MLB Opening Day Rosters feature 241 Players born outside of USA

Press Release Major League Baseball

28.2 Percent of Players Born Outside the U.S., Spanning 15 Countries and Territories

Two-hundred forty-one players on 2013 Opening Day 25-man rosters and inactive lists were born outside the 50 United States, Major League Baseball announced today.  This year’s percentage of 28.2 marks the fourth highest of all-time.

The 241 players born outside the U.S. come from the pool of 856 players (750 active 25-man roster players and 106 disabled or restricted Major League players) on March 31st rosters and represent 15 countries and territories outside the U.S.  This year’s 241 foreign-born players rank as the fourth-most in history.  The 28.2 percent trails only 2005, when 29.2 percent (242/829) of Opening Day players were born outside the U.S.; 2007, when 29.0 percent (246 players) were foreign-born; and last season, when 28.4 percent were born outside the U.S.  On 2012 Opening Day, 243 out of 856 players were born outside the U.S.

As it has each year since MLB began releasing this annual data in 1995, the Dominican Republic again leads the Major Leagues with 89 players born outside the U.S, the fourth-most the nation has ever produced on Opening Day rosters (highs: 99 in 2007, 91 in 2005 and 95 in 2012).  Venezuela ranks second with 63 players, its second-highest total ever on Opening Day rosters (high: 66 in 2012).  Canada ranks third with 17 players, its second-highest Opening Day figure ever (behind only its 19 in 2007).  Cuba is fourth overall with 15 players, surpassing its 11 in 2002 and 2011-2012 for its highest total since at least 1995.  Rounding out the totals are Mexico (14); Puerto Rico (13); Japan (11); Colombia and Panama (4 each); Curaçao (3); Australia, Nicaragua and South Korea (2 each); and the Netherlands and Taiwan (1 each).  Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Didi Gregorius, who is currently on the disabled list, is just the third Opening Day player since 1995 to have been born in the Netherlands, joining infielder Robert Eenhoorn (1996 and 1998) and pitcher Rick VandenHurk (2008-2009).

The Milwaukee Brewers have the most foreign-born players with a total of 14 on a roster that spans a Major League-high seven different countries and territories – Canada, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.  The Texas Rangers have the next highest total at 13.  Three Clubs – the Colorado Rockies, the Detroit Tigers and the San Francisco Giants – each have 12 foreign-born players.  The Toronto Blue Jays have the most players from one nation outside the U.S. with seven Dominican players.  The Chicago Cubs and the Rangers have six Dominican players apiece, while the Colorado Rockies, the Detroit Tigers and the Giants each have six Venezuelan players.

Please see below for the complete list of foreign-born players on 2013 Opening Day rosters.