Who is the tallest MLB player? Everything you need to know about Sean Hjelle

If you are wondering who the tallest player in Major League Baseball history is, the answer is simple. It is Sean Hjelle. He stands 6-foot-11. That ties him with former pitcher Jon Rauch for the tallest player ever to appear in an MLB game.

Hjelle made his big league debut with the San Francisco Giants on May 6, 2022. From the moment he stepped on the mound, fans noticed his height. At 6-foot-11 and around 247 pounds, he looks different from almost every other pitcher in the league.Hjelle was born on May 7, 1997, in Fridley, Minnesota. Before reaching the majors, he pitched at the University of Kentucky. The Giants selected him in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft.

Over parts of three MLB seasons from 2022 to 2025, he appeared in 93 games, mostly as a reliever. He posted a 7-8 record with a 5.11 ERA and 145 strikeouts in nearly 150 innings. His strongest season came in 2024, when he had a 3.90 ERA over 58 appearances.

Sean Hjelle’s MLB journey, career numbers and move to Japan’s Orix Buffaloes

Sean Hjelle’s path to the majors started in high school in Minnesota, where he played both baseball and basketball. At Kentucky, he became one of the top pitchers in the Southeastern Conference.

In 2017, he was named SEC Pitcher of the Year after going 9-2 with a 3.17 ERA. That strong college run boosted his draft stock and helped him earn a reported $1.5 million signing bonus from the Giants.He worked his way through the minor leagues and reached Triple-A before getting the call in 2022. In his MLB debut, he threw a scoreless inning. Giants manager Gabe Kapler once said Hjelle’s size creates a different look for hitters, making it tough to adjust to his release point.

Hjelle does not rely on overpowering speed. Instead, he uses a sinker and off-speed pitches to force ground balls.The 2025 season brought challenges. Hjelle posted a 7.80 ERA in 12 MLB games that year. He performed better in Triple-A with a 2.90 ERA. The Giants designated him for assignment on July 30, 2025, and he later became a free agent.On January 11, 2026, Hjelle signed with the Orix Buffaloes in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league. At 28 years old, he chose a new opportunity overseas to continue his career. Off the field, he is married to his wife Caroline and is a father of two.Sean Hjelle’s height may grab attention first, but his journey shows how hard it is to stay at the top level of baseball.