Among the 868 players on MLB opening-day rosters and disabled lists, "only 7.8%" are African-Americans, yet that percentage "remains flat from a year ago, and the total number of players has gone up, with 68 African-Americans on opening-day rosters," according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. The numbers "sound modest, but after nearly three decades of decline, they represent promise" for MLB, which today celebrates Jackie Robinson Day. Within these numbers and others, there are "signs of an influx of young African-Americans entering the game." Most "encouraging, 18 African-Americans have been selected in the first round of the June amateur draft" since '12. Fourteen African-Americans, "including three of the top seven, are among the best 100 prospects as ranked by ESPN's Keith Law." A "gaggle of charismatic young players ... may aid the perception it's cool to be a baseball player again." MLB Senior VP/Youth Programs Tony Reagins said, "It is encouraging. It obviously is not where it once was, but I think there is movement." Nightengale notes more than 2 million kids "have passed through the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program," which has grown by nearly 80% since '09. MLB's Breakthrough Series -- "showcasing top minority high schoolers for scouts and college recruiters -- helped 60 players get drafted in the past three years." MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred: "We see really, really encouraging signs that we're turning this around. You don't have something that's developed over decades and turn it around overnight. You've got to go through a couple of (draft) cycles until you see any improvement." While there are two African-American club presidents -- Ken Williams of the White Sox and Mike Hill of the Marlins -- Dave Stewart of the D-backs is MLB's "lone black GM." Lloyd McClendon of the Mariners is the only African-American manager (USA TODAY, 4/15).
