Editing Baseball (section)

=== Players ===
{{Category see also|Category:Baseball players|Lists of baseball players}}

The number of players on a baseball roster, or ''squad'', varies by [[Baseball league|league]] and by the level of organized play. A [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) team has a roster of 26 players with specific roles. A typical roster features the following players:<ref>See, e.g., {{cite web|url=http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090404&content_id=4127882&vkey=pr_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was|title=Nationals Finalize 25-Man Roster|date=April 4, 2009|access-date=April 21, 2009|publisher=Washington Nationals/Major League Baseball|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714104000/http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090404&content_id=4127882&vkey=pr_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was|archive-date=July 14, 2011}}{{update inline|date=April 2023}}</ref>
* Eight [[position player]]s: the [[catcher]], four [[infielder]]s, and three [[outfielder]]s—all of whom play on a regular basis
* Five [[starting pitcher]]s who constitute the team's [[Pitch (baseball)|pitching]] rotation or starting rotation
* Seven [[relief pitcher]]s, including one [[closer (baseball)|closer]], who constitute the team's [[bullpen]] (named for the off-field area where pitchers warm up)
* One backup, or substitute, catcher
* Five backup infielders and backup outfielders, or players who can play multiple positions, known as [[utility player]]s.

Most baseball leagues worldwide have the DH rule, including MLB, [[Pacific League|Japan's Pacific League]], and Caribbean professional leagues, along with major American amateur organizations.<ref>{{cite book|last=Alexander|first=Charles C.|title=Our Game: An American Baseball History|publisher=Macmillan|year=1991|page=[https://archive.org/details/ourgameamerican000alex/page/290 290]|isbn=9780805015942|url=https://archive.org/details/ourgameamerican000alex/page/290}}</ref> The [[Central League]] in [[Japan]] does not have the rule and high-level minor league clubs connected to National League teams are not required to field a DH.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ringolsby|first=Tracy|title=Tide is turning toward a universal DH|publisher=Major League Baseball|date=January 20, 2016|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/national-league-could-add-dh-before-long/c-162404308|access-date=April 22, 2018}}</ref> In leagues that apply the designated hitter rule, a typical team has nine offensive regulars (including the DH), five starting pitchers,<ref>{{cite web|last=McLaughlin|first=Dan|title=Designated Hitters and the Economics of Baseball|publisher=[[Grantland]]|date=July 12, 2011|url=http://grantland.com/the-triangle/designated-hitters-and-the-economics-of-baseball/|access-date=August 6, 2017}}</ref> seven or eight relievers, a backup catcher, and two or three other reserve players.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dunn|first=Jay|title=Jay Dunn: It's Time For MLB Teams to Consider Grooming Two-Way Players|work=[[The Trentonian]]|date=June 21, 2017|url=http://www.trentonian.com/article/TT/20170621/SPORTS/170629946|access-date=August 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Goldman|first=Steven|title=It Is Time for Baseball to Fight Back Against Big Bullpen|publisher=[[VICE Media]]|date=April 26, 2016|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/it-is-time-for-baseball-to-fight-back-against-big-bullpen/|access-date=August 6, 2017}}</ref>