Fat MLB Players – Who Is The Heaviest Baseball Player?
10 minutes
Last Updated: May 24, 2024
Fat MLB players play better. No, this is not propaganda incentivizing the dad body archetype. There is genuine research being conducted that supports this theory. And that’s not something that fat soccer players can say.
If you are familiar with the MLB, you’ve probably heard stories similar to this one. From insanely unhealthy diet plans to triple-digit cans of beer being consumed before game day, MLB players seem to be much different from other professional athletes.
While the biggest NFL players are usually confined to lineman duty, fat baseball players are finding more and more success all across the spectrum. So, how are they doing this, and which are the heaviest MLB players ever and currently? Let’s dig in!
Fattest Baseball Player Ever
The heaviest MLB player to ever play is Walter Young. Weighing in at 322 lbs (146 kg) and towering at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m), Young played in just 14 MLB games for the Baltimore Orioles in 2005.
Walter Young, often referred to as “Big Walter,” was a professional baseball player who played in the minor leagues and briefly in the major leagues. He was known for his power-hitting, often hitting towering home runs due to his immense proportions. This earned him a spot on MLB rosters as a first baseman and designated hitter
Young was born on November 3, 1980, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He attended Purvis High School in Purvis, Mississippi, where he excelled in baseball and basketball. After high school, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 31 round of the 1999 MLB Draft.
During his minor league career, Young played for multiple teams. These include the Florida Pirates, San Diego Padres, and most notably, the Baltimore Orioles. He made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles on September 14, 2005, but only appeared in 10 games with the team at the major league level.
He finished the 2005 campaign with a .303 (10 for 33) batting average, 1 home run, and 3 RBIs.
While his career lacked consistent production at the highest level, Young’s listed weight by Major League Baseball, earned him notoriety as one of the heaviest professional baseball players.
After his playing career ended in 2009, Young stuck around baseball, finding joy in coaching and mentoring young players. Unfortunately, Walter Young Young died on September 19, 2015, as a result of a heart attack. He weighed 450 pounds (204 kg) at the time of his death.
Who is the Heaviest MLB Player Currently?
MLB superstar Aaron Judge is the heaviest MLB player currently, according to listed weights. Standing at 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) tall and weighing in at 282 pounds (128 kg), the New York Yankees captain is an intimidating figure by definition.
Putting Judge in the fat MLB players club is wrong on so many levels, considering the brother is built like a freight train. Despite this, he is one of the heaviest MLB players we currently have in the major league.
It’s unfortunate injuries have derailed his career trajectory in recent years, but he’s had a very successful career so far. I guess that’s the price the body pays for being built like a Greek god.
Judge was selected with the 32nd overall pick by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He made an immediate impact and drew a lot of fans and attention back to the Big Apple.
In his rookie season, he showcased his immense potential. Hitting .284 with 52 home runs, 114 RBIs, and a .627 slugging percentage. He set a new MLB rookie record for home runs in a season, earning him the American League Rookie of the Year Award.
While Judge has never set foot in the old Yankee Stadium, which was one of the smallest MLB stadiums, he’s done a great job of continuing the franchise’s storied legacy. He’s been named an MLB All-Star 5 times during his career, with an MLB MVP to boot in 2022.
That year he broke the MLB record for most home runs with 62, capturing the award that he was runner-up to in his rookie campaign. He’s also the owner of one of the biggest MLB contracts ever, so he’s a heavy hitter in every sense of the word.
Fat MLB Players Right Now
Not everyone can be Aaron Judge, but everyone can try to weigh as much as him. These are the fattest MLB players currently in the major league.
- Rowdy Tellez- With measurements of 6’3” in height and 255 lb (116 kg) in weight, Tellez is not someone you want to mess with. This first baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers is an absolute unit.
- Tommy Hunter- Hunter is the first Mets team member on this list, and he plays as a pitcher. At 6’2” with 250 lbs (131 kg) keeping him grounded, Hunter can generate enough force to launch a ball in orbit.
- Miguel Cabrera- Cabrera is a former World champion who currently plays as the first baseman for the Detroit Tigers. His 6’3” 240 lbs (109 kg) frame seems to be empowering his gameplay, rather than negatively affecting him.
- Justin Verlander- The New York Mets pitcher is a two time World Series champion towering over 6’4” and weighing somewhere around 235 lbs (107 kg).
Top 10 Fattest MLB Players Ever
We already mentioned Walter Young as the heaviest baseball player to ever play in the MLB. But who rounds up the top 10 when it comes to fat MLB players? Let’s take a look at the heaviest MLB players whose careers made a bigger impact than their listed weight.
02. CC Sabathia
Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing around 300 pounds during his playing days, CC Sabathia was known for his imposing presence on the field. Born on July 21, 1980, in Vallejo, California, Sabathia excelled in baseball and basketball during his high school tenure. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the first round of the 1998 MLB Draft straight out of high school.
He concluded his career with 251 wins, 3,093 strikeouts, and a 3.74 ERA over 19 seasons in the majors. On top of this, he retired as a World Champion, winning the championship in 2009 with the New York Yankees, in his first season with the organization.
He was named the league MVP that season and made 6 All Star appearances throughout his storied career.
