Major league baseball and the exploitation of Latin American children: Confronting baseball's greatest sin

On April 1, 2021, Major League Baseball celebrated its 145th Opening Day. Across the 30 clubs, 256 players represented 20 different countries and territories outside of the United States. The 256 players accounted for 28.3% of total players on Opening Day rosters and inactive lists. This number of foreign-born players marked the second highest all-time total on Opening Day rosters for a full season. Like never before, baseball has become global. Fans are routinely enthralled by the passion and flare these players bring to the game, but few are aware of the childhood exploitation they must overcome along the way.