What percent of MLB players are from other countries?
Baseball is often called “America’s Pastime,” but it’s a sport with a global reach. Major League Baseball (MLB) is home to players worldwide; from the Dominican Republic to Japan, Brazil to Canada, and everywhere in between, the nationalities and birthplaces of MLB players are as diverse as the countries they represent. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the nationalities of MLB players and explore the impact of this international diversity on America’s favorite pastime. [If you like this, you’ll like our MLB Bats by Player too]
Key MLB Players by Country Findings (2023)
A kid born in the Dominican Republic is 5 times as likely to start on an MLB lineup on opening day as a kid from the USA.
A kid born in the Dominican Republic is 8 times more likely to pitch on opening day than a kid born from the USA.
66.9% of starting-hitting lineup players were born in the USA.
72.5% of those who pitched on opening day were born in the USA.
About one player from every team is from either the DR or Venezuela.
5 countries have a single starting player born in their country (Brazil, Honduras, Aruba, Panama, and Bahamas).
14 different countries have a starting player born in their country.
There are 6 times as many starters (188) from the United States as from Venezuela (29), the second most represented country. The Dominican Republic is 3rd (27) followed by Cuba (14), Puerto Rico (8), Mexico (5), Colombia and Canada (3), Curacao, Japan, South Korea and Germany (2), Brazil, Honduras, Aruba, Panama and Bahamas (1).
2023 MLB Pitchers by Birth Country
The above chart is the raw number of pitchers who took the mound on opening day. Note, these are not just the starters but everyone who threw at least one pitch on opening day. The USA has almost 3 out of every 4 pitchers and the DR has 15.5% of all pitchers.
MLB Players Per Capita 2023
Four countries with more than 10 starters are in the lineup for Opening Day 2023. The Dominican Republic is way more likely to put a kid in the majors than any other country. To give it perspective, the DR is five times more likely to start one of its own in the Big Leagues when compared to one born in the USA. Cuba and Venezuela also outpace the US by at least a factor of two.
Hitters per Population
If you consider every country, Curacao has 12 players for every 1 million of their population. Granted, Curacao only has a population of 150,000, so its 2 MLB starters on opening day in 2023 (Ozzie Albies and Jonathan Schoop), create a bend in the numbers. But at a population that would only serve about three US high schools, Caracao’s presence in the Big Leagues is noteworthy. This table displays the country, the number of MLB starters in the lineup on opening day, the population of the country, and the MLB players per one million of the population. We took the starting batting lineup of each team on March 30th, 2023 (opening day) for these calculations.
MLB Players by Population Table (Batters)
Country
MLB Players
Population
MLB/1M People
USA
188
331900000
0.566436
Venezuela
29
28200000
1.028369
Dominican Republic
27
11120000
2.428058
Cuba
14
11338138
1.234771
Puerto Rico
8
3193694
2.504936
Mexico
5
128932753
0.038780
Colombia
3
50882891
0.058959
Canada
3
38250000
0.078431
Curacao
2
158665
12.605174
Japan
2
126476461
0.015813
South Korea
2
51269185
0.039010
Germany
2
83783942
0.023871
Brazil
1
214300000
0.004666
Honduras
1
9904607
0.100963
Aruba
1
105845
9.447777
Panama
1
4314767
0.231762
Bahamas
1
407906
2.451545
Pitchers per Population
The Dominican Republic once again dominates the per capita representation in the MLB. On the mound, it’s 8 times more likely to be born in the DR than in the States. Puerto Rico (population 3.1 million) also represents well, but they only have two pitchers (Fernando Cruz and Jorge Lopez).
MLB Players at the Population Level (Pitchers)
Country
MLB Players
Population
MLB/1M People
USA
103
331900000
0.310334
Dominican Republic
22
11120000
1.978417
Venezuela
4
28200000
0.141844
Canada
4
38250000
0.104575
Puerto Rico
2
3193694
0.626234
Panama
2
4314767
0.463524
Mexico
2
128932753
0.015512
Cuba
1
11338138
0.088198
Japan
1
126476461
0.007907
Colombia
1
50882891
0.019653
2023 MLB Lineup Starters by Country (batters)
Here are the MLB opening day players for 2023 by birth country. These are any players that got at least one at-bat on opening day.
