Why Puerto Rico is losing its grip on Major League Baseball

The Decline of a Baseball Powerhouse

Puerto Rico was once a dominant force in Major League Baseball. Today, the pipeline of talent from the island to the United States is breaking down. During the All Star game in Philadelphia this July, not a single player born in Puerto Rico was selected for either team. This has not happened since 1988.

Only 27 players from the island have played in the major leagues this season. In 2001, that number was 54. Only five players from Puerto Rico were chosen in the 2026 draft, and none went before the 13th round. The island has not seen a first round draft pick since Heliot Ramos in 2017.

The Impact of the 1989 Draft

Many experts and former players blame one major decision for this drop. In 1989, Major League Baseball decided to include Puerto Rico in its draft. Before this, young players from the island could sign directly with teams as international free agents at 16 years old.

The draft forced them to compete against high school seniors from the United States. Former star Carlos Delgado, who hit 473 home runs in his career, signed just before the change. Delgado said, "We are victims of the draft. The draft has always hurt us."

Because of the draft, major league teams stopped employing full time scouts and investing in local player development on the island. They knew other teams could easily draft the players they trained.

Poverty and Lack of Resources

The problems go beyond the rules of the draft. Puerto Rico faces severe economic struggles. The poverty rate on the island is more than double that of Mississippi, the poorest state in the United States.

Local families cannot afford the expensive youth sports culture that exists in America. There is also a lack of proper training facilities and fewer competitive games for young talent.

The decline showed during the World Baseball Classic in March. Puerto Rico lost in the quarterfinals to Italy. Star players like Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Jose Berrios, and Javier Baez could not play because of injuries. Lindor, who missed over two months with a left calf strain, has led Puerto Rican players this year with a low 1.9 WAR rating.

Efforts to Fix the Pipeline

Major League Baseball has tried to address the issue. The league helped create the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School in 2001. They also gave 1 million dollars for hurricane relief in 2017.

In 2022, the league and the players union gave 2 million dollars to build a stadium for the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy. They also run youth programs and winter events for top draft prospects. However, local scouts and agents say the talent is there, but the current system makes it hard for players to reach the top.