For years we’ve been hearing about the poor conditions faced by minor leaguers, with particular attention called to the plight of non-prospects. While top draft picks and priority international free agents afforded huge signing bonuses won’t struggle to make ends meet, the vast majority of players will, living paycheck to paycheck while slumming it in the lower minors.
Clubs have been resistant to pay players fair salaries, with MLB recently arguing in federal court that minor leaguers shouldn’t be compensated for spring training. Chasing your big-league dreams is only profitable for a select few, with most subject to poor facilities, cramped living arrangements and unappetizing postgame spreads.
However, as watchdog sites like Advocates for Minor Leaguers publicly shame billionaire owners for not providing suitable wages, teams fearful of bad PR are starting to change their tune. That sea change began last fall when it was announced MLB teams would provide furnished housing for most minor leaguers, only excluding players who earn six figures.
Cole Uvila, an Orioles farmhand assigned to Triple-A to begin the 2022 season, was pleasantly surprised by his new accommodations, taking to Twitter to express how thankful he was for his fully-furnished, pet-friendly studio in Norfolk.
Penny-pinching and MLB owners will always go hand in hand, but for minor leaguers to have success, they need to be focused on their craft instead of worrying about where their next meal is coming from or if they’ll be able to pay next month’s rent. The Orioles, it seems, are making a deliberate effort to do better after an embarrassing situation last summer with Double-A players considering sleeping in their cars to avoid paying for the team hotel, which would have cost almost 80 percent of their paycheck after taxes.
A 6’3” right-hander who began his career in the Rangers’ minor-league system, Uvila posted a 5.37 ERA over 53 2/3 innings last season between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock.
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