How Many Professional Baseball Teams Are There in 2025?

By Sarah Miller · July 2, 2044

There are 30 professional Major League Baseball (MLB) teams in the United States and Canada as of the 2025 season, divided equally between the American League (AL) and National League (NL).

Overview of Professional MLB Teams

Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of professional baseball in North America. As of 2025, it consists of 30 teams—15 in the American League and 15 in the National League. These teams are further divided into three divisions per league: East, Central, and West, each containing five teams.

Key Facts About MLB Structure

MLB is composed of 30 total franchises.
All teams are based in the U.S., except the Toronto Blue Jays, located in Canada.
The league expanded most recently in 1998 with the addition of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays.
No new teams have been added since 1998, though expansion discussions continue.
Each team plays a 162-game regular season schedule.

American League vs. National League

While both leagues operate under the MLB umbrella, they differ slightly in rules and tradition:

Differences Between Leagues

Designated Hitter (DH) Rule: The American League uses the DH, allowing a player to bat for the pitcher. The National League adopted the universal DH in 2022, eliminating this distinction.
Historical Identity: The AL was founded in 1901; the NL dates back to 1876, making it the oldest major professional sports league in the U.S.
All-Star Game: Historically, AL vs. NL matchups determined World Series home-field advantage, but this rule was discontinued after 2016.

Current MLB Team List by Division

Beyond the top-tier MLB, hundreds of professional players compete in Minor League Baseball (MiLB), which includes over 120 affiliated teams across various levels (Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, Single-A). However, when people ask “how many professional baseball teams,” they typically refer to MLB.

League	Division	Team Name	City	Founded	Joined MLB
American League	East	Boston Red Sox	Boston, MA	1901	1901
American League	East	New York Yankees	New York, NY	1901	1901
American League	East	Tampa Bay Rays	St. Petersburg, FL	1998	1998
American League	East	Toronto Blue Jays	Toronto, ON	1977	1977
American League	East	Baltimore Orioles	Baltimore, MD	1894	1901
American League	Central	Chicago White Sox	Chicago, IL	1901	1901
American League	Central	Cleveland Guardians	Cleveland, OH	1901	1901
American League	Central	Detroit Tigers	Detroit, MI	1894	1901
American League	Central	Kansas City Royals	Kansas City, MO	1969	1969
American League	Central	Minnesota Twins	Minneapolis, MN	1901	1961
American League	West	Houston Astros	Houston, TX	1962	1962
American League	West	Los Angeles Angels	Anaheim, CA	1961	1961
American League	West	Oakland Athletics	Oakland, CA	1901	1901
American League	West	Seattle Mariners	Seattle, WA	1977	1977
American League	West	Texas Rangers	Arlington, TX	1961	1961
National League	East	Atlanta Braves	Atlanta, GA	1871	1876
National League	East	Miami Marlins	Miami, FL	1993	1993
National League	East	New York Mets	New York, NY	1962	1962
National League	East	Philadelphia Phillies	Philadelphia, PA	1883	1883
National League	East	Washington Nationals	Washington, D.C.	1969	1969
National League	Central	Chicago Cubs	Chicago, IL	1870	1876
National League	Central	Cincinnati Reds	Cincinnati, OH	1881	1890
National League	Central	Milwaukee Brewers	Milwaukee, WI	1969	1998
National League	Central	Pittsburgh Pirates	Pittsburgh, PA	1881	1887
National League	Central	St. Louis Cardinals	St. Louis, MO	1882	1892
National League	West	Arizona Diamondbacks	Phoenix, AZ	1998	1998
National League	West	Colorado Rockies	Denver, CO	1993	1993
National League	West	Los Angeles Dodgers	Los Angeles, CA	1883	1890
National League	West	San Diego Padres	San Diego, CA	1969	1969
National League	West	San Francisco Giants	San Francisco, CA	1883	1883

Table data source:MLB Official Site, Wikipedia

The table shows all 30 MLB teams, their locations, founding years, and entry into the major leagues. Notably, the Atlanta Braves are the oldest continuously operating team, founded in 1871. The most recent additions were the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays in 1998. The Milwaukee Brewers began in the AL in 1969 before moving to the NL in 1998.

Minor League and Other Professional Baseball Leagues

While MLB has 30 teams, there are over 120 additional professional teams in affiliated Minor League Baseball (MiLB), organized into four full-season levels: Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, and Single-A. Each MLB team controls several minor league affiliates.

Other Professional Baseball Organizations

Independent Leagues: Leagues like the Atlantic League and American Association feature professional players not affiliated with MLB organizations.
International Leagues: Countries such as Japan (NPB), South Korea (KBO), and Mexico (LMB) host professional leagues with high-caliber play.
Winter Leagues: Players from MLB and other leagues compete in winter circuits in the Caribbean during the MLB offseason.

Frequently Asked Questions About Professional Baseball Teams

How many MLB teams are there in 2025?

As of 2025, there are 30 Major League Baseball teams, evenly split between the American League and National League.

Will MLB expand to more teams?

While no official expansion has occurred since 1998, MLB has explored adding two more teams in the future, potentially in cities like Nashville, Montreal, or Portland. However, no timeline has been confirmed.

Which city has two MLB teams?

New York City has two MLB teams: the New York Yankees and New York Mets. Los Angeles also has two: the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels.

Are there any MLB teams outside the United States?

Yes, the Toronto Blue Jays are based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are the only MLB team located outside the U.S.

What is the difference between AL and NL teams?

Historically, the American League used the designated hitter (DH) rule while the National League did not. Since 2022, both leagues use the universal DH. Otherwise, structural and competitive differences are minimal.