Height data for half of MLB hitters has shrunk, forcing Shohei Ohtani to “grow” 3 centimeters

Following the introduction of the ABS electronic strike zone this season, *The New York Times* referenced historical records indicating that more than 50% of MLB players have been recorded as much shorter. The biggest discrepancy belongs to Bo Naylor of the Guardians, whose height fell sharply from 183 to 175 cm. Few people want to be shorter, but Major League hitters are willing to give up inflated height figures in exchange for a smaller electronic strike zone.

Asian-American star Steven Kwan saw his listed height drop from 175 cm to 173 cm this year, while Angels catcher Travis d’Arnaud went from 188 cm to 183 cm. It’s an odd phenomenon that playing baseball makes you “shorter,” and Juan Soto, already known for his keen eye at the plate, also had his height corrected from 188 cm to 185 cm.

In an effort to ensure fairness, Major League Baseball remeasured all batters’ heights, exposing those who had previously inflated their numbers. However, this change actually benefits the players, so being caught isn’t embarrassing. Naylor said, “As long as the strike zone gets smaller, I’m fine with it.” D’Arnaud added, “In the past, everyone more or less added 1 to 2 inches (about 2 to 5 cm) to their height. Fortunately, I’m still a solid 6-footer.”

A few players were actually “made taller” in this update, such as Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, whose data increased from 190 cm to 193 cm. In reality, Ohtani has always been 193 cm (6 feet 4 inches), but MLB initially recorded him as 6 feet 3 inches. Now his true height has been restored. If he continued to “play short,” it might have drawn complaints from opposing catchers.

Home run king Aaron “The Judge” Judge, listed at 201 cm, saw no change in this data update. In the past, he was often victimized by umpires calling low pitches strikes incorrectly. Starting this year, with the precise electronic strike zone, he finally has some opportunities to fight back.