Wages and overall conditions in the minor leagues are improving, though not nearly fast enough with many lamenting the lack of progress, particularly in extended spring training, a chaotic environment described as “hell” and “kind of like the Hunger Games,” alluding to the dystopian film series starring Jennifer Lawrence. One player told Evan Drellich of The Athletic he made just $20 a day, not even enough to order takeout from DoorDash or UberEats.
“Every meal on UberEats and Doordash is like $20 or $25 dollars each. So you’re spending like maybe $30 a day in meals and you’re only getting $20 back,” he said, telling Drellich players would often pool together money for groceries. “Dealing with all that stress and not being able to eat good, it’s just, nobody likes to be in extended. You can ask anybody. If you’ve been once in extended, you will never want to be back.”
That’s still more than some minor-leaguers make with five teams—identified as the A’s, Angels, Brewers, Marlins and Reds—not paying players at all for extended spring training. All declined comment except for the Marlins, who gave this generic response.
“We have made significant investments and enhancements for our team members throughout our player development system, including a recent increased focus on compensation, housing, nutrition, education, mental health resources and more,” said a Marlins spokesperson. “As with any aspect of our business, we are constantly reviewing as to how we can continue to elevate the experience and work environment for all members of our organization.”
According to Drellich, only a third of MLB teams offer a salary for extended spring training ($400 per week), which typically runs from April until rookie leagues begin in June. Harry Marino, a former pitcher in the Orioles’ system who now serves as executive director of the non-profit “Advocates for Minor-Leaguers,” says it’s shameful what teams are doing, with players—some of them making less than $5,000 a year—rationing leftovers, barely able to afford basic necessities like bread and sandwich meat.
“When we look at the demographics of the players on extended spring training rosters, whether that be racial, educational or otherwise, it’s clear that MLB teams are taking advantage of a particularly precariously positioned group of players by not paying extended spring training salaries, and that is very problematic,” said Marino, horrified at MLB’s treatment of Latin players, many of whom barely speak English. “There’s absolutely no excuse for these five teams to continue to refuse to pay their lowest-paid employees for months of work.”
One minor-leaguer interviewed by Drellich noted a fatigue factor, seeing many players abandon their baseball dreams for more lucrative careers in construction or the service industry. “They figure out that we aren’t actually making minimum wage here,” he said. “They can make more doing DoorDash or working construction. That’s why you get a lot of players that decide to quit baseball that have a lot of potential.”
Teams do cover the cost of housing for players and supply them with two of their three meals (breakfast and lunch). But it’s still not enough, particularly for players with families relying on them. “I had friends that as soon as they got the money they would go straight to Western Union, send around $80 to their families back home, and, with whatever was left, just buy a lot of Chipotle,” said another player. “Get as much rice as they can and try to save it for a couple days living in their room.”
Heeding the call to action, the Giants, Mets, Nationals and Red Sox have begun paying salaries for players in extended spring training while also providing backpay for wages they would have earned in 2021. It’s a step in the right direction, though in terms of paying minor-leaguers a fair salary, MLB still has a long way to go.
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