List of Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico

Location of Puerto Rico's main island (green)

Puerto Rico currently has the fourth-most active players in Major League Baseball (MLB) among Latin American jurisdictions, behind the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Cuba. More than two-hundred players from the archipelago have played in the major leagues since 1942. This includes players who were born in either one of the archipelago's islands and those of Puerto Rican heritage who have represented Puerto Rico in international competition. Only those players who have worked in the league are listed, not those active in the minor leagues.

The first player from Puerto Rico to play in MLB was Hiram Bithorn. After the baseball color line was abandoned following Jackie Robinson's debut in the league, more players from the island signed contracts. This led to an improvement in their performance, and some of them were selected to participate in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Including their names in the Major League Baseball Draft is a requisite for first-year players born in Puerto Rico, because the league recognizes the island as a jurisdiction within the United States. Following the implementation of this measure, Puerto Rico's government requested exclusion from the draft and help to develop players, in order to reduce the impact of the change in the format of talent development.

Historical performance and regulations

Baseball was introduced to Puerto Rico by immigrants during the nineteenth century. The first sanctioned baseball game in the island was played on January 9, 1898 in Santurce, Puerto Rico, where two teams composed of Puerto Rican, American and Cuban players participated. After this game, baseball became a widespread sport and professional and amateur leagues were organized. During this time period, the Puerto Rico national teams experienced success on international competition and Afro-Puerto Rican players began to participate in the Negro Leagues.

File:Wbcmap2006.PNG

Map listing the countries that participated in the first edition of the World Baseball Classic

The first player born in Puerto Rico who played in MLB was Hiram Bithorn, who debuted as a pitcher with the Chicago Cubs on April 15, 1942. This was followed by the introduction of African American players in Major League Baseball, which allowed more chances to players born in the island. Subsequently Afro-Puerto Rican players such as Orlando Cepeda and Victor Pellot began having solid performances in the league, and were selected to participate in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. In 1973, Roberto Clemente became the first player from Puerto Rico and first Latin American to be elected as a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Since then Puerto Rico has kept a stable amount of players in the league. During this timeframe, several players have been selected to participate in the All-Star Game or won awards for their performance, while others imposed records within the league. These include Javy López, who holds the record for most home runs hit by a catcher in a single season. Both Iván Rodríguez and Roberto Alomar hold the record for most Gold Glove Awards in their positions. Recipients of the Most Valuable Player Award include Orlando Cepeda, Juan González and Iván Rodríguez. Roberto Clemente and Mike Lowell also won the World Series MVP Award in their respective divisions. Carlos Delgado is the only Latin to hit 4 homers in a game.

Originally, players who were either born or naturalized in Puerto Rico were able to sign with MLB teams as free agents, usually receiving minor-league contracts prior to their debut in the league. In 1989, Major League Baseball decided to include the island in the list of jurisdictions within the United States, which made mandatory that first-year players include their name in the Major League Baseball Draft in order to receive a contract. This was based on an initiative that was supposed to create a national and international drafting system. The change reduced the amount of players that were able to participate in the league, by limiting the number of them selected by the teams; this led to the island's Secretary of Recreation and Sports, to formally ask to Major League's involvement in developing specialized schools to produce more players and other measures to reduce the impact of the draft's implementation. The original proposal included Puerto Rico's exclusion of the draft for a period of ten years, but this was not approved by the league.

Puerto Rico was one of sixteen teams to participate in the inaugural edition of the World Baseball Classic. The tournament was created by Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association, and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world, including the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League. The first event was organized in 2006, and was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation. The Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico served as one of the venues for the first and second rounds. The stadium also hosted 22 Montreal Expos home games in 2003, after the league decided to relocate the team to San Juan as part of an experiment to "globalize" baseball. During the series there was an average attendance of 14,222.

List of players

This includes a total of 234 baseball players from Puerto Rico that have played in MLB from 1942 to the present day.

