The Shortest Players In The MLB: Does Height Matter In Baseball?

Size doesn’t always determine success in Major League Baseball, and the shortest players in the MLB prove that.

While towering athletes often dominate headlines, some of the game’s most determined and dynamic players have stood well below the average height.

Let’s explore the shortest players in MLB history and highlight today’s undersized stars who continue to prove that heart and hustle matter more than size.

Here are the shortest players in the MLB:

The Shortest players in MLB history

Rank	Player	Height	Years in league
1	Eddie Gaedel	3’7”	1951-1951
2	Stubby Magner	5’3”	1911-1912
3	Pompeyo Davalillo	5’3”	1953-1953
4	Bob Emmerich	5’3”	1923-1923
5	Mike McCormack	5’3”	1904-1904
6	Wee Willie Keeler	5’4”	1892-1910
7	Hugh Nicol	5’4”	1889-1895
8	Freddie Patek	5’5”	1968-1981
9	Al Montreuil	5’5”	1972-1972
10	Rabbit Maranville	5’5”	1912-1935

1. Eddie Gaedel | 3’7” | 1951-1951

Eddie Gaedel is the shortest player in MLB history at 3-foot-7 and he only weighed 65 pounds. 

He appeared in just one game in his MLB career for the St. Louis Browns when they played the Detroit Tigers on August 19, 1951. Gaedel had one plate appearance and walked on four straight pitches.

2. Stubby Magner | 5’3” | 1911-1912

Standing at just 5-foot-3, Stubby Magner appeared in 13 games and remains one of the shortest players in MLB history.

Magner played for the New York Highlanders, now the New York Yankees. Despite his short stint, Magner’s unique stature has kept his name remembered in baseball lore.

3. Pompeyo Davalillo | 5’3” | 1953-1953

Pompeyo “Yo-Yo” Davalillo, who stood at 5-foot-3, appeared in 19 games for the 1953 Washington Senators, making him one of the shortest players in MLB history.

Davalillo totaled 17 hits in 58 at-bats, including a daring steal of home plate. While his MLB career was brief, he later became a celebrated figure in Venezuelan baseball.

4. Bob Emmerich | 5’3” | 1923-1923

At 5-foot-3, Bob Emmerich appeared in 13 games for the Boston Braves, now the Atlanta Braves, placing him on the list of shortest players in MLB history.

He made his MLB debut at age 32 and he recorded a .083 batting average for the Braves as a center fielder.

5. Mike McCormack | 5’3” | 1904-1904

Mike McCormack rounds out the top five of our shortest players in MLB history list as he was 5-foot-3 as well.

He played one season with the Brooklyn Superbas, which later became the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Los Angeles Dodgers. McCormack did have an impressive 22 stolen bases in 1904.

6. Wee Willie Keeler | 5’4” | 1892-1910

Wee Willie Keeler was a premier contact hitter during his playing days, despite being 5-foot-4 and one of the shortest players in MLB history.

Keeler hit over .300 16 times, won two batting titles and had a 44-game hitting streak in 1897. Keeler had his best years with the Baltimore Orioles and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939.

7. Hugh Nicol | 5’4” | 1889-1895

A 5-foot-4 right fielder, Hugh Nicol is next up on our list of shortest players in MLB history.

Nicol, who played for the Chicago White Stockings, now the Chicago White Sox, Browns and Cincinnati Reds, led the league in stolen bases twice. He became a manager in the minor leagues after he stopped playing.

8. Freddie Patek | 5’5” | 1968-1981

Nicknamed “The Flea”, Freddie Patek is also included on the list of shortest players in MLB history as he stood 5-foot-5.

He played 14 years in the MLB and was a three-time All-Star with the Kansas City Royals. Patek led the American League in stolen bases in 1977 and triples in 1971.

9. Al Montreuil | 5’5” | 1972-1972

The 5-foot-5 Al Montreuil played just five MLB games for the Chicago Cubs in September 1972, but he is still featured on the list of shortest players in MLB history.

Montreuil was more successful in the minor leagues, where he played nine years. With the Cubs, he recorded one hit in 11 at-bats.

10. Rabbit Maranville | 5’5” | 1912-1935

Rounding out the list of shortest players in MLB history is Rabbit Maranville, who stood 5-foot-5 and played 23 MLB seasons mostly with the Braves.

He was known for his defensive wizardry. Maranville won the 1914 World Series and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1954.

The Shortest players in the MLB today

Rank	Player	Height	Years in league
1	Jorge Barrosa	5’5”	2024-Present
2	Jose Altuve	5’6”	2011-Present
3	Ryan Bliss	5’7”	2024-Present
4	Luisangel Acuna	5’7”	2024-Present
5	Leo Rivas	5’7”	2024-Present
6	Ozzie Albies	5’8”	2017-Present
7	Nick Allen	5’8”	2022-Present
8	Yuki Matsui	5’8”	2024-Present
9	Alejandro Kirk	5’8”	2020-Present
10	Masataka Yoshida	5’8”	2023-Present

1. Jorge Barrosa | 5’5” | 2024-Present

Jorge Barrosa is the shortest player in the MLB today. The 5-foot-5 switch-hitting outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks has bounced between the minor leagues and the MLB.

