Tuesday October 3, 2023

Black Players Make History at MLB Draft

  • For the first time in MLB history, four of the top five picks in the draft are Black.
  • The league has made efforts to ameliorate the lack of Black athletes in recent years.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Front Office Sports Today

NBC Could Get In On College Football Playoffs

NBC is exploring broadcasting a slice of the expanded CFP in 2026.
Listen Now
October 3, 2023 | Podcast
Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

For the first time in history, Black players comprise four of the top five picks in the MLB draft: Druw Jones, Kumar Rocker, Termarr Johnson, and Elijah Green. The milestone was first reported by USA Today.

Major League Baseball has been criticized heavily for a significant drop in participation for Black athletes since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. 

  • Robinson’s debut as a Brooklyn Dodger was in 1947 — leading to a major increase in Black players in MLB over the following decades.
  • Since then, numbers have declined significantly. 
  • In 2021, only 7% of the league comprised Black players — the lowest in history. 

The league has made some efforts to ameliorate the disparity.

The four rising stars have participated in MLB’s Dream Series, which was created in 2017 to bridge a stark racial gap in baseball participation.

Last year, commissioner Rob Manfred also pledged $150 million to The Players Alliance, a group whose purpose is to help increase diversity in baseball.

Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Big-Dollar Clubs Home For MLB Playoffs, But Money Still Matters

Postseason field includes set of lower-budget upstarts

MLB Attendance Surges 70 Million, Tops League Projections

League posts best year-over-year increase at the gate since 1993

Baltimore Looks To Return To The Oriole Way

Lease deal offers new hope, but market and economic challenges remain.
Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning at Angel Stadium.

Shohei Ohtani Tops MLB Jersey Sales List For First Time

He's the first Japanese player to headline the list in MLB history
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

NBC Could Get In On College Football Playoffs

0:00
0:00

Featured Today

Football analyst and PFF investor Chris Collinsworth talks to man in front of computers

Cris Collinsworth 'Lost a Lot of Sleep' Over Pro Football Focus Leadership Issues

New book details why it’s no longer a “happy place to work.”
NBC is interested in media rights to the expanded College Football Playoff.
exclusive
October 2, 2023

NBC Is Interested in Expanded College Football Playoff Media Rights

NBC is one of the networks pitching the CFP, a source confirmed.
Levi's Stadium
October 2, 2023

49ers Study Shows Benefits of Public-Private Stadium Deals

Levi’s Stadium has generated more than $2 billion per new study.
Formula 1 drivers in a pack at the start of the Montreal Grand Prix
October 1, 2023

Apple Reportedly Making Push For Global Formula 1 Rights

The tech giant could offer $2 billion a year for the rights.

Careers

Powered By

Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.
Chicago Cubs
Chicago
Fanatics
New York
Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group, Inc.
USA - Multiple Locations
Mahomes’ restructured Chiefs deal will pay him $210.6 million through 2026, the most in NFL history over a four-year span.

Patrick Mahomes Restructures Chiefs Contract for Historic Payday

Mahomes' restructured deal breaks the NFL record for a four-year span.
Simona Halep
exclusive
September 18, 2023

Former World No. 1 Simona Halep Says ‘There Is No Proof’ Behind Doping Ban

Simona Halep continues to fight her doping ban.
Eli-Manning-New-York-Giants
September 15, 2023

Eli Manning: Keep MetLife Field Turf

Eli Manning feels that MetLife Stadium should keep its artificial turf field.
September 12, 2023

Rodgers’ Season-Ending Injury Carries Huge Business Impacts

Marquee quarterback lost for entire season just four plays into first game
Joe Burrow’s $275 million deal makes him the league’s highest-paid player, with an average annual salary of $55 million per year.
September 11, 2023

The 10 Highest-Paid NFL Quarterbacks

Burrow's $275M extension is second to Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs deal.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates with the championship trophy after his match against Daniil Medvedev in the men's singles final on day fourteen of the 2023 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
September 10, 2023

Novak Djokovic Extends Majors, Money Records With U.S. Open Win

Djokovic extends his all-time record men’s major victories (24).
Coco Gauff of the United States celebrates with the championship trophy after her match against Aryna Sabalenka in the women's singles final on day thirteen of the 2023 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center.
September 9, 2023

Coco Gauff Arrives With U.S. Open Victory, Secures $3M Payday

Gauff earns $3 million for her first career Grand Slam victory.
Travis Kelce
September 7, 2023

Travis Kelce Talks Positional Values, Players Sports Betting Ahead of NFL Season

Kelce says tight ends should be paid off of production metrics.