Current Pro Baseball Players from New Jersey (MLB 2023)
Baseball Players, and athletes of all sports really, take pride in where they’re from. Whether it’s the state, city or area code – you always notice players wanting to rep their home area.
Fans tend to do the same thing. It’s always more fun to pull for a player when they’re from your home state (or even your hometown), especially when that player also happens to be playing on your favorite team.
With all that in mind, we went through MLB.com and pulled the home states (or countries) of every player on the 40-man rosters for each team.
We found 15 players from the state of New Jersey on major league rosters. That places New Jersey 16th overall out of all 50 states. As far as individual cities, Elizabeth and Toms River are the only cities with more than one player (Both have two players representing them each).
MLB Players from New Jersey
Here are the 15 guys representing the state of New Jersey on MLB Rosters at the start of the 2023 season including what town he’s from and what team he plays for.
| Name | City | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Reyes | Elizabeth | Dodgers |
| Anthony DeSclafani | Freehold | Giants |
| Brandon Bielak | Edison | Astros |
| Charlie Morton | Flemington | Braves |
| Devin Smeltzer | Voorhees | Marlins |
| Gavin Hollowell | Somerset | Rockies |
| Jason Heyward | Ridgewood | Dodgers |
| Jimmy Yacabonis | Elizabeth | Mets |
| Kevin Herget | Teaneck | Reds |
| Matt Thaiss | Jackson | Angels |
| Mike Trout | Vineland | Angels |
| Ron Marinaccio | Toms River | Yankees |
| Thomas Szapucki | Toms River | Giants |
| Tommy La Stella | Westwood | Mariners |
| Zac Gallen | Somerdale | Diamondbacks |
Player Bios
Here is a little more info on a few of the standout players from New Jersey.
Mike Trout
Hometown: Millville, New Jersey
Mike Trout, from Millville, New Jersey, is widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of his generation. Trout’s baseball journey began at Millville Senior High School, where he quickly gained attention for his extraordinary talent.
Drafted as the 25th overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels, Trout has established an illustrious career in MLB. His accolades include multiple American League (AL) MVP awards, numerous All-Star selections, and several Silver Slugger Awards.
Known for his exceptional hitting, speed, and fielding, Trout has consistently posted impressive stats across all facets of the game, including high batting averages, home run totals, and stolen bases, solidifying his status as a generational talent in baseball.
Charlie Morton
Hometown: Flemington, New Jersey
Charlie Morton, born in Flemington, New Jersey, has made a name for himself as a reliable starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Morton’s baseball career began at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Connecticut. After high school, he was drafted in the third round of the 2002 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves. Over his career with teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, and Tampa Bay Rays, Morton has become known for his powerful fastball and sharp curveball. He played a key role in the Astros’ 2017 World Series win and has been selected for multiple All-Star games. Morton’s career highlights include strong postseason performances, a high number of strikeouts, and maintaining a competitive ERA, underscoring his effectiveness and longevity as a pitcher.
Alex Reyes
Hometown: Elizabeth, New Jersey
Alex Reyes, originating from Elizabeth, New Jersey, has emerged as a talented pitcher in Major League Baseball. Reyes’ journey in baseball began at Elizabeth High School, followed by a move to the Dominican Republic, where he continued to develop his skills before being signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an international free agent.
Known for his powerful fastball and sharp breaking pitches, Reyes made his MLB debut in 2016, showcasing his potential as a top-tier pitcher. Despite facing challenges with injuries, Reyes has demonstrated resilience and skill when healthy.
His career is highlighted by an All-Star selection in 2021, where he excelled as a closer for the Cardinals, posting impressive save totals and strikeout rates. Reyes’ journey from New Jersey to the majors exemplifies his dedication and the dynamic impact he brings to the mound.
Hall of Fame Players from New Jersey
In addition to the current players from New Jersey, we compiled a list of all players that have gone on to make it into the Baseball Hall of Fame:
| Name | City | Induction Year |
|---|---|---|
| Derek Jeter | Pequannock Township | 2020 |
| Joe Medwick | Carteret | 1968 |
| Goose Goslin | Salem | 1968 |
| Billy Hamilton | Newark | 1961 |
Baseball Hometown Fun Facts
California, by far, has the most current MLB players of any state with 189.
The second most was the state of Florida with 89, followed by Texas (78), New York (42) and Georgia with 40.
The Dominican Republic has 120 players currently in major league baseball which is incredibly impressive considering the country has a total population of only 11 million people. By comparison, the state of California has a population of 39 million and the state of Florida has a population of almost 22 million.
Other States
We are slowly but surely getting all the states published from the data we collected. Here are a few of the other states we currently have available.
Current MLB Players from Nebraska