A–E

Carlos Beltrán

Ramón Castro

Name	Debut team	Years active	Reference
Juan Agosto	Chicago White Sox	1981–1993
Luis Aguayo	Philadelphia Phillies	1980–1989
Jonathan Albaladejo	Washington Nationals	2007–present
José Alberro	Texas Rangers	1995–1997
Luis Alcaraz	Los Angeles Dodgers	1967–1970
Luis Alicea	St. Louis Cardinals	1988–2002
Sandy Alomar, Jr.	San Diego Padres	1988–2007
Sandy Alomar, Sr.	Milwaukee Braves	1964–1978
Roberto Alomar	San Diego Padres	1988–2004
Luis Alvarado	Boston Red Sox	1968–1977
Orlando Alvarez	Los Angeles Dodgers	1973–1976
Luis Aquino	Toronto Blue Jays	1986–1995
Luis Arroyo	St. Louis Cardinals	1955–1963
Luis Atilano	Washington Nationals	2010–present
Ramón Avilés	Boston Red Sox	1977–1981
Benny Ayala	New York Mets	1974–1985
Carlos Baerga	Cleveland Indians	1990–2005
Javier Báez	Chicago Cubs	2014–present
Carlos Beltrán	Kansas City Royals	1998–present
Juan Beníquez	Boston Red Sox	1971–1987
Yamil Benitez	Montreal Expos	1995–1998
Tony Bernazard	Montreal Expos	1979–1991
Carlos Bernier	Pittsburgh Pirates	1953
Hiram Bithorn	Chicago Cubs	1942–1947
Hiram Bocachica	Los Angeles Dodgers	2000–2007
Ricky Bones	San Diego Padres	1991–2001
Juan Bonilla	San Diego Padres	1981–1987
Hiram Burgos	Milwaukee Brewers	2013–present
Fernando Cabrera	Cleveland Indians	2004–present
Ivan Calderón	Seattle Mariners	1984–1993
Kiko Calero	St. Louis Cardinals	2003–2010
Robinson Cancel	Milwaukee Brewers	1999–present
Javier Cardona	Detroit Tigers	2000–2002
Rafael Carmona	Seattle Mariners	1995–1999
Raúl Casanova	Detroit Tigers	1996–present
Ramón Castro	Florida Marlins	1999–2011
Xavier Cedeño	Washington Nationals	2011–present
Juan Centeno	New York Mets	2013–present
Orlando Cepeda	San Francisco Giants	1958–1974
Alex Cintrón	Arizona Diamondbacks	2001–2010
Edgard Clemente	Colorado Rockies	1998–2005
Alex Claudio	Texas Rangers	2014–present
Roberto Clemente	Pittsburgh Pirates	1955–1972
Jaime Cocanower	Milwaukee Brewers	1983–1986
Willie Collazo	New York Mets	2007–present
Onix Concepción	Kansas City Royals	1980–1987
Ramón Conde	Chicago White Sox	1962
Alex Cora	Los Angeles Dodgers	1998–present
Joey Cora	San Diego Padres	1987–1998
Wil Cordero	Montreal Expos	1992–2007
Carlos Corporán	Houston Astros	2009–present
Carlos Correa	Houston Astros	2015–present
Edwin Correa	Chicago White Sox	1985–1987
César Crespo	San Diego Padres	2001–present
Felipe Crespo	Toronto Blue Jays	1996–2001
Héctor Cruz	St. Louis Cardinals	1973–1982
Iván Cruz	New York Yankees	1997–2002
José Cruz	St. Louis Cardinals	1970–1988
José Cruz, Jr.	Seattle Mariners	1997–2008
Cirilo "Tommy" Cruz	St. Louis Cardinals	1973–1977
Iván DeJesús	Los Angeles Dodgers	1974–1988
José De La Torre	Boston Red Sox	2014–present
Luis De León	St. Louis Cardinals	1981–1989
Carlos Delgado	Toronto Blue Jays	1993–2009
Puchy Delgado	Seattle Mariners	1977
Alex Diaz	Milwaukee Brewers	1992–1999
Edgar Díaz	Milwaukee Brewers	1986–1990
Edwin Díaz	Arizona Diamondbacks	1998–1999
Mario Díaz	Seattle Mariners	1987–1995
Nino Escalera	Cincinnati Redlegs	1954

F–L

Rubén Gotay

File:JavierLopezLooksIn.jpg

Javier López

Mike Lowell

Name	Debut team	Years active	Reference
Irving Falu	Kansas City Royals	2012–present
Jesús Feliciano	New York Mets	2010–present
Pedro Feliciano	New York Mets	2002–present
Sergio Ferrer	Minnesota Twins	1974–1979
Ed Figueroa	California Angels	1974–1981
Luis Figueroa	Pittsburgh Pirates	2001–present
Gil Flores	California Angels	1977–1979
Miguel Fuentes	Seattle Pilots	1969
Pedro García	Milwaukee Brewers	1973–1977
Leo Gómez	Baltimore Orioles	1990–1996
Rubén Gómez	New York Giants	1953–1962
Andy González	Chicago White Sox	2007–present
Dicky Gonzalez	New York Mets	2001–2004
Fernando González	Pittsburgh Pirates	1972–1979
Juan González	Texas Rangers	1989–2005
Julio González	Houston Astros	1977–1983
Raúl González	Chicago Cubs	2000–2004
Julio Gotay	St. Luis Cardinals	1960–1969
Rubén Gotay	Kansas City Royals	2004–present
Edwards Guzmán	San Francisco Giants	1999–2003
José Guzmán	Texas Rangers	1985–1994
Jesús Hernáiz	Philadelphia Phillies	1974
Alex Hernández	Pittsburgh Pirates	2000–2001
Enrique Hernández	Miami Marlins	2014–present
José Hernández	Texas Rangers	1991–2006
Ramón Hernández	Atlanta Braves	1967–1977
Roberto Hernández	Chicago White Sox	1991–2007
Willie Hernández	Chicago Cubs	1977–1989
Orlando Isales	Philadelphia Phillies	1980
Coco Laboy	Montreal Expos	1969–1973
Ricky Ledée	New York Yankees	1998–2007
José León	Baltimore Orioles	2002–2004
Carlos Lezcano	Chicago Cubs	1980–1981
Sixto Lezcano	Milwaukee Brewers	1974–1985
Frankie Librán	San Diego Padres	1969
José Lind	Pittsburgh Pirates	1987–1995
Francisco Lindor	Cleveland Indians	2015–present
Art López	New York Yankees	1965
Felipe López	Toronto Blue Jays	2001–present
Javier López	Colorado Rockies	2003–present
Javy López	Atlanta Braves	1992–2006
Jorge López	Milwaukee Brewers	2015–present
Luis López	San Diego Padres	1993–2005
Mike Lowell	Boston Redsox	1998–present

