Hilarious MLB Minis Deliver Huge Laughs
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There isn't a funnier account for Major League Baseball fans to follow on Instagram right now than MLB Mini, which takes current and former baseball stars and turns them into miniature versions of themselves.
The account was created by Hayden Parker, a pitcher for NCAA Division III Nebraska Wesleyan, who began experimenting with Photoshop while he was recovering from heart surgery and created hilarious photos of MLB players.
Parker's edits, which are truly genius, took a big leap in popularity when MLB players started sharing them on their personal accounts, and now they even reach out to Parker for their own MLB mini versions.
These are some of our favorite MLB minis from Parker's work.
Love It When You Call Me Mini Papi
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This MLB mini-sized version of Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz watching a home run sail out of Fenway Park is just perfect.
It's one of many MLB legends who has gotten the mini treatment from Parker.
Even as a mini, you can tell Ortiz still means business.
This Little Miggy Went Yard
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Miguel Cabrera is one of the greatest hitters in Major League Baseball history, which makes him so awesome in tiny form.
Cabrera began his big league career in 2003 and is still going strong with a .313 lifetime batting average after 18 seasons in the majors.
The OG MLB Mini Was a Tip of the Cap
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Parker's first MLB mini was a tip of the cap to his home state, Arizona, and featured a picture of the Arizona Diamondbacks and a miniature version of Ketel Marte.
The first mini photo published on Instagram was of former big leaguer Hunter Pence and got just under 200 likes. Now, the MLB Mini account is up to over 22,000 followers (and counting) and averages around 1,000 likes per post.
A recent mini of Diamondbacks outfielder Tim Locastro running back to the dugout next to outfielder Pavin Smith shows the viral evolution.
Enjoy Retirement, Mr. Markakis
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Nick Markakis retired after the 2020 season as a three-time Gold Glove Award winner and one of the greatest fielding outfielders of his generation.
All that's great, but the real honor came when he saw himself turned into an MLB mini.
For the Love of God, Please Don't Step on Todd
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Todd Helton's first claim to fame was as the last quarterback at the University of Tennessee before Peyton Manning took over, then it was as one of the best players in the majors for almost 20 years.
All that had to pale in comparison to the day he saw a miniaturized version of himself.
Current GOAT, Meet Future Goat
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Arguably the two best players in baseball right now are Mike Trout and Fernando Tatis Jr. Any picture of the two of them meeting up would be cool.
Enter MLB minis and downsize Mike Trout, and it's LOL, roll-on-the-floor funny.
What's the Vertical Leap on a Play Like That?
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Mike Trout is the greatest player of his generation, right?
The three-time American League Most Valuable Player has made some of the greatest catches we've ever seen patrolling center field for the Angels.
But we never envisioned him going up and robbing a home run quite like this.
It's a Bird, It's a Plane ... It's Brandon Phillips
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One of the greatest things about the MLB mini collection is getting to see the looks on the player's faces in miniature form.
Seeing former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Brandon Phillips flying up and over a baserunner isn't just funny.
It's really striking how realistic it looks.
Walk Softly and Carry a Really, Really Big Stick
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Two-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger Award winner Jose Ramirez in MLB mini form tossing his bat after a home run is so ridiculous. And we love it.
What won't be funny for the Cleveland Indians is the boatload of cash they're going to have to cough up to keep Ramirez after his contract runs out following the 2021 season.
Somebody Get Vlad Jr. a Helmet That Fits
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The funniest part about this picture of Toronto Blue Jays superstar Vlad Guerrero Jr. sliding into home plate as an MLB mini is his helmet popping up over his face.
Our only request moving forward is that we get a father-son MLB mini of Vlad Jr. with his father, Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero.
MLB Presents: Dirty Dancing's Alternate Ending
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Former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder and 2009 National League Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan went airborne on this play.
It also looks like it could be the alternate version of the final dance scene from "Dirty Dancing," with Coghlan in the "Baby" role.
Look at the Cute Little Catcher!
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Laugh all you want about this MLB mini version of Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto. No, seriously, laugh as much as you want because it's funny.
Realmuto, meanwhile, is laughing all the way to the bank as arguably the best catcher in baseball right now.
In January 2021, he got paid like it with a five-year, $115.5 million, record-setting contract.
Max Muncy, Now a Giant Killer in Snack Size
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Snack-size Max Muncy is still hitting dingers, and it's an extra twist of the knife to show him as an MLB mini hitting one off the hated San Francisco Giants and pitcher Madison Bumgarner.
Muncy won over baseball fans all over the world with his play in 2020 as he helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to their first World Series championship since 1988.
Do They Make Miniature Gold Glove Awards?
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Some of the editing in the MLB mini series is something to behold — and it's never better than on the Dee Strange-Gordon picture of the longtime shortstop fielding a ball that's as big as he is.
If you've ever seen Strange-Gordon play, you know even a mini version of him could make this play.
Pick on Somebody Your Own Size
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Is there anything funnier than seeing a pint-sized version of former Milwaukee Brewers star Carlos Gomez talking trash to Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann?
The seamless editing of these photos is what makes them so great, and it seems like McCann is actually yelling down at a miniature version of Carlos Gomez.
They are both actually 6-foot-3.
