The landscape of Major League Baseball continues to evolve and adapt from one year to another. As training regimens improve, new technology is introduced, and innovative analytical data helps transcend MLB Players of today, most, if not a majority of MLB players are in great physical shape. However, that isn’t the case for everyone, as we still occasionally see some heavyset MLB players.
Over the years, stocky MLB players such as Bartolo Colon, who went on to have a solid MLB career, or CC Sabathia, who was one of the best pitchers in baseball over his MLB career.
In addition to Colon and Sabathia, some of the other heavyset MLB Players that stand out include Dmitri Young, Fernando Valenzuela, Cecil Fielder, Prince Fielder, and Walter Young. Many of these players reached the upper 200s on the weight scale, with a few topping the 300-pound mark.
However, while these players may be fat based on weight, many have the height to offset the weight. Without further do, here are the 10 Fattest MLB Players in 2022.
10 Fattest MLB Players in 2022
Alek Manoah – Toronto Blue Jays – 285 lbs
Position: Starting Pitcher (SP)
Landing at the top of the 10 Fattest MLB Players in 2022 list was the Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah. Before you classify him as heavyset or fat, remember Manoah lists at 6 foot 6 inches delivering a tall frame to carry around the weight. Nonetheless, the Blue Jays starter tips the scale at 285 pounds. Manoah turned in a solid season going 16-7 with a 2.24 earned run average over 31 starts.
Aaron Judge – New York Yankees – 282 lbs
Position: Outfielder (CF, RF)
The New York Yankees All-Star Outfielder and 2022 AL MVP Award winner Aaron Judge is at number two on the heaviest MLB players list. Judge lands at 282 pounds on the scale, landing him just behind Manoah as one of the heaviest Major League Baseball players while sporting a 6-foot-7-inch body frame. The Yankees outfielder is coming off a record-breaking 62 home run season and 131 runs batted in.
Joel Kuhnel – Cincinnati Reds – 280 lbs
Position: Relief Pitcher (RP)
Joel Kuhnel of the Cincinnati Reds lands at number three, weighing in at 280 pounds. Like many other players ranging near the mid to upper 200s on this list, Kuhnel slots in at over six feet (6 foot 4 inches). The 27-year older relief pitcher appeared in 53 games last season, pitching to a 6.36 earned run average while striking out 56 hitters over 58 innings of work.
Max Castillo – Kansas City Royals – 280 lbs
Position: Starting Pitcher (SP)
Looking around Major League Baseball, Max Castillo is one of a few MLB players sitting at 280 or above on the weight scale. The Kansas City Royals 23-year-old starting pitcher currently weighs 280 pounds while standing at 6 foot 2 inches in height.
Castillo, who started his MLB career last year with the Toronto Blue Jays, finished with the Royals. For the season, Castillo appeared in 14 games, making six starts while pitching to a 5.95 earned run average.
Carlos Estevez – Los Angeles Angels (Current) / Colorado Rockies (2022 MLB Season) – 277 lbs
Position: Relief Pitcher (RP)
The current Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher is coming off another solid season pitching in relief, finishing the 2022 MLB season with a 4-4 record while posting a career-low 3.47 earned run average while being an anchor in the Colorado Rockies bullpen.
Estevez, who lists at 277 pounds, pitched himself to a two-year deal with the Angels during the 2022 MLB off-season.
Joe Jimenez 277 – Atlanta Braves (Current)/Detroit Tigers (2022 MLB Season) – 277 lbs
Position: Relief Pitcher (RP)
Landing at number six on the 10 Fattest MLB Players in 2022 list is the recently acquired relief pitcher Joe Jimenez. Jimenez, who spent his first six seasons in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers, was sent to Atlanta Braves during the 2022 MLB Winter Meetings.
The former MLB All-Star relief pitcher tips the scale at 277 while standing at 6 foot 3 inches tall. He recorded two saves while posting a 3.49 earned run average last season for the Tigers.
Daniel Vogelbach – New York Mets – 270 lbs
Position: Designated Hitter (DH)
One position that has seen many heavy MLB players has been the designated hitter position, which is the case with the New York Mets Daniel Vogelbach. Vogelbach, who has been talked about for being a plumpish MLB player, has racked up as many as 30 home runs in a season.
Now in his first season with the Mets after being acquired last season, Vogelbach will look to outproduce his 18-home run and 59 runs batted in the 2022 MLB season. During the 2022 MLB season, Vogelbach slotted in at 270 pounds while standing six feet tall.
Reyes Moronta – Free Agent (Current) – Los Angeles Dodgers/Arizona Diamondbacks (2022) – 265 lbs
Position: Relief Pitcher (RP)
The former Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Reyes Moronta comes in at number eight on the 10 Fattest MLB Players in 2022. Moronta, who made his debut during the 2017 MLB season, spent time with the Dodgers and Diamondbacks during the 2022 MLB season.
The current free-agent relief pitcher stands at just 5 foot 10 inches tall while posting a weight of 265 pounds. In 39 relief appearances, Moronta posted a 4.34 combined earned run average mark with 38 strikeouts last season.
Brusdar Graterol – Los Angeles Dodgers – 265 lbs
Position: Relief Pitcher (RP)
Pitchers, in general, are some of the heaviest MLB players year in and year out, despite many having the height to back the weight. That can be said for the Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol who slots in at 6 foot 1 inch tall while weighing 265 pounds. Graterol was a key part of the Dodgers bullpen in 2022, making 46 appearances while posting a 3.26 earned run average over 49.2 innings of work.
Alejandro Kirk – Toronto Blue Jays – 245 lbs
Position: Catcher (C)
Lastly, landing on the list of the fattest Major League Baseball players list is Alejandro Kirk of the Toronto Blue Jays. Despite his weight being a major topic last season, the Blue Jays catchers ranked as one of the top catchers in all of Major League Baseball.
Kirk, who stands at just 5 foot 8 inches tall, weighs 245 pounds. While other players may sit ahead of him in weight, his lack of height makes him look much heavier than others. Nonetheless, Kirk is a solid all-around baseball player who hit .285 last season with 14 home runs and 63 runs batted in.
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Despite their weight, these ‘fattest MLB players’ are still great athletes and are a part of a group of elite baseball players that can play at the Major League Baseball level.
