In the swampy outfield of Trustmark Park the Mississippi Mud Monsters have crafted a piece of baseball history. Their latest roster move—signing righty Brenton Thiels, who stands a staggering 7-feet tall—has paired him with existing pitcher James Boeree, a colossal 7-foot-2 right-hander. Together, they form what is believed to be the first seven-footer duo ever active on a single professional baseball roster
Brenton Thiels
A product of several collegiate stops—Barton Community College, LSU Eunice, Louisiana Tech, and the University of West Alabama—Thiels brings both height and control. In his final collegiate season, he posted solid peripherals: 13 strikeouts and just 5 walks over 13.2 innings, demonstrating command that complements his imposing frame. Since being signed last week, Thiels has 2 appearances with the Mud Monsters throwing 1.0 innings. This is Thiels’ third independent team to play for this season after beginning the season with the Fargo-Moorehead RedHawks and then for Gastonia Ghost Peppers
James Boeree
Boeree, standing even taller at 7-foot-2. The Sydney, Australia native has been a fixture on the Mud Monsters’ staff all season. In 11 games with 7 starts the towering Australian has a 7.13 ERA and 1.840 WHIP in 35.1 innings. This is Boeree’s first season of professional ball after spending the past few seasons out of baseball after spending two years at Salt Lake (Utah) Community College.
Uncharted Territory
This pair’s combination—a pair of 7-footers on the same active pitching staff—is not merely unusual; it’s unprecedented. No professional baseball team at any level has ever carried two pitchers of that height simultaneously.
The Tallest Pitchers in Baseball History
While the Mud Monsters’ duo is a rarity, history does feature a few extraordinary hurlers whose towering frames left both legends and ledgers awestruck.
Loek van Mil – 7-Foot-1
Holds the known record for tallest player ever in professional baseball, pitching in the minors and in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The Dutch pitcher pitched in organizations for the Twins, Angels, Indians and Reds from 2005-2016. While with the Reds organization in 2013 he played for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos where he posted a 0-9 record with a 3.38 ERA.
Jon Rauch & Sean Hjelle – 6-Foot-11
Share the MLB record for tallest players in league history. Rauch’s long career set the benchmark, and Hjelle matched it in 2022. Rauch played for a number of teams over a 12 year period from 2002-2013, having his most successful period during his time with the Montreal Expos from 2004-2008. Rauch holds a lifetime 43-40 record with a 3.38 ERA.
Hjelle was drafted in the second round by the San Francisco Giants in the 2018 MLB Draft out of Kentucky. Since making his debut in 2022 he has 7-8 record with a 5.11 ERA, mostly split his time between the big leagues and AAA with Sacramento.
Randy Johnson – 6-Foot-10
The Hall of Famer whose dominance made height synonymous with intimidation in pitching. “The Big Unit,” carved out a Hall of Fame career as one of the most dominant pitchers in MLB history, winning 303 games and striking out 4,875 batters—the second-most all time. Standing 6-foot-10, the intimidating left-hander captured five Cy Young Awards, a World Series MVP in 2001 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and led the league in strikeouts nine times. Inducted into Cooperstown in 2015, Johnson’s blazing fastball and devastating slider made him a once-in-a-generation ace.
Why Height Matters—and When It Doesn’t
Height in pitching isn’t just for intimidation. Taller pitchers release the ball from a higher plane, reducing reaction time for hitters and creating steeper angles on fastballs and breaking pitches. But coordination, mechanics, and health often matter just as much—or more—than stature.
The Mud Monsters’ two pitchers may benefit from the inherent advantages of their verticality, but their success will hinge on command, consistency, and durability.
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