• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, July 9, 2025

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

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
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jul 1, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at PNC Park.

MLB ASG Missing Many Highly Paid Stars, Clearing Path for Youth

Many of MLB’s top earners are not part of the Midsummer Classic.

Texas Sports Teams, Leagues Donate Over $5M to Flood Relief

NFL, MLB, and NBA teams in Texas donate to flood recovery efforts.

ESPN Brings Pat McAfee to Atlanta for Home Run Derby Showcase

The Disney-owned network will bring one of its top stars to Atlanta.

Nationals Hit Reset Button, Oust Rizzo and Martinez Before Draft

The MLB club made major leadership changes just days before the draft.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
Jonas

Jonas Valančiūnas Is Cryptic About Nuggets Standoff in Lithuania

The Nuggets expect Valančiūnas to honor his NBA contract. 
Enzo Fernandez
July 8, 2025

Chelsea Players Hawk Club World Cup Tickets on Instagram As Prices Plunge

The semifinals are set for weekday afternoons in New Jersey.
July 8, 2025

Draymond Green Says He Should Be Union President in NBA CBA Rant

The NBPA president is CJ McCollum.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Dewanna Bonner
July 8, 2025

DeWanna Bonner Signs With Phoenix Mercury After Fever Saga

Bonner will rejoin the franchise where she won two titles.
July 7, 2025

How Bradley Beal Buyout Would Save Suns $230M, and What’s Next

Beal has two years and $110 million remaining on his deal.
July 7, 2025

An FSU Amateur Golfer Beat the World’s Best—but Can’t Accept $79K Prize

Top-ranked amateur Lottie Woad won the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.
July 6, 2025

WNBA All-Stars Will Earn $2,575 for Playing in Game

The WNBPA is in the midst of negotiations for a new CBA.