Aruba
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Xander
Bogaerts
Aruba
SD
Bahamas
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Jazz
Chisholm
Bahamas
MIA
Brazil
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Yan
Gomes
Brazil
CHC
Canada
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Vladimir
Guerrero
Canada
TOR
Josh
Naylor
Canada
CLE
Tyler
O’Neill
Canada
STL
Colombia
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Harold
Ramírez
Colombia
TB
Donovan
Solano
Colombia
MIN
Gio
Urshela
Colombia
LAA
Cuba
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
José
Abreu
Cuba
HOU
Yordan
Alvarez
Cuba
HOU
Randy
Arozarena
Cuba
TB
Jose
Barrero
Cuba
CIN
Oscar
Colás
Cuba
CWS
Aledmys
Díaz
Cuba
OAK
Yandy
Díaz
Cuba
TB
Adolis
García
Cuba
TEX
Yasmani
Grandal
Cuba
CWS
Lourdes
Gurriel
Cuba
AZ
Yoán
Moncada
Cuba
CWS
Luis
Robert
Cuba
CWS
Jorge
Soler
Cuba
MIA
Miguel
Vargas
Cuba
LAD
Curacao
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Ozzie
Albies
Curacao
ATL
Jonathan
Schoop
Curacao
DET
Dominican Republic
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Willy
Adames
Dominican Republic
MIL
Oneil
Cruz
Dominican Republic
PIT
Bryan
De La Cruz
Dominican Republic
MIA
Rafael
Devers
Dominican Republic
BOS
Yainer
Diaz
Dominican Republic
HOU
Wander
Franco
Dominican Republic
TB
Teoscar
Hernández
Dominican Republic
SEA
Eloy
Jiménez
Dominican Republic
CWS
Ramón
Laureano
Dominican Republic
OAK
Manuel
Margot
Dominican Republic
TB
Ketel
Marte
Dominican Republic
AZ
Starling
Marte
Dominican Republic
NYM
Jorge
Mateo
Dominican Republic
BAL
Elehuris
Montero
Dominican Republic
COL
Marcell
Ozuna
Dominican Republic
ATL
Jeremy
Peña
Dominican Republic
HOU
José
Ramírez
Dominican Republic
CLE
Franmil
Reyes
Dominican Republic
KC
Victor
Robles
Dominican Republic
WSH
Julio
Rodríguez
Dominican Republic
SEA
Amed
Rosario
Dominican Republic
CLE
Esteury
Ruiz
Dominican Republic
OAK
Carlos
Santana
Dominican Republic
PIT
Jean
Segura
Dominican Republic
MIA
Jose
Siri
Dominican Republic
TB
Juan
Soto
Dominican Republic
SD
Raimel
Tapia
Dominican Republic
BOS
Germany
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Brendan
Donovan
Germany
STL
Max
Kepler
Germany
MIN
Honduras
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Mauricio
Dubón
Honduras
HOU
Japan
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Shohei
Ohtani
Japan
LAA
Masataka
Yoshida
Japan
BOS
Mexico
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Alejandro
Kirk
Mexico
TOR
Joey
Meneses
Mexico
WSH
Isaac
Paredes
Mexico
TB
Luis
Urías
Mexico
MIL
Ramón
Urías
Mexico
BAL
Panama
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Christian
Bethancourt
Panama
TB
Puerto Rico
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Javier
Báez
Puerto Rico
DET
Carlos
Correa
Puerto Rico
MIN
Enrique
Hernández
Puerto Rico
BOS
Francisco
Lindor
Puerto Rico
NYM
Martín
