Minor League Baseball (MiLB)
As a way to cultivate talent and train future major league prospects, baseball players work their way up first starting in rookie league and then moving up to the minor league Class A (Single-A or A), High-A (A+), Double-A (AA), and Triple-A (AAA). The promotion to the major league is based in large measure upon output/statistics of players in the minor league system. However, the time spent climbing the minor league system varies. Moving through the minor leagues is not a systematized process and is rather fluid. Players can move up or down or even transfer to the major leagues and then be “sent down” to the minor leagues during a season or throughout their career. Also, some players move quickly through the minor league system, not spending any time, while other players can spend up to six years or more. Others never make it to the major leagues.
In 2024, over 6,000 players played in the minor leagues. More than one-third (38%) of MiLB players were foreign-born or born abroad and 1.4% of players were born in a U.S. Territory. Foreign-born players were born in 38 different countries and nearly every continent. More than half (51%) of foreign-born MiLB players were born in the Caribbean and one-third (34%) of foreign-born players were born in South America. More specifically, 45% of foreign-born MiLB players were born in the Dominican Republic followed by Venezuela (32%), Cuba (5%), Mexico (5%), Canada (3%), and 33 other countries (10%).
During the 2024 MiLB season, more than half (58%) of players remained at the same level while two-fifths (42%) of players progressed up or down in the minor leagues. Overall, foreign-born players experienced less mobility and advancement in the minor leagues compared to native-born players. For example, foreign-born players were twice as likely to play at the rookie level compared to AAA or AA. On the other hand, players born in the United States were 1.5 times more likely to be found playing in AAA, AA, and A+ compared to the rookie level.
For a fact sheet on Minor League Baseball players during the 2024 season, click on the below link:
For a fact sheet on Minor League Baseball players payers during prior seasons, click on the below link: