SportsOzzie Virgil's 1956 debut as MLB's first Dominican-born player
MLB says 93 Dominican-born players were on 2026 Opening Day rosters—more than from any country outside the U.S.
TLDR
MLB marked the anniversary of Ozzie Virgil's September 23, 1956, debut for the New York Giants, when he became the first native of the Dominican Republic to appear in a Major League game. The league says nearly 1,000 Dominican-born players have played in the Majors since his debut, with 93 on Opening Day rosters in 2026.
Ozzie Virgil's 1956 debut as MLB's first Dominican-born player
MLB says 93 Dominican-born players were on 2026 Opening Day rosters—more than from any country outside the U.S.
TLDR
MLB marked the anniversary of Ozzie Virgil's September 23, 1956, debut for the New York Giants, when he became the first native of the Dominican Republic to appear in a Major League game. The league says nearly 1,000 Dominican-born players have played in the Majors since his debut, with 93 on Opening Day rosters in 2026.
