Yoan Moncada Among Record 26 Cuban Players on MLB’s Opening Day Rosters

Yoan Moncada is officially part of part of Major League Baseball Opening Day history.

The 29-year-old Cuban professional baseball third baseman made his Los Angeles Angels debut at his former home, Rate Field, drawing a walk in his only plate appearance during the opening game.

Yoan MoncadaIn the process, Moncada helped his native Cuba make MLB history, with a record 26 players on MLB‘s Opening Day rosters.

Cuba’s total topped its previous high of 23 in 2016, 2017 and 2022.

In all the percentage of Opening Day players born outside the 50 states remained at 27.8%, matching its lowest level since 2016.

There were 265 players from 18 nations and territories outside of the 50 states among 954 players on Opening Day active rosters and injured, restricted and inactive lists, the commissioner’s office said Friday.

The Dominican Republic led countries outside the U.S. with 100, down from 108 last year and 110 in 2020.

Venezuela was second at 63, followed by Cuba (26), Puerto Rico (16), Canada (13), Japan (12), Mexico (11), Curacao and Panama (four), South Korea (three), Aruba, Australia and Colombia (two) and Bahamas, Brazil, Germany, Honduras, Nicaragua and South Africa (one apiece).

Philadelphia Phillies‘ Jesús Luzardo was listed as “miscellaneous.” Born in Peru, he’s of Venezuelan descent.

The Houston Astros and San Diego Padres topped teams with 16 international players each, with the Astros having a share of the lead for the fifth straight season

They were followed by the Atlanta Braves (14), the New York Mets (13) and the Baltimore Orioles and Miami Marlins (12 each).

Andrés Giménez Could Repeat as a Gold Glove Award Winner This Year

Andrés Giménez could soon have a set of gold gloves…

The 25-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball shortstop and second baseman for the Cleveland Guardians, a Gold Glove winner last year, is among the finalists contending for the award this year.

Gimenez is among the three American League finalists in the second base position. He’ll face off against Houston AstrosMauricio Dubón and Texas RangersMarcus Semien. Dubon is also a finalist in the AL’s utility category.

Puerto Rican professional baseball player of the Toronto Blue Jays José Berríos (29) and Venezuelan professional baseball player Pablo López (27) are finalists in the American League’s pitcher race, along with the Minnesota Twins’ Sonny Gray.

Other Latino finalists include Minnesota TwinsCarlos Correa (AL, shortstop), Cleveland’s José Ramírez (AL, third base), Seattle MarinersJulio Rodriguez (AL, centerfield), Texas RangersAdolis García (AL, right field), Miami Marlins’ Jesús Luzardo (NL, pitcher), Arizona Diamondbacks

Gabriel Moreno (NL, catcher), Milwaukee BrewersCarlos Santana (NL, first base), New York’s Francisco Lindor (NL, shortstop), Colorado RockiesEzequiel Tovar (NL, shortstop), Los AngelesDavid Peralta (NL, left field), Atlanta BravesEddie Rosario (NL, left field) and San Diego PadresFernando Tatis Jr. (NL, right field).

Voting is conducted among managers and up to six coaches from each team, who can’t select players on their own club. Since 2013, voting has been factored with a Society for American Baseball Research defensive index, which comprises about 25% of the total.

The utility category is based on a SABR formula and additional defensive statistics.

Gold Glove winners will be announced on November 5.

Here’s a look at all the finalists:

American League finalists:

Pitcher: José Berríos (Toronto), Sonny Gray (Minnesota), Pablo López (Minnesota)

Catcher: Jonah Heim (Texas), Alejandro Kirk (Toronto), Adley Rutschman (Baltimore)

First base: Nathaniel Lowe (Texas), Ryan Mountcastle (Baltimore), Anthony Rizzo (New York)

Second base: Mauricio Dubón (Houston), Andrés Giménez (Cleveland), Marcus Semien (Texas)

Shortstop: Carlos Correa (Minnesota), Corey Seager (Texas), Anthony Volpe (New York)

Third base: Alex Bregman (Houston), Matt Chapman (Toronto), José Ramírez (Cleveland)

Left field: Austin Hays (Baltimore), Steven Kwan (Cleveland), Daulton Varsho (Toronto)

Center field: Kevin Kiermaier (Toronto), Luis Robert Jr. (Chicago), Julio Rodríguez (Seattle)

Right field: Adolis García (Texas), Kyle Tucker (Houston), Alex Verdugo (Boston)

Utility: Mauricio Dubón (Houston), Zach McKinstry (Detroit), Taylor Walls (Tampa Bay)

 

National League finalists:

Pitcher: Jesús Luzardo (Miami), Taijuan Walker (Philadelphia), Zack Wheeler (Philadelphia)

Catcher: Patrick Bailey (San Francisco), Gabriel Moreno (Arizona), J.T. Realmuto (Philadelphia)

First base: Freddie Freeman (Los Angeles), Carlos Santana (Milwaukee), Christian Walker (Arizona)

Second base: Nico Hoerner (Chicago), Ha-Seong Kim (San Diego), Bryson Stott (Philadelphia)

Shortstop: Francisco Lindor (New York), Dansby Swanson (Chicago), Ezequiel Tovar (Colorado)

Third base: Ke’Bryan Hayes (Pittsburgh), Ryan McMahon (Colorado), Austin Riley (Atlanta)
Left field: Ian Happ (Chicago), David Peralta (Los Angeles), Eddie Rosario (Atlanta)
Center field: Brenton Doyle (Colorado), Michael Harris II (Atlanta), Alek Thomas (Arizona)
Right field: Mookie Betts (Los Angeles), Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Diego), Lane Thomas (Washington)
Utility: Mookie Betts (Los Angeles), Tommy Edman (St. Louis), Ha-Seong Kim (San Diego)