Maldonado
Puerto Rico
HOU
Jose
Miranda
Puerto Rico
MIN
Roberto
Pérez
Puerto Rico
SF
Christian
Vázquez
Puerto Rico
MIN
South Korea
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Ji Hwan
Bae
South Korea
PIT
Ha-Seong
Kim
South Korea
SD
USA
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Cj
Abrams
USA
WSH
Nick
Ahmed
USA
AZ
Pete
Alonso
USA
NYM
Brian
Anderson
USA
MIL
Tim
Anderson
USA
CWS
Nolan
Arenado
USA
STL
Christian
Arroyo
USA
BOS
Matt
Beaty
USA
SF
Josh
Bell
USA
CLE
Cody
Bellinger
USA
CHC
Brandon
Belt
USA
TOR
Andrew
Benintendi
USA
CWS
Will
Benson
USA
CIN
Jon
Berti
USA
MIA
Mookie
Betts
USA
LAD
Bo
Bichette
USA
TOR
Cavan
Biggio
USA
TOR
Charlie
Blackmon
USA
COL
Alec
Bohm
USA
PHI
Alex
Bregman
USA
HOU
Will
Brennan
USA
CLE
Seth
Brown
USA
OAK
Kris
Bryant
USA
COL
Byron
Buxton
USA
MIN
Alex
Call
USA
WSH
Jeimer
Candelario
USA
WSH
Mark
Canha
USA
NYM
Conner
Capel
USA
OAK
Matt
Carpenter
USA
SD
Corbin
Carroll
USA
AZ
Triston
Casas
USA
BOS
Nick
Castellanos
USA
PHI
Jake
Cave
USA
PHI
Matt
Chapman
USA
TOR
Michael
Conforto
USA
SF
Garrett
Cooper
USA
MIA
Brandon
Crawford
USA
SF
J. P.
Crawford
USA
SEA
C. J.
Cron
USA
COL
Jake
Cronenworth
USA
SD
Travis
D’Arnaud
USA
ATL
David
Dahl
USA
SD
J. D.
Davis
USA
SF
Corey
Dickerson
USA
WSH
Josh
Donaldson
USA
NYY
Hunter
Dozier
USA
KC
Brandon
Drury
USA
LAA
Adam
Duvall
USA
BOS
Tommy
Edman
USA
STL
Kyle
Farmer
USA
MIN
Jake
Fraley
USA
CIN
Ty
France
USA
SEA
Adam
Frazier
USA
BAL
Freddie
Freeman
USA
LAD
Tj
Friedl
USA
CIN
Joey
Gallo
USA
MIN
Luis
García
USA
WSH
Paul
Goldschmidt
USA
STL
Romy
González
USA
CWS
Nick
Gordon
USA
MIN
Nolan
Gorman
USA
STL
Riley
Greene
USA
DET
Trent
Grisham
USA
SD
Robbie
Grossman
USA
TEX
Eric
Haase
USA
DET
Darick
Hall
USA
PHI
Ian
Happ
USA
CHC
Michael
Harris
USA
ATL
Ke’Bryan
Hayes
USA
PIT
Austin
Hays
USA
BAL
Austin
Hedges
USA
PIT
Jonah
Heim
USA
TEX
Gunnar
Henderson
USA
BAL
Sam
Hilliard
USA
ATL
Nico
Hoerner
USA
CHC
Eric
Hosmer
USA
CHC
Jonathan
India
USA
CIN
Kyle
Isbel
USA
KC
Aaron
Judge
USA
NYY
Josh
Jung
USA
TEX
Jarred
Kelenic
USA
SEA
Tony
Kemp
USA
OAK
Kevin
Kiermaier
USA
TOR
Andrew
Knizner
USA
STL
Ryan
Kreidler
USA
DET
Steven
Kwan
USA
CLE
Tommy
La Stella
USA
SEA
Shea
Langeliers
USA
OAK
Trevor
Larnach
USA
MIN
Dj
Lemahieu
USA
NYY
Kyle
Lewis
USA
AZ
Evan
Longoria
USA
AZ
Brandon
Lowe
USA
TB
Nathaniel
Lowe
USA
TEX
Manny
Machado
USA
SD
Trey
Mancini
USA
CHC
Brandon
Marsh
USA
PHI
J. D.
Martinez
USA
LAD
Michael
Massey
USA
KC
Miles
Mastrobuoni
USA
CHC
Nick
Maton
USA
DET
Jake
Mccarthy
USA
AZ
Andrew
Mccutchen
USA
PIT
Reese
Mcguire
USA
BOS
Zach
Mckinstry
USA
DET
Ryan
Mcmahon
USA
COL
Jeff
Mcneil
USA
NYM
Austin
Meadows
USA
DET
Mj
Melendez
USA
KC
Whit
Merrifield
USA
TOR
Jake
Meyers
USA
HOU
Brad
Miller
USA
TEX
Garrett
Mitchell
USA
MIL
Ryan
Mountcastle
USA
BAL
Cedric
Mullins
USA
BAL
Max
Muncy
USA
LAD
Sean
Murphy
USA
ATL
Wil
Myers
USA
CIN
Brandon
Nimmo
USA
NYM
Austin
Nola
USA
SD
Lars
Nootbaar
