CD,
If you are an early round "money" draftee - you dont have to do very much the first couple years. You will be promoted each year - and maybe even sooner. No matter what in most cases.
(This is especially true for high school early rounders).
You can hit below the Mendoza line - or give up 10 runs per game as a pitcher - and you will be promoted anyway. If that occurs - they will talk about potential - and/or being young for the league. Regardless of what you do or how much you play.
It stops at the A level - usually High A.
If you are not an early round draftee - you are in for a rough time. There arent alot of funny stories. You are considered fringe - at best - and you worry every day whether you will be there the following week.
You have to prove yourself everyday.
If you dont - you will most likely be gone.
If you think about it as a business proposition - it makes total sense.
If you spend $500,000 for a machine - and it doesnt work - you try to fix it before discarding it. You are not walking away from a $500,000 investment - without a fight.
If you spend $10,000 for a machine - and it doesnt work - you just get a new one. You dont spend money trying to fix it. No big deal. Every year - there are always lots of newer inexpensive machines waiting for their chance.
It is all about money invested at this level.
Just the way it is - whether we think it is right or not.
That - IMO - is minor league baseball in a nutshell.