Cuba set a record with 26 players on MLB Opening Day rosters, while Japan had 12 players, the most since 2012.
The percentage of those born outside the 50 states remained at 27.8%, matching its lowest level since 2016.
There were 265 players from 18 countries and territories outside the 50 states among the 954 players on active and injured, restricted and inactive rosters on opening day, the commissioner’s office reported Friday.
Cuba surpasses its record number of players in the Major Leagues
Cuba’s total surpassed its previous high of 23 in the 2016, 2017 and 2022 seasons, while Japan’s total was the highest since the 13 players in 2012.
The overall percentage remained the same as last year and fell to 28.5% in 2023, the lowest since 27.5% in 2016. It has remained between 26% and 29.8% since 2002, peaking in 2017.
The total number of international players was the fourth highest ever, behind the 291 in 2020, when active rosters were expanded to 30 players, and the 275 in 2022 (when they were expanded to 28 players) and the 270 in 2023.
Dominican Republic is the country with the most players in MLB
The Dominican Republic led countries outside the United States with 100 players, down from 108 last year and 110 in 2020. Canada added 13 players to match last year’s mark, its highest since 17 in 2013.
Venezuela was second with 63, followed by Cuba (26), Puerto Rico (16), Canada (13), Japan (12), Mexico (11), Curacao and Panama (four), South Korea (three), Aruba, Australia and Colombia (two) and Bahamas, Brazil, Germany, Honduras, Nicaragua and South Africa (one each).
Atlanta catcher Chadwick Tromp joined San Diego infielder Xander Bogaerts to give Aruba two players for the first time.
Jung Hoo Lee of the San Francisco Giants and Jesus Luzardo of the Philadelphia Phillies were listed with two nationalities. Lee was born in Japan and is of South Korean descent, while Luzardo was born in Peru and is of Venezuelan descent.
Houston and San Diego topped the list with 16 international players each, and the Houston Astros shared the lead for the fifth consecutive season. They were followed by the Atlanta Braves (14), the New York Mets (13) and Baltimore Orioles and Miami Marlins with 12 each.
The 18 nations and territories outside the United States matched last year’s tally and were three short of the record set in 2018 and equaled in 2022.
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