Major League Baseball (MLB) is the premier professional baseball league in the United States and Canada. It is composed of 30 teams, divided between the American League and the National League. The average age of an MLB player is around 28 years old, a statistic that is constantly changing due to the influx of young talent entering the league.
Average Age of MLB Players
The average age of MLB players has increased steadily over the years, from 27.4 years in 2000 to 28.7 years in 2019. This can be attributed to the influx of younger players entering the league, as well as the trend of older players retiring at an earlier age. The median age of MLB players has also increased, from 25.8 years in 2000 to 27.1 years in 2019.
Age Distribution
The age distribution of MLB players has changed significantly over the years. In 2000, the majority of players (47.9%) were between the ages of 25-29. In 2019, the majority (42.4%) were between the ages of 28-32. This shift can be attributed to the increasing number of younger players in the league, as well as the decreasing number of older players.
Change in Age Distribution over Time
The age distribution of MLB players has shifted significantly over the years. In 2000, the majority of players (47.9%) were between the ages of 25-29. In 2015, the majority (42.7%) were between the ages of 25-29. In 2019, the majority (42.4%) were between the ages of 28-32. This shift can be attributed to the increasing number of younger players entering the league, as well as the decreasing number of older players retiring at an earlier age.
Trends in Age Distribution
The age distribution of MLB players has shifted significantly over the years. The number of players between the ages of 18-24 has increased from 8.4% in 2000 to 14.5% in 2019. The number of players between the ages of 25-29 has decreased from 47.9% in 2000 to 42.4% in 2019. The number of players between the ages of 30-34 has also decreased from 31.5% in 2000 to 27.9% in 2019. This shift can be attributed to the influx of younger players entering the league, as well as the trend of older players retiring at an earlier age.
Average Age by Position
The average age of MLB players varies by position. In 2019, the average age of catchers was 30.0 years, the average age of first basemen was 30.1 years, the average age of second basemen was 28.2 years, the average age of third basemen was 29.6 years, the average age of shortstops was 28.9 years, the average age of outfielders was 28.6 years, and the average age of pitchers was 28.2 years.
Average Age by League
The average age of MLB players also varies by league. In 2019, the average age of players in the American League was 28.9 years, while the average age of players in the National League was 28.4 years. This difference can be attributed to the influx of younger players in the American League, as well as the trend of older players retiring at an earlier age.
Average Age by Team
The average age of MLB players also varies by team. The oldest team in 2019 was the San Francisco Giants, with an average age of 30.7 years, while the youngest team was the Tampa Bay Rays, with an average age of 26.5 years.
Average Age by Country
The average age of MLB players also varies by country. In 2019, the average age of players from the United States was 28.3 years, while the average age of players from Canada was 28.2 years. The average age of players from other countries, including the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba, Japan, and South Korea, was 27.0 years.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the average age of an MLB player is around 28 years old. The age distribution of MLB players has shifted significantly over the years, with the majority of players now between the ages of 28-32. The average age of MLB players also varies by position, league, team, and country. The influx of younger players entering the league, as well as the trend of older players retiring at an earlier age, have contributed to the changing age distribution.