MLB is a culmination of the best talent from around the world. The league is a mixing pot of players from different backgrounds who all had their own individual journeys to the Majors. This list is focused on honoring the best players born outside of the United States of America in 2024.
First Team All-International
C – William Contreras, Brewers (Venezuela)
1B – Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays (Canada)
2B – Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks (Dominican Republic)
SS – Francisco Lindor, Mets (Puerto Rico)
3B – José Ramírez, Guardians (Dominican Republic)
OF – Juan Soto, Yankees (Dominican Republic)
OF – Jurickson Profar, Padres (Curaçao)
OF – Teoscar Hernandez, Dodgers (Dominican Republic)
DH – Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (Japan)
SP – Framber Valdez, Astros (Dominican Republic)
SP – Shōta Imanaga, Cubs (Japan)
SP – Ronel Blanco, Astros (Dominican Republic)
SP – José Berrios, Blue Jays (Puerto Rico)
SP – Christopher Sánchez, Phillies (Dominican Republic)
RP – Emmanuel Clase, Guardians (Dominican Republic)
RP – Raisel Iglesias, Braves (Cuba)
Tough Choices
There are plenty of options for this team at the shortstop position. However, Lindor has willed the New York Mets back into the postseason. Elly De La Cruz and Willy Adames, both from the Dominican Republic, have also been exceptional this season. Adames has been a key player in the Milwaukee Brewers’ success and is second in the National League in RBIs. De La Cruz has been special on the base paths and leads MLB in stolen bases.
There were plenty of candidates for the third outfield spot. Seiya Suzuki and Jackson Chourio certainly had great seasons, but Hernandez was able to produce consistently. He had one of the best starts to the season in all of MLB and remained a constant in the Los Angeles Dodgers offense.
Leaving Freddy Peralta off of this list was not easy. Peralta was vaulted into the ace role on the Brewers pitching staff. He responded with a 193-strikeout season and a 3.69 ERA. While his numbers are not bad, he was often inconsistent before hitting a groove in August.
No Brainers
William Contreras has been one of the best offensive catchers in baseball this season. His defense hasn’t been what it was last season, but he has been consistently great all year. He was the NL’s starting catcher and has carried the Brewers offense at points.
Shohei Ohtani is going to win MVP. He is the first player to record a 50/50 season. He lived up to every cent of his new contract and has yet to take the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Juan Soto has been one of the best players in baseball since he made his debut, and his first year in pinstripes was no different. He was an All-Star and has set himself up to become one of the highest-paid players ever in the winter.
Emmanuel Clase has a chance to be the first player ever to lead the league in saves three years in a row. That, to me, says enough about how good Clase has been. An ERA below one is always a “wow” statistic, but it makes it more impressive when you think about a guy doing it solely in leverage situations.