03. Jumbo Brown
Walter “Jumbo” Brown was born on April 30, 1907, in Clarendon, Arkansas. He began his professional baseball career in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals on April 26, 1925, at the age of 17.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 295 pounds during his playing days, this tall and sturdy right-handed pitcher was well worthy of his Jumbo nickname even as a youngster.
He primarily served as a relief pitcher, known for his powerful fastball. During his career, Brown played for several MLB teams over the course of his career, including the:
- St. Louis Cardinals (1925-1931)
- New York Giants (1932-1934)
- Chicago Cubs (1935)
- Cincinnati Reds (1935-1937)
- Brooklyn Dodgers (1937-1938)
04. Dmitri Young
Weighing well over 290 pounds throughout his career, Young was often referred to by the nickname “Da Meat Hook” during his playing days. This moniker was given to him by his teammates in reference to his large physique and powerful hitting and they weren’t wrong.
Young was the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 1991 MLB draft. The St. Louis Cardinals drafted him but he suited up for 3 more teams. These are the Cincinnati Reds (1998-2001), Detroit Tigers (2002-2006), and Washington Nationals (2007-2008). He played as a first baseman and outfielder, known for his solid hitting and versatility.
Young was named to 2 All-Star teams and won the 2007 NL Comeback Player of the Year award.
05. Bartolo Colon
Listed at 5 foot 11 inches and 285 pounds, Bartolo Colon is the poster boy for fat MLB players. He was one of the best pitchers in the league during his career. Pitching for 11 different MLB teams throughout 21 seasons. “The Big Sexy” as he was called, became a 4 time All-Star, leading the league in wins and earning the Cy Young Award in 2005.
Colón was known for his durability, consistency, and ability to locate his pitches effectively. Many would even argue that his weight and body shape helped him gain a steady hand. He relied heavily on his fastball, mixing in off-speed pitches to keep hitters off balance.
06. Jeff Fulchino
At 286 lbs, Jeff Fulchino is certainly one of the heaviest MLB players ever. Fulchino played for multiple MLB teams over the course of his career. In addition to the Florida Marlins, he also pitched for the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, and San Diego Padres.
With a 6’5” frame and a fastball regularly hitting the mid 90s, Fulchino compiled a win-loss record of 9-10, an ERA of 4.84, and 162 strikeouts during his MLB career.
07. Jonathan Broxton
Jonathan Broxton used all of his 280 pounds to have a noteworthy 13-year career in Major League Baseball. How? Well, by launching rockets as a relief pitcher. He played for five different teams, most notably in his prime years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he earned two All-Star selections.
Broxton defied stereotypes and leveraged his size to his advantage, particularly with his formidable fastball. In 2009, he showcased his power by clocking a blazing 102.6 mph fastball.
While injuries eventually took a toll on Broxton in the latter part of his career, he remained a reliable contributor, especially during his stint with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Broxton’s career included 43 wins, 38 losses, an ERA of 3.41, 758 strikeouts, and 117 saves.
08. Calvin Pickering
Calvin Pickering’s MLB career was relatively brief, as he played for four different teams across five seasons in the league. Throughout his tenure, Pickering boasted a batting average of .223 and launched 14 home runs.
Standing at 6 feet 5 inches and weighing 283 pounds, Pickering ventured internationally, following his time in MLB. He competed in leagues across various countries, including Mexico and Korea.
In 2007, he joined the Kansas City T-Bones, now rebranded as the Monarchs, in the independent Northern League. There, he showcased his hitting prowess, batting .310 and slugging 18 home runs. Subsequently, Pickering continued his career with stints at the Bridgeport Bluefish and Schaumburg Flyers.
09. Pablo Sandoval
Pablo Sandoval was known as “Kung Fu Panda,” during his playing days, mostly because he was listed at around 270-280 pounds. He played multiple positions such as third base and first base.
Sandoval enjoyed significant success during his tenure with the Giants, who signed him in 2003 prior to his 2009 MLB debut with the team. He played a key role in helping the team win three World Series championships in 2010, 2012, and 2014. In the 2012 World Series, Sandoval was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) after hitting three home runs in Game 1 against the Detroit Tigers.
10. Prince Fielder
You wouldn’t expect a guy weighing 275 pounds to become a vegetarian. I mean, no amount of vegetables can get you that big and strong. But that’s exactly what Fielder did in 2008.
Just like his father, Cecil Fielder, Prince was a heavy hitter.
He made six All-Star appearances, won 3 Silver Slugger Awards, 2 Home Run Derby championships, and the American League Comeback Player of the Year Award in just 12 seasons.
Why Are MLB Players Fat?
Baseball games tend to be very long, which means players need to be on a high-calorie diet to maintain their energy levels. Unlike other sports that rely on speed and agility, baseball is more geared toward strength, precision, and endurance.
While a high-calorie diet might be beneficial for baseball players, not all calories are created equal. A diet consisting of meat, fiber, and protein does not provide the same nutritional value as pizza and a can of beer. Muscle mass is crucial to becoming a successful baseball player, with Aaron Judge being a prime example.
You also need a lot of calories to power those muscles, but what happens when your body comes to a stand still? Injuries are part of everyday life, especially if you are into professional sports.
Studies show that 60 to 70% of all current MLB players are considered obese according to their Body Mass Index. While that parameter is very old and pretty inaccurate for modern standards, especially when it fails to consider muscle mass and bone density, it does say a lot about the shape of MLB players.
