Across every major sport, it’s customary for players to exaggerate their heights. It’s just a thing that happens, and Major League Baseball was no exception.
Well, that was until the 2026 season.
One of the hilarious (and somewhat unforeseen) circumstances around MLB’s move to an automated strike zone challenge system is that it sparked a shrinkage epidemic across baseball. Officially, players are getting shorter!
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Before this season, players were able to provide their own heights for the official rosters. And while plenty of players were honest, others treated those media guide heights as they would on a dating app. They added some inches. But with ABS, heights are measured to precision to give each player an individualized strike zone.
Those heights are now being reflected on MLB’s official rosters, and let me tell ya — fans have noticed who was lying.
Alex Bregman
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Gavin LuxAustin RileyBo NaylorConnor Wong