AROUND THE HORN
■ MLB: The percentage of Major League Baseball players born outside the 50 states dipped slightly to 27.8%, its lowest level since 2016. There were 264 players from 19 nations and territories outside of the 50 states among 949 players on opening day active rosters and injured, restricted and inactive lists, the commissioner’s office said Friday. The percentage was down from 28.5% last year and the lowest since 27.5% in 2016. It has remained in the 26-29.8% range since 2002, peaking in 2017. The total international players was the fourth-highest behind 291 in 2020 (when there were expanded 30-man active rosters), 275 in 2022 (when there were expanded 28-man active rosters) and last year (270). The Dominican Republic led countries outside the U.S. with 108 players, its second-highest behind 110 in 2020. Canada’s 13 was its most since 17 in 2013 and Japan’s 10 its highest since 11 in 2013. Venezuela was second at 58, followed by Cuba (18), Puerto Rico (17), Canada (13), Mexico (12), Japan (10), Colombia and Panama (five each), Curaçao (four), South Korea (three), Australia (two) and Aruba, Bahamas, Brazil, Germany, Honduras, Nicaragua and South Africa (one apiece). Astros pitcher Tayler Scott became just the second South African on an opening-day roster after Blue Jays shortstop Gift Ngoepe in 2018. The Astros topped teams with 16 international players, followed by the Padres (15), Red Sox (14), Marlins (14) and Guardians (12). The 19 nations and territories outside the U.S. matched last year and were two shy of the high, set in 2018 and matched in 2022.
■ Nationals: The Nationals’ Nick Senzel won’t require surgery on his broken right hand, and manager Dave Martinez isn’t sure when the third baseman will return. “It comes down to pain tolerance now,” Martinez said Saturday. Senzel fractured a bone in thumb when a ball took a bad hop during batting practice before Thursday’s opener against the Reds. He was put on the 10-day injured list, and the Nationals selected the contract of infielder Trey Lipscomb from Triple-A Rochester. Lipscomb hit .400 (20 for 50) in spring training with one homer and seven RBIs in 21 games. The 23-year-old Lipscomb, one of the Nationals’ top prospects, was set to make his major league debut Saturday at third base and batting ninth.
■ Cubs: The Cubs placed left-hander Justin Steele on the 15-day injured list with a left hamstring strain Saturday after their opener day starter was injured fielding a bunt against the Rangers. The Cubs recalled right-hander Ben Brown from Triple-A Iowa, with the 24-year-old in line to make his major league debut after getting two starts among five appearances in spring training. Steele had six strikeouts when he exited with two outs in the fifth inning of the defending World Series champion Rangers’ 4-3 victory in 10 innings in the opener Thursday. The teams were off Friday. A first-time All-Star last season, Steele came off the mound to field Leody Taveras’ sacrifice bunt when he lunged and fell awkwardly. He went down in foul territory, grabbing the area of his left hamstring. Steele left his first opening day start game after a brief visit from an athletic trainer. The 28-year-old Steele was 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA in 30 starts last season.
■ Rays: First baseman Dominic Smith has agreed to a minor league contract with the Rays and will report to Triple-A Durham. The 33-year-old hit .254 with 12 homers and 46 RBIs over 153 games with the Nationals last season. He spent the previous six years with the Mets and is a .246 career hitter with 58 home runs and 225 RBIs.
■ Twins: The Twins put oft-injured infielder Royce Lewis on the injured list with what the club called “a severe quad strain” on Saturday, and the reigning AL Central champions are preparing to be without him for more than a month. Lewis strained his right quad while rounding the bases on opening day Thursday against the Royals. It is the fifth time the former No. 1 overall draft pick has been put on the IL in just over two seasons as a big leaguer, which includes two torn ACLs in his right knee, an oblique injury and a hamstring injury. “It’s significant enough he’s going to have some significant time down,” said Derek Falvey, the Twins’ president of baseball operations.