International players comprise 28 pct of MLB rosters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Players born outside the United States made up 28 percent of Major League Baseball's opening day rosters.

MLB announced on Tuesday there were 239 foreign-born players listed on the opening day rosters of the 30 teams, down slightly from the record 246 (29 percent) listed last season.

The Dominican Republic made up the largest group with 88, followed by Venezuela (52), Puerto Rico (29), Japan (16), Canada (14), Mexico (11) and Cuba (8).

Other countries or territories represented include Australia, Colombia, Curacao, South Korea, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Taiwan and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The New York Mets had the most foreign-born players for the third consecutive season with 15. The Seattle Mariners were next with 14, followed by the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees with 11 each.

(Writing by Larry Fine; Editing by Peter Rutherford)