lurker76 said:
Lonestar_Ag09 said:
Tried posting this last night. Great to see these guys get a more reasonable salary
How does someone playing for the Space Cowboys in Sugar Land survive on $35.5k, much less $17.5k per year? Is there some other source of income for the players at that level? I'm sure several room together, but that has to be very difficult.
It used to be understood you had to have another job. Either part time during the season or full time during the off season. That obviously makes it difficult to continue development when your trading film sessions, bullpen sessions, BP, etc. for hours at Home Depot. Never made any sense to me and definitely caused guys to wash out when they have to make a choice between love of a game they believe they can play or providing for a family.
Not trying to start the normal debate on this. I'm sure the usual guys saying you had to really want it and essentially be an indefinitely unpaid intern to make it to the show somehow makes sense. Little to no support or development opportunities in the offseason and a wage less than minimum wage whe hours worked is tabulated. Nothing like investing in your business.
"More Than Baseball launched a petition to advocate for a minimum salary of $35,000 a year for Minor League Baseball players, saying the average player makes less than $10,000 a year and less than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour."
"Only 10 percent of Minor League Baseball players will ever make it to the MLB, according to More Than Baseball's recent report. The minor league encompasses 209 teams spread across 19 leagues in 44 states and four provinces.
League players also complain about multiple workplace conditions.
In More Than Baseball's survey, the lack of healthy nutritional food and the lack of offseason support are also major concerns. And while the league passed a recent policy that affords them housing, players say they are stuffed into sharing a bedroom with other players."
https://thehill.com/homenews/3262583-nonprofit-says-minor-league-baseball-players-earning-under-federal-minimum-wage/