M–Q

Bengie and Yadier Molina

Joel Piñeiro

Jorge Posada

Name	Debut team	Years active	Reference
Candy Maldonado	Los Angeles Dodgers	1981–1991
Martin Maldonado	Milwaukee Brewers	2011–present
Angel Mangual	Pittsburgh Pirates	1969–1976
Pepe Mangual	Montreal Expos	1972–1977
Félix Mantilla Lamela	Milwaukee Braves	1956–1966
Luis Márquez	Boston Braves	1951–1954
Oreste Marrero	Montreal Expos	1993–1996
Carmelo Martínez	Chicago Cubs	1983–1991
Edgar Martínez	Seattle Mariners	1987–2004
Javier Martínez	Pittsburgh Pirates	1998
Damon Mashore	Oakland Athletics	1996–1998
Luis Matos	Baltimore Orioles	2000–2007
Edwin Maysonet	Houston Astros	2008–present
Francisco Meléndez	Philadelphia Phillies	1984–1989
José Meléndez	Seattle Mariners	1990–1994
Luis Meléndez	St. Louis Cardinals	1970–1976
Héctor Mercado	Cincinnati Reds	2000–2003
Orlando Mercado	Seattle Mariners	1982–1990
Orlando Merced	Pittsburgh Pirates	1990–2003
Félix Millán	Atlanta Braves	1966–1977
Ángel Miranda	Milwaukee Brewers	1993–1997
Bengie Molina	Anaheim Angels	1998–present
José Molina	Chicago Cubs	1999–present
Yadier Molina	St. Louis Cardinals	2004–present
Rafael Montalvo	Houston Astros	1986
Lou Montañez	Baltimore Orioles	2008–present
Willie Montañez	California Angels	1966–1982
Charlie Montoyo	Montreal Expos	1993
Jerry Morales	San Diego Padres	1969–1983
José Morales	Minnesota Twins	2007–present
Roger Moret	Boston Red Sox	1970–1978
Steven Moya	Detroit Tigers	2014–present
Manny Muñiz	Philadelphia Phillies	1971
Bobby Muñoz	New York Yankees	1993–2001
Pedro Muñoz	Minnesota Twins	1990–1996
Jaime Navarro	Milwaukee Brewers	1989–2000
Julio Navarro	Los Angeles Angels	1962–1970
Rey Navarro	Baltimore Orioles	2015 –present
Tito Navarro	New York Mets	1993
Juan Nieves	Milwaukee Brewers	1986–1988
Melvin Nieves	Atlanta Braves	1992–1998
Wil Nieves	San Diego Padres	2002–present
Edwin Núñez	Seattle Mariners	1982–1994
Ed Olivares	St. Louis Cardinals	1960–1961
Omar Olivares	St. Louis Cardinals	1990–2001
Francisco Oliveras	Minnesota Twins	1989–1992
Luis Rodríguez Olmo	Brooklyn Dodgers	1943–1951
José Oquendo	New York Mets	1983–1995
Héctor Ortiz	Kansas City Royals	1998–2002
José Ortiz	Chicago White Sox	1969–1971
Junior Ortíz	Pittsburgh Pirates	1982–1994
Willis Otañez	Baltimore Orioles	1998–1999
Ricky Otero	New York Mets	1995–1997
Jorge Padilla	Washington Nationals	2009–present
Juan Padilla	New York Yankees	2004–2005
Ángel Pagán	Chicago Cubs	2006–present
José Pagán	San Francisco Giants	1959–1973
Sam Parrilla	Philadelphia Phillies	1970
Victor Pellot	Philadelphia Athletics	1954–1965
Bert Peña	Houston Astros	1981–1987
Luis Peraza	Philadelphia Phillies	1969
Mike Pérez	St. Louis Cardinals	1990–1997
Roberto Pérez	Cleveland Indians	2014–present
Joel Piñeiro	Seattle Mariners	2000–present
Juan Pizarro	Milwaukee Braves	1957–1974
Carlos Ponce	Milwaukee Brewers	1985
Jorge Posada	New York Yankees	1995–2011
Luis Quiñones	Oakland Athletics	1983–1992
Rey Quiñones	Boston Red Sox	1986–1989
Luis Quintana	California Angels	1974–1975

