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 SO, 3 BB, 2 ER, W\n \n <\/p>\n\n \n

Last Game:<\/a><\/strong>\n October 4, 2009<\/a>\n (Age 46-024d)\n
   vs. SDP<\/a> 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n\n

\n Hall of Fame<\/a>:<\/strong> Inducted as Player in 2015.\n (Voted by BBWAA on 534\/549 ballots)\n \n
   View Randy Johnson’s Page<\/a><\/strong> at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).\n <\/p>\n \n\n\n\n

\n Rookie Status:<\/a><\/strong>\n \n Exceeded rookie limits during 1989 season\n \n \n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n Agents<\/strong>: Alan Nero, Barry Meister <\/p>\n \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n

\n Full Name:<\/strong> Randall David Johnson \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n

\n Nicknames:<\/strong>\n Big Unit<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n \n\n

\n View Player Info<\/a> \n from the B-R Bullpen<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n

\n View Player Bio<\/a> \n from the SABR BioProject<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n