Given the nature of player development, the effects of these programs take time to reveal themselves. But the latest data presents a meaningful milestone.
The percentage of Black players on Opening Day active and inactive lists increased from 6.0% in 2024 to 6.2% in 2025 to 6.8% in 2026. This marks the first time in at least two decades in which MLB has had back-to-back years of increases in that percentage. And the 0.6% increase from last year is the highest since a 0.7% increase from 2017 to 2018.
MLB Development Programs have played a major role in that increase. Of the 64 Black players on Opening Day rosters, 20 are alumni of MLB programs such as the MLB Youth Academy, Breakthrough Series, DREAM Series, Nike RBI, Hank Aaron Invitational, etc.
That list of alums includes All-Star pitchers Hunter Greene of the Reds and Josiah Gray of the Nationals, 2022 NL Rookie of the Year Michael Harris II of the Braves, two-time Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year and 2020 NL Rookie of the Year Devin Williams of the Mets, and first-round Draft selections J.P. Crawford of the Mariners, Justin Crawford of the Phillies, Greene and Ke’Bryan Hayes of the Reds, Brice Matthews and Cam Smith of the Astros, Kumar Rocker of the Rangers, Dominic Smith of the Braves and Jordan Walker of the Cardinals.
Source:
//www.mlb.com/news/mlb-diversity-shows-increase-in-black-players-on-opening-day-2026