R–W

Iván Rodríguez

File:Rubensierra1.png

Rubén Sierra

Bernie Williams

Name	Debut team	Years active	Reference
Mario Ramírez	New York Mets	1980–1985
Milt Ramírez	St. Louis Cardinals	1970–1979
Alex Ríos	Toronto Blue Jays	2004–present
Armando Ríos	San Francisco Giants	1998–2003
Juan Ríos	Kansas City Royals	1969
Bombo Rivera	Montreal Expos	1975–1982
Carlos Rivera	Pittsburgh Pirates	2003–2004
Germán Rivera	Los Angeles Dodgers	1983–1985
Luis Rivera	Montreal Expos	1986–1998
Mike Rivera	Detroit Tigers	2001–present
René Rivera	Seattle Mariners	2002–present
Roberto Rivera	Chicago Cubs	1995–1999
Saúl Rivera	Washington Nationals	2006–present
Yadiel Rivera	Milwaukee Brewers	2015–present
Eduardo Rodríguez	Milwaukee Brewers	1973–1979
Edwin Rodríguez	New York Yankees	1982–1985
Ellie Rodríguez	New York Yankees	1968–1976
Iván Rodríguez	Texas Rangers	1991–2010
José Rodríguez	St. Louis Cardinals	2000–2002
Tony Rodríguez	Boston Red Sox	1996
Ed Romero	Milwaukee Brewers	1977–1989
J. C. Romero	Minnesota Twins	1999–present
Jorge Roque	St. Louis Cardinals	1970–1973
Luis Rosado	New York Mets	1977–1980
Eddie Rosario	Minnesota Twins	2015
Jimmy Rosario	San Francisco Giants	1971–1976
Santiago Rosario	Kansas City Athletics	1965
Dave Rosello	Chicago Cubs	1972–1981
Rico Rossy	Atlanta Braves	1991–1998
Chico Ruiz	Atlanta Braves	1978–1980
Ángel Sánchez	Kansas City Royals	2006–present
Jonathan Sánchez	San Francisco Giants	2006–present
Orlando Sánchez	St. Louis Cardenals	1981–1984
Rey Sánchez	Chicago Cubs	1991–2005
Benito Santiago	San Diego Padres	1986–2005
José Santiago	Cleveland Indians	1954–1956
José "Palillo" Santiago	Kansas City Athletics	1963–1970
José Santiago	Kansas City Royals	1997–present
Rafael Santo Domingo	Cincinnati Reds	1979
Ángel Santos	Boston Red Sox	2001–2003
Omir Santos	Baltimore Orioles	2008–present
Candy Sierra	San Diego Padres	1988
Rubén Sierra	Texas Rangers	1986–2006
Geovany Soto	Chicago Cubs	2005–present
Neftalí Soto	Cincinnati Reds	2013–present
Danny Tartabull	Seattle Mariners	1984–1997
Valmy Thomas	New York Giants	1957–1961
Dickie Thon	California Angels	1979–1993
Andrés Torres	Detroit Tigers	2002–present
Félix Torres	Los Angeles Angels	1962–1964
Rusty Torres	New York Yankees	1971–1981
Pedro Valdés	Chicago Cubs	1996–2000
Javier Valentín	Minnesota Twins	1997–present
José Valentín	Milwaukee Brewers	1992–2007
Julio Valera	New York Mets	1990–1996
Héctor Valle	Los Angeles Dodgers	1965
Eddie Vargas	Pittsburgh Pirates	1982–1984
Kennys Vargas	Minnesota Twins	2014–present
Roberto Vargas	Milwaukee Braves	1955
Christian Vázquez	Boston Red Sox	2014–present
Javier Vázquez	Montreal Expos	1998–present
Ramón Vázquez	Seattle Mariners	2001–present
Jesús Vega	Minnesota Twins	1979–1982
Carlos Velázquez	Milwaukee Brewers	1973
Otto Vélez	New York Yankees	1973–1983
José Vidro	Montreal Expos	1997–present
Héctor Villanueva	Chicago Cubs	1990–1993
Ismael Villegas	Atlanta Braves	2000
Ozzie Virgil, Jr.	Philadelphia Phillies	1980–1990
Bernie Williams	New York Yankees	1991–2006