The Major League Baseball Players Association on Monday announced the opening here of its first international office with the objective of increasing the level of support provided throughout Players’ playing and post-playing careers.

"We are excited to further expand our international presence here in the Dominican Republic,” said MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark. “Our game is better because of the diversity of our Player fraternity. The office demonstrates our strong commitment to continue advancing and protecting the rights of all international players."

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More than 1,200 players, including a growing number of international players, play Major League Baseball under the protection of the MLBPA, which recently assumed representation of minor league players, increasing the current membership to more than 5,000 players.  The office will be located in the Torre Sarasota Center in the city of Santo Domingo.