(New York) For the second straight season, more than 28% of Major League Baseball players were born outside of the 50 US states.
Posted at 1:26 p.m.
Major League Baseball said Friday that 275 of its 975 players listed on 28-man rosters for openers, injured reserve, unpaid leave and family-related absences were born outside of the 50 US states.
This rate fell from 28.4% in 2020 to 28.3% last year and 28.2% this season. However, the teams had been able to count on an increased workforce of 25 to 30 players during the 2020 season, marked by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, before returning to 26 last year. The limit this season was set at 28, but it will be reduced to 26 as of May 2.
The Dominican Republic dominates the cohort with 99 players, followed by Venezuela at 67 and Cuba at 23. Puerto Rico ranks fourth with 16, ahead of Mexico (13), Canada (12), Colombia (10), Japan (seven), Panama (six), Curaçao (six), South Korea (four) and the Bahamas (three).
Aruba, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Honduras, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Taiwan, and the US Virgin Islands all have a national.
In total, players from 21 countries and territories play in the Major Leagues, equaling the record set in 2018.