When you think of pro athletes, the image that comes to mind is usually ripped abs, elite conditioning, and peak performance. But baseball? Well, MLB has a long tradition of players succeeding despite looking like they just rolled off a couch.
Here are 10 of the most out-of-shape baseball players ever, guys who didn’t let a few extra pounds (or decades-old diets) stop them from becoming fan favorites or even legends.
10. Mo Vaughn
The “Hit Dog” had raw power but also plenty of bulk. Injuries later in his career were often blamed on his weight, but at his peak, Mo Vaughn was an MLB MVP with 300+ career home runs.
9. Terry Forster
David Letterman once called him a “fat tub of goo” and he laughed about it. The former reliever was effective on the mound despite often looking like someone who just finished a buffet.
8. Dmitri Young
With a nickname like “Da Meat Hook,” you know he’s making this list. Dmitri Young wasn’t known for speed or fitness, but he was a two-time All-Star with a .292 career average.
7. CC Sabathia (early career)
Before trimming down in his later years, CC Sabathia was one of the league’s biggest stars, literally. At times pushing 300 pounds, the Cy Young winner still threw gas and carried the Yankees to a title in 2009.
6. Prince Fielder
Like father, like son. Prince Fielder followed in Cecil’s footsteps both in size and in production. He led the league in homers and had six All-Star appearances, proving once again: size doesn’t always slow you down in baseball.
5. Cecil Fielder
Big power, big frame. Cecil Fielder was a home run machine in the ’90s. His size was part of his baseball identity, and so was his ability to crush baseballs into the upper deck.
4. David Wells
The lefty pitcher once threw a perfect game hungover, and didn’t look much like a professional athlete on most days. Still, David Wells had a long and productive MLB career, including 239 wins.
3. Pablo Sandoval
The Panda’s weight battles were constant throughout his career. Yet, Pablo Sandoval was a two-time All-Star and World Series MLB MVP. His weight often hit the headlines, but his postseason bat silenced critics.
2. John Kruk
Self-aware king. The former Phillies first baseman famously said, “I ain’t an athlete, lady, I’m a baseball player.” Kruk wasn’t cut, but he could hit, and he made three All-Star teams doing it.
1. Bartolo Colón
Nickname: “Big Sexy”
No list like this can start without Bartolo Colón. Despite his round frame and age, Colón pitched until he was 45 and even hit a home run at 42. Fans loved him for his durability and charm, not his conditioning.
Not everyone in baseball looks like an Olympian, and that’s part of what makes the sport unique. These out-of-shape baseball players may not have turned heads in the gym, but they made lasting impressions on the diamond. Some were stars, others were cult heroes, but all proved that talent can come in all shapes and sizes.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Funniest MLB Nicknames of All Time