Barrosa is known for his solid defense and electrifying speed. While he is not an everyday MLB player, he remains a key part of the Diamondbacks organization.

2. Jose Altuve | 5’6” | 2011-Present

Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros is the most accomplished player on the list of shortest players in the MLB today.

Altuve has been a cornerstone of the Astros organization for over a decade. The nine-time All-Star and 2017 AL MVP has led the Astros to two World Series titles in his career.

3. Ryan Bliss | 5’7” | 2024-Present

Ryan Bliss of the Seattle Mariners is also one of the shortest players in the MLB today. He is known for his speed and defensive prowess as an infielder.

Bliss made his MLB debut with the Mariners in May 2024 and he started Opening Day for the Mariners in 2025.

4. Luisangel Acuna | 5’7” | 2024-Present

Luisangel Acuna of the Chicago White Sox is also one of the shortest players in the MLB today. The utility player is known for his speed and defensive prowess, playing both infield and outfield.

Acuna made his MLB debut with the Mets in 2024. He was traded to the White Sox this past January for Luis Robert Jr.

5. Leo Rivas | 5’7” | 2024-Present

The second Seattle Mariner on the list of shortest players in the MLB today, Leo Rivas is a Venezuelan infielder who made his big league debut in April 2024.

Rivas plays multiple positions for Seattle, primarily coming off the bench. He had 11 plate appearances in 2025, hitting .244 with two home runs and nine RBI.

6. Ozzie Albies | 5’8” | 2017-Present

5-foot-8 switch-hitting second baseman Ozzie Albies is next up on the list of shortest players in the MLB today.

He made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2017 and he’s become a three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger. Albies helped the Braves win the 2021 World Series as well.

7. Nick Allen | 5’8” | 2022-Present

Astros middle infielder Nick Allen, who is known for his gold-glove-level defense at just 5-foot-8, is one of the shortest players in the MLB today.

Allen made his debut with the Athletics in 2022 before he was traded to the Braves in November 2024. Atlanta traded him to Houston in November 2025.

8. Yuki Matsui | 5’8” | 2024-Present

San Diego Padres left-handed relief pitcher Yuki Matsui is on the list of shortest players in the MLB today.

Matsui debuted with the Padres in March 2024 and 10 dominant years in Japan’s NPB, where he had a 2.40 ERA.

9. Alejandro Kirk | 5’8” | 2020-Present

Diminutive catcher Alejandro Kirk, who is 5-foot-8, is included on our list of shortest players in the MLB today.

The Toronto Blue Jays catcher is among the best at his position, both offensively and defensively. His pitch framing is elite and he has a knack for coming up with clutch hits, as shown in the 2025 playoffs.

10. Masataka Yoshida | 5’8” | 2023-Present

Utility player Masataka Yoshida rounds out the list of shortest players in the MLB today as he is 5-foot-8.

Yoshida signed with the Red Sox out of Japan in 2023 and primarily plays left field and designated hitter. He’s a valuable bench piece for Boston, hitting a career .282 through 300-plus games.

The Shortest players in the MLB FAQs

Who is the shortest player in the MLB right now?

The shortest player in the MLB right now is Jorge Barrosa at 5-foot-5. The switch-hitting outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks has bounced between the minor leagues and the MLB. Barrosa is known for his solid defense and electrifying speed.

What is the average height of MLB players?

The average height of MLB players is approximately 6-foot-1. Pitchers tend to be taller on average (between 6-foot-2 and 6-foot-3). Middle infielders and catchers are usually the shortest positions on the field (between 5-foot-10 and 6-foot).

How has the average height of MLB players changed over the years?

The average height of MLB players has changed over the years, because, in general, trends show an increase in height. In the late 1800s, the average height of an MLB player was 5-foot-9, while the average height of an MLB player today is 6-foot-2. The average height has increased about five or six inches.

How tall was Eddie Gaedel?

Eddie Gaedel is the shortest player in MLB history at 3-foot-7 and he only weighed 65 pounds. He appeared in just one game in his MLB career for the St. Louis Browns when they played the Detroit Tigers on August 19, 1951. Gaedel had one plate appearance and walked on four straight pitches.

How tall is Randy Johnson?

Former MLB pitcher Randy Johnson is 6-foot-10 and he is one of the tallest players in MLB history. He was aptly nicknamed “The Big Unit” during his playing days because of his intimidating stature on the mound and blazing fastballs. Johnson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.

How tall is Shohei Ohtani?

While he is currently playing, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who stands at 6-foot-4, is one of the best baseball players of all time. In 2024, he became the sole member of the 50 home runs-50 stolen base club in a single season. He also pitches for the Dodgers when healthy.

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