March 14th 2024.
Recently, The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida conducted a study on the demographics of Major League Baseball. The results revealed that in 2023, only 6.2% of players in the league were Black, marking a decrease from the previous year's rate of 7.2%. This is the lowest percentage of Black players in the league since 1991, when the study first began and 18% of the players were Black.
According to NBC News, this trend is not unique to MLB. In fact, out of the five major professional sports leagues in the US, including the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, and Major League Soccer, MLB has the lowest percentage of Black athletes on its rosters.
In response to these findings, MLB has been implementing diversity-focused programming to improve the recruitment and involvement of Black players in the sport. These programs, which are funded by USA Baseball, include the DREAM Series, Breakthrough Series, the Hank Aaron Invitational, and events for girls' baseball and softball.
Del Matthews, MLB's vice president of baseball development, shared that they are committed to these efforts and have seen positive results. More kids are playing at the college level and getting internships within the sport, and there has been an increase in the number of Black players being drafted into the minor leagues.
One of the main ways that USA Baseball supports young players is by covering the costs associated with playing the sport, such as equipment, meals, and travel expenses for showcases. These programs benefit around 1,200 to 1,500 children, many of whom come from lower-income families and may not have had the opportunity to play otherwise.
In addition to these programs, MLB also hosts an annual tour of pro-style camps across the country to identify young players with potential. This tour has been growing each year, with 18 cities now involved. The target age for participants is around 13-14, just before they enter high school.
These efforts are beginning to show signs of progress at the professional level. For example, between 2012 and 2021, 17.4% of first-round draft picks were Black players. In 2022, that number jumped to 30%, with four of the first five selections being Black players. Notably, all four were alumni of at least one of MLB's diversity initiatives. Additionally, in 2022, 20% of the first 50 first-round draft picks were Black players.
While there is still a long way to go to increase the representation of Black players in MLB, there are encouraging signs of progress. For instance, when the league recently announced rosters for its Spring Breakout exhibitions, 9.5% of the players were Black, including 31 alumni of MLB's diversity programs.
In related news, MLB has also announced the release of a special "Negro Leagues Collector's Edition" for PlayStation, honoring the legacy of Black players in the sport. This serves as a reminder of the important role that diversity and inclusion play in baseball and the ongoing efforts to continue promoting and supporting diversity in the sport.
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