As the Drafted players sign and get sent out to their respected affiliate teams to start their Professional Careers, it brings up a great question on how on of that works.
How much do minor league players make?
What are the different minor league levels?
What do these levels mean?
Not everyone knows how the process works after someone signs a professional baseball contract. Aside from getting their signing bonuses, which not everyone gets a large amount, Minor Leaguers make almost no money. The current monthly income for a first year professional player is $1,100 per month. Might I add, they only get paid as long as the season is long. The Minor League season spans from April through August and drafted players play from June through August. In theory, a drafted player could only make $3,300 before taxes for the year. For those who play an entire season would make $5,500 for the year.
If you can get past the minimal salaries, there are 7 different Minor League levels before one reaches the MLB.
1) Rookie Level (Mostly High School Players)
2) Advanced Rookie Level (High School and College Draftees)
3) Short Season – A (Mostly College Players)
4) Low –A (Ages ranges from 20-23)
5) High – A (Ages ranges from 22-25)
6) Double – A (Ages ranges from 24-27)
7) Triple – A (All Ages)
8) Major Leagues
It takes High School Players 4.5 years to reach the MLB if they make it at all. It takes College Players 2.5 years to reach the MLB if they reach it at all. The “Road to the Show” is the hardest most grueling of all the sports. Hockey is a close second, but they don’t play the amount of games in such a short period of time.
But that’s not all! Most of these drafted players then have to participate in a mandatory instructional league or Fall baseball league attached with the organization that drafted them. They don’t get paid for the instructional leagues, but they do take care of all room and board.
Like I said…. It’s a tough road.
If you choose to do this for a living you MUST do it 100% or else you will not cut it. If you don’t someone else is.
Baseball Mentor
Baseballmentor1@gmail.com
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
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