The presence of international players in Major League Baseball (MLB) has become a constant in recent decades. However, in recent years the highest numbers of players born outside the United States have been recorded in the Major Leagues, where, fortunately for the national fans, Mexican elements are found. But how did Mexico compare to other countries on the Major League Opening Day?
The internationalization of the MLB
The Opening Day of the 2024 season was a clear example that the MLB is a global league, since according to data from the Major League office, of the 949 baseball players that currently make up the rosters of the 30 teams in the league, 264 baseball players were born outside the American Union. This means almost 28% of Major League Baseball elements, who represented a total of 19 countries during the first day of the current campaign.
This figure represented the fourth largest number of foreign players since the league began counting in 1995. This is only behind the editions of 2020 (291 players), 2022 (275 players) and 2023 (270 players). However, this also means a slight decrease in international baseball players in recent years.
Like every year since 1995, the Dominican Republic dominated the list with the highest number of players outside the United States with 108, just two below the 110 in 2020. Among the players from the Caribbean country, quality elements stand out such as Juan Soto (New York Yankees), Julio Rodríguez (Seattle Mariners), Marcell Ozuna (Atlanta Braves), Vladimir Guerrero Jr (Toronto Blue Jays), Rafael Devers (Boston Red Sox), Fernando Tatis Jr and Manny Machado (San Diego Padres) , among others.
Mexico present on Opening Day
Behind the 108 elements of the Dominican Republic were countries such as Venezuela (58), Cuba (18), Puerto Rico (17), Canada (13), Mexico (12), Japan (10), Colombia (5), Panama ( 5), Curacao (4), South Korea (3), Australia (2), Aruba (1), Bahamas (1), Brazil (1), Germany (1), Honduras (1), Nicaragua (1) and South Africa (1), thus representing 19 countries around the world.
Thus, Mexico managed to position itself as the sixth nation that contributed the most international players to the MLB Opening Day, standing out being one place above Japan. Who, in addition to having figures like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Yu Darvish, are also the current world champions in the World Baseball Classic. It should be remembered that the Mexican ninth fell to the Japanese in the 2023 Semifinal.
Mexicans who were active on Opening Day
- Patrick Sandoval (LA Angels)
- Alex Verdugo (NY Yankees)
- Luis Urías (Seattle Mariners)
- Giovanny Gallegos (St. Louis Cardinals)
- Alejandro Kirk (Toronto Blue Jays)
- Ramón Urías (Baltimore Orioles)
- Rowdy Tellez (Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Joey Meneses (Washington Nationals)
- Isaac Paredes (Tampa Bay Rays)
- Randy Arozarena (Tampa Bay Rays)
- Alek Thomas (Arizona Diamondbacks)
- Jarren Durán (Boston Red Sox)
For its part, the team that has the most international players in its ranks is the Houston Astros with 16, which includes South African player Tayler Scott. Behind the Texan ninth are the Padres (15), Red Sox (14), Marlins (14), Guardians (12), Twins, Mets, Pirates and Rays (11).
The Mexican Major League Legion
However, although 12 Mexican players were active on the Major League Opening Day, a few more are also part of the league. Well, of the 36 national baseball players who tried their luck in the Spring Camps, 23 of them managed to establish themselves as part of the first team rosters. While some others were able to enter the minor categories of the Big Top.
In addition to this, New York Yankees catcher José Treviño could also be included on the list. The player has Mexican ancestry and although he rejected the offer to represent Mexico in the World Baseball Classic (2023) to be able to consolidate with the Bronx Bombers, the catcher mentioned that in case the opportunity presented itself again ” “He would love to defend the Mexican ninth in the future.
Mexican players in MLB 2024
- Javier Assad (Chicago Cubs)
- Patrick Sandoval (LA Angels)
- Daniel Duarte (Minnesota Twins)
- Victor Gonzalez (NY Yankees)
- Alex Verdugo (NY Yankees)
- Andrés Muñoz (Seattle Mariners)
- Luis Urías (Seattle Mariners)
- Seby Zavala (Seattle Mariners)
- Giovanny Gallegos (St. Louis Cardinals)
- JoJo Romero (St. Louis Cardinals)
- Alejandro Kirk (Toronto Blue Jays)
- Austin Barnes (LA Dodgers)
- Ramón Urías (Baltimore Orioles)
- Alan Trejo (Colorado Rockies)
- Rowdy Tellez (Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Joey Meneses (Washington Nationals)
- Isaac Paredes (Tampa Bay Rays)
- Randy Arozarena (Tampa Bay Rays)
- Jonathan Aranda (Tampa Bay Rays)
- Alek Thomas (Arizona Diamondbacks)
- Jarren Durán (Boston Red Sox)
- José Urquidy (Houston Astros)
- Taijuan Walker (Philadelphia Phillies)
*With information from MLB and Seventh inning.
2024-04-08 21:04:36
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