The MLB season has passed its midway point and is nearing the midsummer classic early next week. An updated version of the top jersey sales has been released, and several international players have cracked the top 20.
Dodgers Japanese star Shohei Ohtani is topping the list to this point in the year. A familiar place for the All-Star, Ohtani led the MLB in jersey sales last season for the Angels. He has started the 2024 year a blaze, batting .314 with 28 homers en route to his fourth straight All-Star appearance. Ohtani is the only Japanese-born player to lead jersey sales since the MLB began releasing the rankings in 2010.
At number five on the list is Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. He is in his seventh season with the Braves. The 26-year-old Venezuelan is coming off a season where he won an MVP, the first of his career. Acuna only played 49 games this season before tearing his ACL in late May.
Juan Soto finds himself at number 6 on the list of the top-selling jerseys so far this season. The 25-year-old hailing from the Dominican Republic is also in year seven. Soto is now with his third team. He ranks as the second-highest Yankee on this list and was recently selected for his fourth All-Star team.
Rising star Elly De La Cruz has appeared in the top 20 in his second season with the Reds. De La Cruz ranks at 15th on this recent list. He has quickly become a fan favorite since making his debut last year. The 21-year-old Dominican player was selected to his first All-Star team and recently set a Reds record with the most stolen bases before the All-Star break with 45.
Other international players include Francisco Lindor, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jose Altuve, Vlad Guerrero Jr., and Manny Machado. The list contains nine international players from four countries.
Photo Credit: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up in the on deck circle prior to the game against the Philadelphia Phillies. (Photo by Heather Barry/Getty Images)
