It's a Catch-22 scenario being played. Aside from having the talent, you have to be a top 5 round draft pick to give yourself a meaningful chance to make it to the Show. It is virtually impossible to get the required building blocks to give yourself a meaningful chance. Besides the basic necessities to live on (food, water, housing) from the MiLB wages, you also have to figure in additional costs. Training facilities (onsite and offsite), nutritional supplements, proper diet for athletes, a decent bed to prevent back problems, transportation, PT/massage therapy, etc. Without additional monetary income (through parents/relatives/side job/friends) there is little room to stretch the $1200/month they receive. You have some talented A/highA players who may be hindered in advancement to the next level because they can't afford the proper nutrition for their body to perform at an optimal level. Hence, the well paid signing bonuses bridge the low wages and give them a better chance. Of course, there are other factors such as high draft picks are given more opportunities and patience/support to succeed, but that's a whole different story.