Latin American Stars: Changing the Face of Baseball

Baseball has gone global, and Latin American players are leading the charge. It’s not just America’s pastime anymore. Whether it’s the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, or beyond, their influence is everywhere. Not just in highlight reels, but in how teams scout talent and how fans connect with the sport.

Elly De La Cruz and the New Style of Play

Elly De La Cruz didn’t just arrive in MLB. The Cincinnati Reds infielder has become must-watch TV. He’s fast. He’s flashy. And he brings that bold energy you see in streetball and winter league games across the Caribbean.

His confidence isn’t for show. His hunger to get out of the Dominican Republic shows up in the way they play: aggressive, instinctive, and exciting.

When players like De La Cruz light up the stat sheet, it moves the numbers, and not just in fantasy leagues. The MLB odds on player props and team performance often shift around emerging stars like him. On betting sites, you can see how a hot streak or highlight-reel moment changes expectations week to week. 

Ronald Acuña Jr. and the Face of the Braves

Then there’s Ronald Acuña Jr., a player who, if healthy, has MVP written all over him. He is already a World Series champ and one of the most electric leadoff hitters in the league.

He plays with joy and makes the game look easy. Acuña isn’t trying to fit the old-school mold, he’s rewriting it.

Back in 2023, when he hit 41 home runs and stole 73 bases, he didn’t just break records. He made the Braves’ offense one of the most dangerous in the league. That kind of influence can’t be ignored.

Teams Are Spending Big to Find the Next Star

MLB teams know the future of baseball might not be found in U.S. colleges. It might be playing right now in San Pedro de Macorís or Maracay. So they’re spending big on international scouting. In the 2024–25 international signing window, numerous Latin American prospects signed multi-million-dollar contracts. Notables include:Josuar De Jesús Gonzalez and Kevin Alvarez. And the total spending on international amateur signings in 2024 was around $181 million.

More Than Baseball

Latin American players bring something that goes beyond stats. It’s culture. It’s music in the locker room. It’s salsa on the bases. It’s pride in where they come from and what they represent.

And it matters. Young Latino fans watching the MLB today can see someone who looks like them. That changes how they connect to the sport.

One example? A 2024 Pew Research Center report showed that MLB’s Latino fan base grew by 12% over the past two years and a lot of that growth is tied to representation on the field.

The game is evolving, and Latin American stars are a big reason why.