Quick answer: A baseball team puts 9 players on the field at a time. An MLB team has 26 players on its active roster (28 in September) and 40 players on its full roster. Youth, high school and college teams usually carry about 11 to 35 players.
People ask this question in a few different ways, and each one has a different answer. "How many players are on the field?" is 9. "How many players are on an MLB team?" is 26. "How many players are in the batting lineup?" is also 9. This page answers all of them, then shows the numbers for every level of the game.
⚡ Players by Level
Pick a level to see how many players take the field and how big a normal roster is.
Players on the Field: The 9 Positions
On defense, every baseball team plays 9 positions. Scorekeepers give each one a number. You will hear these numbers when a double play is called, like a "6-4-3 double play" (shortstop to second base to first base).
| Number | Position | Where they stand |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pitcher (P) | On the mound, 60 feet 6 inches from home plate |
| 2 | Catcher (C) | Behind home plate |
| 3 | First base (1B) | Next to first base |
| 4 | Second base (2B) | Between first and second base |
| 5 | Third base (3B) | Next to third base |
| 6 | Shortstop (SS) | Between second and third base |
| 7 | Left field (LF) | Outfield, left side |
| 8 | Center field (CF) | Outfield, middle |
| 9 | Right field (RF) | Outfield, right side |
That is 4 infielders (plus the pitcher and catcher, called the battery) and 3 outfielders. No more than 9 players can be in the field at once. If a team has more than 9 in its lineup, the extra player is the DH, who only bats.
The Batting Lineup: 9 Hitters (and the DH)
A team bats in a fixed order of 9 hitters. Since 2022, both MLB leagues use the designated hitter. The DH bats in place of the pitcher. This means a pro lineup is 8 position players and the DH, and the pitcher never hits. Before 2022, National League pitchers had to bat.
Many youth and high school leagues have their own version. A "DH" or "extra hitter" lets all the kids on the roster bat while only 9 play defense. If you want to know who bats first and how the order works, see our guide on the batting order.
How Many Players Are on an MLB Team?
On the field, it is 9. But a major league team needs a lot more people than that to get through 162 games. MLB rosters have two main sizes:
- Active roster: 26 players. These are the players who can play in a game today. Since 2020, MLB has used 26 instead of the old 25.
- 40-man roster: 40 players. This is every player signed to a major league contract. It includes the 26 active players, players on the injured list, and some young players who are playing in the minors.
In September, the active roster grows to 28. That used to be a much bigger jump (up to 40 players), but MLB cut it down to 28 starting in 2020.
The 13-pitcher limit
MLB teams can carry at most 13 pitchers on the 26-man roster (14 when the roster is 28 in September). This stops teams from loading the roster with relievers. A normal team has 5 starting pitchers and about 8 relievers, plus roughly 13 hitters, which includes a backup catcher. If you want to understand how those jobs differ, read our guide on relief pitcher ERA vs starter ERA.
A typical 26-man roster
- 5 starting pitchers
- 8 relief pitchers
- 2 catchers
- 6 infielders
- 5 outfielders (including the DH if he does not play the field)
Teams shift these numbers all the time, so treat it as an example, not a rule.
Players on a Team at Every Level
The number of fielders is almost always 9. What changes is how many players sit on the bench.
| Level | On the field | Typical roster |
|---|---|---|
| MLB | 9 | 26 active (28 in September), 40-man |
| Minor leagues | 9 | About 28 active per team |
| College (NCAA) | 9 | About 30 to 35, depending on division and rules |
| High school | 9 | About 12 to 20, set by the school |
| Little League / youth | 9 | About 11 to 14, set by the league |
| Fastpitch softball | 9 | About 12 to 18 |
| Slow-pitch softball | 10 | About 10 to 15 |
These are typical ranges. Roster limits vary by league, state and year, so always check your own league's rulebook for the exact numbers.
Baseball vs Softball: One Big Difference
Fastpitch softball uses 9 fielders, just like baseball. But slow-pitch softball uses 10, because it adds a fourth outfielder (a "short fielder"). Fastpitch also has a rule called the DP/FLEX: one player (the DP, or designated player) bats for another player (the FLEX) who plays defense. That means a fastpitch lineup can have 10 names but still only 9 on the field. For how the stats differ between the two games, see softball ERA vs baseball ERA.
Substitutions: Who Can Come Into the Game?
Baseball allows unlimited substitutions, with one big rule: once a player leaves the game, he cannot return (in most leagues). That is why managers think carefully before using a pinch hitter or a pinch runner. A few youth leagues allow re-entry so that all kids can play, so check your local rules.
The common substitutions are:
- Pinch hitter: a bench player bats in place of someone in the lineup.
- Pinch runner: a faster player runs for a teammate who is on base.
- Defensive replacement: a better fielder comes in late in a close game.
- Relief pitcher: a new pitcher takes over from the starter.
In the pros, a pitcher must face at least 3 batters (or finish the half-inning) before he can be replaced, unless he is hurt. This rule began in 2020.
Who Else Is on a Baseball Team?
When people ask "how many people are on a baseball team", they sometimes mean everyone, not just the players. Besides the players, there is a manager (the head coach), a group of coaches (such as the pitching coach, hitting coach and base coaches), and a staff of trainers, video analysts and clubhouse workers. The two base coaches stand in boxes near first and third base during the game and signal to runners.
🎯 The Bottom Line
Nine players take the field. The bigger roster depends on the level: 26 in MLB, about 12 to 20 in high school and about 11 to 14 in youth baseball.
Slow-pitch softball is the one exception, with 10 fielders. For the full picture of how the game works, start with our simple guide to baseball.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players are on a baseball team?
On the field, a baseball team has 9 players. A Major League team has 26 players on its active roster (28 in September) and 40 players on its full roster. High school teams often carry 12 to 20 players, and youth teams about 11 to 14.
How many players are on the field in baseball?
Nine defensive players are on the field at one time: the pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, left fielder, center fielder and right fielder.
How many players are on an MLB roster?
The MLB active roster is 26 players, which rises to 28 from September 1. The 40-man roster includes everyone signed to a major league contract, including injured players and some minor leaguers.
How many batters are in a baseball lineup?
A baseball lineup has 9 batters. In MLB, that is 8 position players and a designated hitter, since the DH rule applies in both leagues. The pitcher no longer bats.
How many players are on a softball team on the field?
Fastpitch softball has 9 players on defense, the same as baseball. Slow-pitch softball has 10, because it adds a fourth outfielder.
Can a player who leaves a baseball game come back in?
In most leagues, no. Once a player is removed from a game, he cannot return. Some youth leagues allow re-entry so that every child gets to play, so check your local league rules.