Fast Things Come in Small Packages
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Few players could match the sheer speed of Byron Buxton, so it's fitting that the MLB mini version of him shows him stealing a base.
Look at how the dirt still kicks up around Buxton's tiny little cleats. It's all about the little details.
Little things make big things happen.
Flipping the Script on Aaron Judge
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There are a lot of great pictures of 6-foot-7 New York Yankees star Aaron Judge towering over 5-foot-6 Houston Astros star Jose Altuve.
To our knowledge, there is just one picture of Altuve towering over Judge, and it's this wonderful MLB mini edit of the two of them standing at second base.
We're all for having the pint-sized Altuve in more MLB mini edits. A little Astros mockery goes a long way.
When You Laugh Just to Keep From Crying
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The Miami Marlins have been very, very bad in recent years, so it's fitting that one of the few bright spots on their roster in that time is featured on an MLB mini.
Now what would be really funny is seeing Brian Anderson coughing up a ball at third base, where he led MLB with nine errors in 2020.
One Pico de Gallo, and Make it Spicy
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The sight of Joey Gallo tossing his bat, which is taller than him, is just hilarious. It's even funnier because Gallo is a giant, at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds.
It's also funny because Gallo, who was an All-Star in 2019, is actually a terrible hitter when it comes to hitting for average but already has 120 career home runs in less than five full seasons.
Coming Down From the Mound-aintop
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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Alex Reyes coming off the mound with the mound looking like a ski slope behind him will never not be funny.
What's actually not funny is that Reyes is 26 years old, has been a top prospect for the last five years, but is yet to make any significant contributions in the big leagues.
That's One Angry Little Guy
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You don't see players getting ejected right after hitting home runs very often — if at all — but Minnesota Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson pulled it off after his home run against the Chicago White Sox in September 2020.
The MLB mini version of Josh Donaldson getting tossed by home plate umpire Dan Bellino is so much more rewarding.
Yu Already Know He's Bringing the Heat
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San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish (the tiny version) warming up in the bullpen is pretty great because it's juxtaposed by not only his coaches, but by all of the people on the concourse watching him warm up.
This picture is so well-edited. If you use your imagination, you can convince yourself that is a kindergartner and not a four-time All-Star.
No-Hitters Come in All Shapes and Sizes
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One of the great regular-season moments in 2020 when MLB teams resumed play was when Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito threw a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
This MLB mini came after a personal request from Giolito to Parker.
Rickey Always Wants Rickey to Play Baseball
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MLB minis aren't just reserved for players from this era, but every now and then, Parker turns his eye toward legendary players like Babe Ruth or Hank Aaron, and, in this case, MLB career stolen bases leader Rickey Henderson.
What's amazing is how it looks like mini Rickey is actually holding up stolen base No. 1,406.
Rickey says Rickey is impressed.
Zack Greinke Puts Himself in Time Out
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This is the one time you can say the actual-sized version of this picture is as funny as the MLB mini version.
In the most Zack Greinke move of all time, the Houston Astros pitcher took a small siesta while groundskeepers tended to the mound.
Mets Happy for Any Version of Francisco Lindor
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If you're a New York Mets fan, you understand what an awful offseason it's been, so getting an MLB mini version of Francisco Lindor probably provides a much-needed laugh. And some relief that a new season is about to begin.
Because that offseason was really, really brutal.
Don't 'Wander' Far From This Prospect
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The Tampa Bay Rays were a surprise in making it to the World Series in 2020, where they were one boneheaded pitching move away from winning the whole thing.
Don't feel too bad for the Rays, because they still have No. 1 MLB prospect Wander Franco waiting in the wings and ready to be their everyday shortstop.
Think the Little Guy's Got a Shot?
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Some of the funniest of Parker's edits are when he takes enormous humans and turns them into mini versions of themselves, as he did with 6-foot-5, 220-pound Oakland Athletics pitching prospect Aiden McIntyre.
McIntyre hasn't made it to the big leagues yet, but he's on the way.
MLB Players Love Their Minis as Much as We Do
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This MLB mini of Pittsburgh Pirates outfield Gregory Polanco earned a shoutout on Instagram from Polanco himself.
Polanco's mini is a great example of the seamless blend in the photo editing, which you can read more about here.
Polanco is just one example of a player who loves how Parker's version of them looks.
Even The Captain Gets the Mini Treatment
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This miniature version of former New York Yankees shortstop and current Miami Marlins owner Derek Jeter is pretty hilarious, leaping up and over a baserunner with the ball in his tiny little hand.
As we've said, Parker's minis of MLB legends are pretty great. Maybe even good enough for their own account one day?
They're All Cheering for You, Little Man
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We don't have a lot of MLB minis where they don't have a hat on, so this shot of San Francisco Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski coming to home plate is pretty amazing.
Did he jump up and into the arms of his teammates, and they carried him away, gently rocking him to sleep?
Party People Put Your Hands in the Air
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Want to know who is going to be the next big star for the New York Yankees?
It's probably shortstop/second baseman Gleyber Torres — the actual-sized version, not the MLB mini version we see here.
Torres is only 24 years old and is already a two-time All-Star.
For more MLB Minis, check out Hayden Parker's work on Instagram.