So, I was kicking back, watching some early games this season, you know, just getting into the swing of things for 2024. And something kinda jumped out at me, or maybe it’s just something I started noticing more.
Thinking About Player Builds
It got me thinking about the players themselves, specifically their builds. Back in the day, you definitely had some guys who were, let’s say, generously built. Real hefty fellas, some of ’em. It made me wonder, what’s the scene like now in 2024? Are we still seeing those larger-than-life figures out on the diamond?
I decided to look into it a bit. Not like some deep academic research, just poking around, looking at rosters, checking out photos from recent games. It wasn’t exactly straightforward. You don’t just find a list titled “Big Dudes of Baseball 2024,” right?
What I did was just browse through team lineups, looked at player profiles when they came up to bat or made a play. I focused on guys known for power, maybe catchers or designated hitters, positions where sometimes size is more common, or maybe less of a drawback.
Some Observations I Made
Here’s kinda what I gathered from my casual looking around:
- Overall Athleticism Seems Up: Generally, yeah, players look incredibly fit these days. Training, nutrition, it’s all on another level compared to decades ago. Lots of lean muscle.
- Power Still Needs Mass?: But then you see the big boppers. Some guys who launch moonshots, they often still carry significant weight. It makes sense, mass moves mass, right? You need that foundation for power.
- Position Matters: Like I thought, you tend to see bigger frames more often at first base, catcher, or DH compared to, say, shortstop or center field where speed and agility are absolutely paramount.
- They Can Still Move: What impressed me though, even the bigger guys now seem way more athletic than maybe their counterparts from 30 years ago. They can field their position, run the bases okay. It’s not just about size, it’s functional strength.
It’s less common maybe? That’s the feeling I got. Not that they aren’t there, but perhaps fewer players fit that classic “fat” stereotype we might remember. The overall conditioning standard across the league is just really high.
So, yeah, spent a bit of time just observing this. It’s interesting how the game evolves, even down to the typical physique of the players. But end of the day, if a guy can mash 40 homers or frame pitches like a magician, doesn’t really matter what the scale says, does it? Performance is king. Just my two cents from watching the games this year.
