How Many Players on a Baseball Team?

A Major League Baseball team carries 26 players on its active roster during the regular season. Of those, exactly 9 players are on the field at any time on defense (pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, third baseman, left fielder, center fielder, right fielder).

In addition to the 26-man active roster, each MLB team maintains a 40-man roster that includes players on the injured list, in the minor leagues, or otherwise not available for daily games. From September 1 through the end of the season, active rosters expand to 28 players.

The roster rules were updated in 2020. Previously, teams carried 25 active players (a rule that had been in place since 1926). The expansion to 26 was partly to accommodate the increased use of relief pitchers in modern baseball.

The 9 defensive positions

• 1 - Pitcher (P): Throws the ball to the batter. The most important defensive position. Teams typically carry 13 pitchers on their 26-man roster.
• 2 - Catcher (C): Crouches behind home plate, receives pitches, and directs the defense. Teams usually carry 2 catchers.
• 3 - First Baseman (1B): Covers first base. Often a strong hitter with less defensive range.
• 4 - Second Baseman (2B): Covers the area between first and second base. Key double-play partner with the shortstop.
• 5 - Third Baseman (3B): Covers third base. Needs quick reflexes for hard-hit balls ("hot corner").
• 6 - Shortstop (SS): Covers the area between second and third base. Often the most athletic infielder.
• 7 - Left Fielder (LF): Covers the left portion of the outfield.
• 8 - Center Fielder (CF): Covers the center of the outfield. Usually the fastest outfielder with the most range.
• 9 - Right Fielder (RF): Covers the right portion of the outfield. Often has the strongest throwing arm.

Designated Hitter (DH)

Since 2022, both the American League and National League use the Designated Hitter, a 10th batter who hits in place of the pitcher but does not play defense. Before 2022, only the AL used the DH (since 1973). The DH is not counted among the 9 fielders.

Roster breakdown (typical 26-man roster)

• 13 pitchers: 5 starters + 8 relievers (including closer, setup men, long relievers)
• 2 catchers
• 5 infielders: 1B, 2B, SS, 3B + 1 utility infielder
• 4-5 outfielders: LF, CF, RF + 1-2 bench outfielders
• 1-2 bench players: Utility players, pinch hitters, pinch runners

Other levels of baseball

• College baseball (NCAA): 27 players on travel roster, 9 on field
• High school baseball: Typically 18-20 players per team, 9 on field
• Little League: 12-15 players per team, 9 on field (10 with safety rule in some leagues)
• Nippon Professional Baseball (Japan): 28-man active roster