International-born MLB players dip to 8-year low
NEW YORK — The percentage of Major League Baseball players born outside the United States dipped slightly to 27.8%, its lowest level since 2016.
There were 264 players from 19 countries and territories outside of the 50 states among 949 players on Opening Day active rosters and injured, restricted and inactive lists, the commissioner’s office said Friday.
The percentage was down from 28.5% last year and the lowest since 27.5% in 2016. It has remained in the 26-29.8% range since 2002, peaking in 2017.
The total number of international players was the fourth highest behind 291 in 2020 (when there were expanded 30-man active rosters), 275 in 2022 (when there were expanded 28-man active rosters) and last year (270).
The Dominican Republic led countries outside the U.S. with 108 players, its second-highest total behind 110 in 2020. Canada’s 13 was its most since 17 in 2013 and Japan’s 10 its highest since 11 in 2013.
Venezuela was second at 58, followed by Cuba (18), Puerto Rico (17), Canada (13), Mexico (12), Japan (10), Colombia and Panama (five each), Curaçao (four), South Korea (three), Australia (two) and Aruba, Bahamas, Brazil, Germany, Honduras, Nicaragua and South Africa (one apiece).
Houston Astros pitcher Tayler Scott became just the second South African player on an Opening Day roster after Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Gift Ngoepe in 2018.
Houston topped teams with 16 international players, followed by San Diego (15), Boston (14), Miami (14) and Cleveland (12).
The 19 countries and territories outside the U.S. matched last year and were two shy of the high, set in 2018 and matched in 2022.
NEW YORK — Dan Iassogna will be the umpire crew chief and work the plate during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Atlanta’s Truist Park.
His crew will include Marvin Hudson at first, Chris Segal at second, Jansen Visconti at third, Jeremie Rehak in left and Erich Bacchus in right, Major League Baseball said Thursday.
Iassogna, 56, will work his second All-Star Game. He was at third base for the 2011 game at Arizona.
He worked his first big league game in 1999, was hired to the major league staff in 2004 and appointed a crew chief ahead of the 2020 season. Iassogna umpired the World Series in 2012, ’17 and ’22 along with eight League Championship Series and seven Division Series.
Segal, Visconti, Rehak and Bacchus will work their first All-Star Games and Hudson his second after being in left field in 2004 at Houston.
Tony Randazzo will be the replay umpire in New York.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletics slugger Brent Rooker is adding his name to the list of Home Run Derby participants.
Rooker announced Thursday that he’s participating in the event, which takes place Monday in Atlanta. He will become the first Athletics player in the Home Run Derby since Matt Olson in 2021.
“Competing in the Home Run Derby has always been a dream of mine,” Rooker said in an Instagram post. “Can’t wait to make it happen next week in Atlanta! See ya there!”
Rooker, 30, entered Thursday with a .270 batting average, 19 homers and 50 RBIs, putting him on pace for a third straight season of at least 30 homers. He went deep 30 times in 2023 and had 39 homers in 2024.
His 58 homers since the start of the 2024 season rank him third among all American League players.
The only A’s to win the Derby were Mark McGwire in 1992 and Yoenis Céspedes in 2013 and 2014.
Other announced participants include Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and Washington’s James Wood.
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