NEW YORK (AP) The percentage of black players from the United States and Canada on opening-day active rosters rose to 8.4 percent, its highest level since at least 2012.
Major League Baseball attributed the increase at least partly to its efforts to increase baseball youth participation with programs that include Urban Youth Academies and Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI).
Its been a huge investment for us, Renee Tirado, MLBs chief diversity and inclusion officer, said Monday. Obviously growing the game amongst our players is a priority, so that uptick has definitely been from a concerted effort.