How Many Players Are on a Baseball Team? A Complete Roster Breakdown

If you’re new to baseball, you might be curious about how many players are on a baseball team and what roles they play. While the game may look straightforward with nine players on the field, the full team roster is more complex. 

Major League Baseball (MLB) teams have a specific structure that determines how many players are on the roster and what roles they fill. In this guide, we’ll break it all down for you.

The Standard Roster: How Many Players Are on a Baseball Team?

In Major League Baseball, each team is allowed to have 26 players on their active roster during the regular season. This is the standard number, though there are situations where this number can change, like during September call-ups or the playoffs.

Here’s how it breaks down:

• Active Roster: 26 players who are available to play in games.
• Expanded Roster (September): Teams can call up additional players from the minor leagues, expanding the roster to a maximum of 28 players.
• Playoff Roster: During the postseason, teams can adjust their roster, but it’s typically set at 26 players, similar to the regular season.

These 26 players on the active roster are divided into two main groups: position players and pitchers. Let’s take a closer look at each group.

Position Players: The Everyday Players

Position players are the ones you see on the field every game—catching, throwing, and hitting. They’re responsible for playing defense in the field and taking their turns at bat. Typically, there are 13 position players on a 26-man roster.

The Starting Nine

The starting lineup consists of nine players who take the field at the beginning of each game. Here’s a breakdown of the positions:

1. Pitcher (P): The player who throws the ball to the batter. In the National League, pitchers also bat, but in the American League, a designated hitter bats in place of the pitcher.
2. Catcher (C): Positioned behind home plate, the catcher handles the pitcher’s throws and tries to stop any base runners from stealing bases.
3. First Baseman (1B): Positioned at first base, this player is often involved in defensive plays that require catching throws from other infielders to get runners out.
4. Second Baseman (2B): Positioned between first and second base, the second baseman is part of the infield defense and often works with the shortstop on double plays.
5. Third Baseman (3B): Positioned near third base, this player needs quick reflexes to handle sharp grounders and line drives.
6. Shortstop (SS): Positioned between second and third base, the shortstop is often the team’s most athletic infielder and plays a crucial role in fielding and throwing.
7. Left Fielder (LF): Covers the left side of the outfield and needs to be quick to track down fly balls and grounders.
8. Center Fielder (CF): Positioned in the middle of the outfield, the center fielder is usually the fastest outfielder and covers a lot of ground.
9. Right Fielder (RF): Covers the right side of the outfield, often needing a strong arm to make long throws to the infield.

Bench Players

In addition to the starting nine, teams carry several bench players who can fill in as substitutes during games. These players might pinch hit, pinch run, or enter the game for defensive purposes. A typical team might have 4-5 bench players, including backup infielders, outfielders, and a backup catcher.

Pitchers: The Specialists on the Mound

Pitchers make up about half of the active roster, typically 13 of the 26 players. Pitching is a specialized skill, and teams often carry a mix of starters, relievers, and closers to handle different situations during a game.

Starting Pitchers

A team’s starting pitchers are usually the most important members of the pitching staff. These pitchers are responsible for beginning games and typically pitch for five to seven innings, depending on their effectiveness and pitch count.

Most teams have a five-man rotation, meaning they have five starting pitchers who take turns starting games, giving them time to rest between starts.

Relief Pitchers

Relief pitchers come into the game after the starting pitcher is done for the day. They usually pitch for shorter stretches—an inning or two—depending on the game situation. Relief pitchers are further divided into different roles based on when they’re typically used:

• Middle Relievers: These pitchers come into the game during the middle innings, often when the starting pitcher hasn’t been able to go deep into the game.
• Setup Men: Setup pitchers are used in the late innings, usually the seventh or eighth, to bridge the gap between the starter (or middle relievers) and the closer.
• Closers: The closer is the relief pitcher who finishes the game, typically in the ninth inning, and is often brought in to protect a small lead. Closers are usually the team’s best relief pitcher.

Expanded Roster: September Call-Ups and the Playoffs

While the regular-season roster is capped at 26 players, things change a bit in September and during the playoffs.

September Call-Ups

During September, teams are allowed to expand their rosters to 28 players. This gives teams a chance to call up prospects from the minor leagues and add depth for the final stretch of the season. These additional players are often younger players getting their first taste of major league action or veterans who can add experience to the roster.

Playoff Rosters

Once the playoffs begin, teams can set their postseason roster. This roster is usually capped at 26 players, just like the regular season, but teams can make adjustments depending on their needs. For example, a team might choose to carry more pitchers if they expect to play close, low-scoring games or add more position players if they think they’ll need extra bats.

Other Players on a Baseball Team

Beyond the active roster, a baseball team has other players who aren’t always on the field but are still part of the team. These players can be called upon in case of injuries or other needs.

Injured List (IL)

If a player gets hurt, they might be placed on the Injured List (IL), which allows the team to bring up another player to replace them on the active roster. Players on the IL are still part of the team, but they don’t count toward the 26-man roster while they’re recovering from their injuries.

Minor League Affiliates

Every MLB team has a network of minor league teams, often referred to as farm teams. These teams develop younger players and serve as a reserve for the major league club. When a team needs to add a player to the roster, they often call up someone from their minor league affiliate. The farm system is crucial for developing talent and providing depth throughout the season.

Key Takeaways

So, how many players are on a baseball team? Here’s a quick recap:

• Active Roster: 26 players during the regular season, with a mix of position players and pitchers.
• Expanded Roster: In September, teams can expand their roster to 28 players.
• Playoff Roster: Typically 26 players, but teams can adjust depending on their needs.

The active roster includes position players who handle the fielding and hitting, and pitchers who control the mound. There are also bench players who come in as substitutes, and relief pitchers who take over for the starters. Beyond that, teams have additional players on the injured list and in the minor leagues who are part of the team but aren’t on the active roster.

Understanding the structure of a baseball team’s roster gives you a better appreciation of how teams manage their players throughout the long and challenging MLB season. Whether it’s the starting lineup, the bench players, or the bullpen, every player has a role that contributes to the team’s success.