Baseball is just as much a Dominican sport as it is an American one. For generations, the MLB has relied on the small island country for a steady stream of young talent. Now, a new investigation by ProPublica may explain why: boys barely old enough to swing a bat are reportedly being promised multimillion-dollar deals. They’re training for professional careers all before they’re legally eligible to sign contracts, which often leave them vulnerable if they do succeed in the big leagues.
The Dominican Republic has become baseball’s largest talent pipeline outside the U.S. In 2025, 144 players born in the country appeared in the major leagues, accounting for roughly 10% of MLB players. Baseball America calculates Dominican-born players accounted for 10.5% of MLB plate appearances that season through September.