USA
STL
Logan
O’Hoppe
USA
LAA
Matt
Olson
USA
ATL
James
Outman
USA
LAD
Vinnie
Pasquantino
USA
KC
Joc
Pederson
USA
SF
Jace
Peterson
USA
OAK
Tommy
Pham
USA
NYM
Cal
Raleigh
USA
SEA
Luke
Raley
USA
TB
J. T.
Realmuto
USA
PHI
Anthony
Rendon
USA
LAA
Hunter
Renfroe
USA
LAA
Bryan
Reynolds
USA
PIT
Austin
Riley
USA
ATL
Anthony
Rizzo
USA
NYY
Brent
Rooker
USA
OAK
Adley
Rutschman
USA
BAL
Blake
Sabol
USA
SF
Kyle
Schwarber
USA
PHI
Corey
Seager
USA
TEX
Marcus
Semien
USA
TEX
Dominic
Smith
USA
WSH
Josh
Smith
USA
TEX
Will
Smith
USA
LAD
Canaan
Smith-Njigba
USA
PIT
George
Springer
USA
TOR
Jacob
Stallings
USA
MIA
Giancarlo
Stanton
USA
NYY
Spencer
Steer
USA
CIN
Tyler
Stephenson
USA
CIN
Bryson
Stott
USA
PHI
Myles
Straw
USA
CLE
Jack
Suwinski
USA
PIT
Dansby
Swanson
USA
CHC
Michael
Taylor
USA
MIN
Rowdy
Tellez
USA
MIL
Lane
Thomas
USA
WSH
Bubba
Thompson
USA
TEX
Spencer
Torkelson
USA
DET
Jose
Trevino
USA
NYY
Mike
Trout
USA
LAA
Kyle
Tucker
USA
HOU
Brice
Turang
USA
MIL
Justin
Turner
USA
BOS
Trea
Turner
USA
PHI
Daulton
Varsho
USA
TOR
Andrew
Vaughn
USA
CWS
Alex
Verdugo
USA
BOS
Matt
Vierling
USA
DET
David
Villar
USA
SF
Dan
Vogelbach
USA
NYM
Anthony
Volpe
USA
NYY
Jason
Vosler
USA
CIN
Lamonte
Wade
USA
SF
Christian
Walker
USA
AZ
Jordan
Walker
USA
STL
Taylor
Walls
USA
TB
Taylor
Ward
USA
LAA
Joey
Wendle
USA
MIA
Jesse
Winker
USA
MIL
Patrick
Wisdom
USA
CHC
Bobby
Witt
USA
KC
Connor
Wong
USA
BOS
Kolten
Wong
USA
SEA
Mike
Yastrzemski
USA
SF
Christian
Yelich
USA
MIL
Mike
Zunino
USA
CLE
Venezuela
First
Last
Birth Country
Team
Ronald
Acuña
Venezuela
ATL
Jesús
Aguilar
Venezuela
OAK
Elvis
Andrus
Venezuela
CWS
Orlando
Arcia
Venezuela
ATL
Luis
Arraez
Venezuela
MIA
Miguel
Cabrera
Venezuela
DET
Oswaldo
Cabrera
Venezuela
NYY
Harold
Castro
Venezuela
COL
William
Contreras
Venezuela
MIL
Willson
Contreras
Venezuela
STL
Yonathan
Daza
Venezuela
COL
Elias
Díaz
Venezuela
COL
Eduardo
Escobar
Venezuela
NYM
Thairo
Estrada
Venezuela
SF
Wilmer
Flores
Venezuela
SF
Avisaíl
García
Venezuela
MIA
Andrés
Giménez
Venezuela
CLE
Gabriel
Moreno
Venezuela
AZ
Omar
Narváez
Venezuela
NYM
Edward
Olivares
Venezuela
KC
David
Peralta
Venezuela
LAD
Salvador
Perez
Venezuela
KC
Luis
Rengifo
Venezuela
LAA
Miguel
Rojas
Venezuela
LAD
Keibert
Ruiz
Venezuela
WSH
Anthony
Santander
Venezuela
BAL
Eugenio
Suárez
Venezuela
SEA
Gleyber
Torres
Venezuela
NYY
Ezequiel
Tovar
Venezuela
COL
Why Birth Country?
Simply because we don’t now how to confirm someone’s nationality. We can gather data from baseballreference.com that shows someone’s birthplace. But checking their visa and voting status is not something we know how to access (or care to). So, we use the next best thing (and maybe even better): the birth country.
How We Compiled Data
The majority of our data is compiled through the use of python, pybaseball and Baseball-Reference. We do our analysis through the use of modules like Pandas and matplotlib.