Inside the Baseball Athlete's Heart

Echo data from elite combine participants describe cardiac adaptation patterns in elite baseball players.

By
Kerri Miller
June 28, 2026
3 min

Conexiant

Overview

A cross-sectional echocardiographic study of elite baseball players revealed frequent ventricular chamber dilation, normal biventricular systolic function, and a low prevalence of structural abnormalities.

Background

Understanding exercise-induced cardiac remodeling is crucial for differentiating between physiologic adaptations and pathologic changes in athletes. This study focuses on elite baseball players, a group where the extent of cardiac remodeling has not been well characterized.

Data Highlights

Measurement	Percentage
Left Ventricular Dilation	37%
Right Ventricular Dilation	28%
Normal Echocardiographic Findings	98%
Bicuspid Aortic Valve Prevalence	1%

Key Findings

37% of players exhibited left ventricular dilation.
28% of players exhibited right ventricular dilation.
Biventricular systolic function and global longitudinal strain were within normal limits.
Left ventricular hypertrophy was rare, with only three cases reported.
98% of athletes had normal echocardiographic findings.
The most common abnormality was a bicuspid aortic valve, observed in 1% of the cohort.

Clinical Implications

Clinicians should consider the findings of this study when evaluating cardiac health in elite baseball players, as the observed ventricular dilation may be a normal adaptation to exercise. Establishing normative data aids in distinguishing between expected physiological changes and potential pathologies.

Conclusion

This study provides valuable insights into the cardiac adaptations of elite baseball players, establishing a foundation for future research and clinical assessments in sports cardiology.