2026 MSBL PLayer Profile: Carlton Hutchinson, San Antonio MSBL

 Carlton Hutchinson is a New Man…Literally!

‘Carlton Lost 120 Pounds and Pushes to Make it 140 in 2027’

By Steve LaMontia, MSBL Director of Communications

Carlton Hutchinson is a 65-year-old accomplished basketball player and coach, a devoted grandfather, and also loves baseball.  He took the traditional route of youth baseball, which eventually led him to the Sacramento MSBL.  He now resides in San Antonio, Texas, and plays in the San Antonio MSBL, but his route back into baseball hasn’t been without its roadblocks.

“My father was in the Air Force, so we moved around a lot.  Fortunately, most bases had their own Little League programs, so I had a lot of opportunity to play ball,” explained Carlton.  “Our final stop was in Sacramento, where I made the All-Star team twice.  Then it was Babe Ruth and high school baseball, both in Sacramento.

I attended American River College in Sacramento intending to play baseball, but I injured my shoulder, so I switched to basketball.  But I still loved baseball.”

After college, Carlton went into teaching and coaching.  He wanted to be a football coach and was an assistant football coach.  However, in the community college world, you assume many different programs.

“I coached JV girls’ softball, JV boys’ baseball, and then the girls’ basketball coach quit, so they asked me to coach.  The team had won six games in three years.  The administration just wanted to finish up the season and move on, but I’m not wired that way.

We went 18-4, and I was voted the LA Times coach of the year.  From that moment on, I became girls basketball coach, and in 1999 we won the state championship!”

OK, let’s not get too far off track here.  How did Carlton get around to becoming involved in adult baseball, and what led to his amazing physical transformation?

“In 2017, I was just retiring, living in San Antonio to be closer to my daughter and new grandson, and realized that my inactivity and dietary habits had expanded me to 350 pounds!  I went to the doctor and asked for help.

I played in the Sacramento MSBL for a while, but that was back in the 90s.  I love baseball and looked at it as my motivation to take control of my life again, and teach my grandson how to play the game.”

Carlton researched the area and found the San Antonio MSBL.  He hit the gym, hit the batting cages, and was doing pretty well.  He then decided to go to the league tryouts, still hovering around 350 pounds.

“I would love to report a ‘happily ever after’ ending to this story, but I stunk up the place.  I didn’t hit a single ball and my fielding was horrible.  I went into a serious depression and decided to give up.  Nobody drafted me.  I was lost.”

Enter MSBL legend and San Antonio League President Skip Bradley, who was at the tryouts.

“On day one, he showed up as a huge man,” explained Skip.  “He said he needed to lose weight to continue to live, and baseball was his choice.  So, I formed a new team with the new guys, added him to it, told him to drop 200 pounds, go play ball, and live a healthy lifestyle.  In the early days, his jersey looked like sails on a boat!”

Added Carlton, “Skip called and said he was assembling a new team, and I decided to come out.  For my first uniform, I had to go to the tailors to have the jersey and pants expanded.

At our first practice, I was shagging and in such bad shape that I had to sit down in the outfield, literally not knowing if I could make it back to the dugout.  I had doubts all over again, but Skip kept telling me not to give up.”

Carlton was invested once again and started over, going to the gym and eating correctly, but the doctor said his heart wasn’t quite correct, though curable, and he is having heart surgery this month and will be 100% free to keep up his journey.

“After the first season, our team disbanded, but I was enjoying playing, so I decided to make my own team!  I gathered people who hadn’t played in a long time, got enough interested guys, and made a team.  We were off and running.”

Carlton then ramped up the workouts and ran that team for two seasons.  Many of the people he found are still playing on other teams in the league because of his positive example.

“I am proud of the way Carlton has continued to seriously reconstruct his life and his baseball world,” said Skip.  “I made him a manager for a couple of years.  He has dropped 120 pounds, as I understand it.  He gets plenty of hits and plays first base.  He is slimming nicely.  I keep telling him, “Another 50, come on!”

Now for the Cinderella ending.

The best team in the 60-over division are the Texans, who are active defending league championships and playing in national tournaments.  After watching Carlton’s transformation from afar, the Texan’s manager asked Carlton to join the team.  He had come full circle from sitting in the outfield grass wondering if he could make it back to the dugout.

“My teammates on the Texans are so supportive.  They are great guys.  They are the ones that keep me going.  This story couldn’t have ended any better.

I have also been to Arizona for the World Series and Florida for the Fall Classic.  I’m ready to get back there now.  It was a lot of fun.”

Who is your favorite player of all time?

“One of the first players I admired was Campy Campaneris.  He carried himself well, and was always hustling.  He didn’t take anything for granted.  I got to meet him at spring training a few years back.  I started following him when he was a rising shortstop.

Of course, if you’re an A’s fan, Reggie was also a favorite.  At A’s games back then, every player would sign the program.  Things have sure changed!”

What do you think is the best part of being a part of the San Antonio MSBL?

“The camaraderie of all the teams.  We back each other.  Whether Injuries, someone being ill, or has passed away, we give them respect. When we go out to play, it is still competitive, and when the game starts, they want to beat us.  But being one big family, regardless of the team, is the main ingredient.”

Any final comments?

“I went from 350 pounds to 238, and set my sights on at least 220 when 2027 begins.  A pitcher I have known for a few years threw one inside, and I got out of the way.  He told me afterward that early on, it would have hit me!  That made me feel good.

There are guys out there our age that think they can’t play anymore.  Nonsense.  Get back out there.  I have helped others stay in the game, and I’d love to help you, too.

Recently, we had two outs and two runners on, and down by two in the last inning.  The other team started bagging their equipment.  I got a hit, scoring both runners, against a very good pitcher.  We ended up tying the game and didn’t win, but we also didn’t lose.

The guy that started this journey couldn’t have done that.  But work hard, and good things happen.  Get involved in our great game once again!”