The introduction of the automated ball-strike (ABS) system has come with an interesting side effect: MLB players appear to be shrinking.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, as teams unveiled players\u2019 official measurements ahead of the season, fans noticed significant differences between players\u2019 heights this year and last year. Several players seemed to lose multiple inches over the one-year span, prompting questions and plenty of jokes.<\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n
The reason for the change comes down to ABS: Players\u2019 height measurements were much more rigorous in 2026 than in previous years, as part of the introduction of the ABS challenge system<\/a>. The system introduces a new strike zone that is based on a percentage of a player\u2019s height, meaning that an exact measurement is more important.<\/p>\n How does ABS measurement work?<\/p>\n Though the strike zone has changed over the years, the previous version goes from the middle of a players\u2019 torso down to just below their kneecap. Now, strike zones will be specifically tailored player to player<\/a>: The top of the zone will sit at 53% of a player\u2019s measured height, while the bottom sits at 27%. In other words, the strike zone will sit around the top half of a player\u2019s bottom half.<\/p>\n In the past, official measurements were more flexible: Per The Athletic<\/a>, teams used to source players\u2019 heights from their physicals, from last year\u2019s height, or just from the players themselves.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always been like that, from what I remember. I feel like everybody always put an inch or two taller,\u201d Los Angeles Angels catcher Travis d\u2019Arnaud told The Athletic.<\/p>\n Now, the measuring process to ensure that the players\u2019 heights are accurate is comprehensive and standardized across the league: Players are measured three times, by lasers and by hand, per The Athletic.<\/p>\n All measurements take place between 10 a.m. and noon, with players standing straight up with no shoes or baseball caps, and with the measuring tool pressed against the head of those with thick hair. (Human shrink about half an inch over the course of the day, due to gravity, meaning that the time of day does affect the final measurement.)<\/p>\n So who\u2019s shrunk the most?<\/p>\n