Highlighted by emerging stars Rafael Devers, Juan Soto and Ketel Marte, position players born in the Dominican Republic took 12.4% of all major league plate appearances in 2019.
That is the highest PA share ever for Dominican batters. Players like Eduardo Escobar, Eugenio Suarez and Jose Altuve helped players born in Venezuela account for 13% of major league plate appearances in 2018, marking the highest share in major league history for that country.
Venezuela’s PA share slipped to 10.9% in 2019, but the country counts Ronald Acuña Jr. and Gleyber Torres among its ranks, so it does not hurt for emerging impact talent.
While the Dominican Republic and Venezuela are the No. 2 and No. 3 talent suppliers to Major League Baseball—and have been every season since 2004—the same pattern of peak major league representation holds throughout much of Latin America.
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THE SERVICE TIME CONUNDRUM
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LUIS TIANT WAS MLB'S MOST SUCCESSFUL CUBAN PITCHER
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lowa politician J.D. Scholten makes a surprising return to pro ball at age 44
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Even in high school, Bryce Eldridge could hit the ball a mile. The 6-foot-7 righthander could also touch 96 mph off the mound.
Wood Has Towering Upside- Nationals rookie James Wood also stands 6-foot-7 and also has game-changing power.
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