What's the average income for a minor leaguer?

StarDad,
Welcome to the HSBBW, I am not sure if your post is for real or not.

Let's see, after taxes, social security, medicare (his check was drawn from NY State for last summer and NY state taxes are high) every two weeks his check was like 400 something. With free room, most of his money went for food and whatever he needed. On positive note, for each level you move up one gets a bonus (1000) and a 5000 bonus when you reach MLB. You do not make any real substantial money until you reach the 40 man roster, which could take years.
You are only paid for the months you play, if you are called for fall instruction you get expenses only, meals and lodging, and same for spring training.

I am not really sure what people think that minor leaguers make, but it ain't a whole lot. Let's call it apprentice pay. The object is to try to position yourself in a decent slot in the draft to get some bonus money to live on, for a few years until something does or doesn't happen. Many minor leaguers work in the off season. If you are a HS grad only, you might find yourself at minimum wage, college grads or those with 3 or more years of college might find better employment. If you are in a position to help your son out during those months without pay, that's wonderful, but I know that my husband would not be in a position to support a 22 year old baseball player. One of the websters here was telling us the other evening about a minor leaguer working for his dad digging ditches in off season.

I am curious as to why you think that your son might be drafted after HS? Because he's good? By the time he gets to be a senior, there will be plenty more "good" players throughout the country your son will have to compete with. You most likely will be shocked to find out, that your son maybe just another good baseball player that was a super star where he came from but average to the rest of the country. There is no way you can predict what your son will be like at 17,18,19or what his velocity may be. If you are looking for an Arod type of deal for your son, my suggestion is to change your direction and concentrate on him heading for college before you dream about him reaching pro baseball and making a windfall of $$ out of HS, even college.

Great response Tiger Paw Mom, most players don't stick around to long in the minors becuase of the pay, i thought the apprenticeship analogy was perfect that is exactly what it is pretty much. As far as the draft goes pretty much unless you are in the first 15 rounds you get as the guys call it "a bus ticket and a pack of bubble gum". If you sign as a free agent just good luck. It is a long and complicated road that involves prob. more luck than skill, but alot of skill. But you made alot of great points Tiger PM

That's why I told you I am a "rookie" on baseball. I never played basebal before. I have very high expectation on my son. Because he is really good at current level. Hitting, pitching, fielding all around. Every coach saw him told me he is going to be a "big time player". But actually he didn't prove anything yet (as a HS freshman, he havn't played a sigle HS game yet, what do you expect?). But his talent is there for sure.
I read some draft news about some player got the signing bonus from 300,000 to 4 million just being drated, is that true? So, I dreamed if he be drafted in the future, he should get the big buck. If the minor leaguer only get lower than average salary, and 90% will not make it to the majors, then I think this system should be reformed. Either you don't draft that many players or increase the pay check to $50,000 per year. Otherwise it's a waste of the young lifes to become the bottom feeder to the big business of MLB. If my son is not good enough to get the guranteed money, I will not let him sign with anyone. He will play college ball only and find a decent job instead. If you said the income part is true, I am really dispointed. To be hornest with you, I am letting him play for the big money, there are just too much investment in him now, I can't afford to let him to be average.

Go CARDS, I am a CADRS fan too.

Not saying the pay is poor and the physical demands horrendous (hours worked, overnight bus rides, etc.), but my son figured out he is being paid less per hour than the migrant farm workers his team bus passed on the way to a game.

Of course, I pointed out, nobody asked them for autographs at the end of their workday .

During instrux, he was in the same hotel as the Chinese National Team. The Chinese team was appalled at the Life of a Minor Leaguer stories the guys were telling!

It's early days for you to be dreaming about the first round, and I hope you're not conveying any of that to your son. A Star in any one place is the proverbial Big Fish; you'll know more through showcases (though perhaps you've already done that). I'm presuming he's on a travel team. Remember, he's not competing with the players in your area or even all of Missouri; he's competing with the entire country in the draft. And much of the rest of the world for minor league slots.

Check out the rest of the site for loads of superb info for Newbies. For example, Odds of playing College/Pro About 1% of all hs/college ballplayers are drafted; 2% of that 1% go in the first round.

Despite all of this, guys are lined up for the job. Not for the Big Bucks, but for the love of the game.

My son's hitting instructor is a minor leaguer. He told us he makes about $1100 a month during the season. In the off-season, he's working as a carpenter/plumber and giving hitting lessons. Like Orlando said - it's not about money for him - his love of the game is obvious. Whether or not he makes it to the big leagues, he's going to be a fantastic coach. In fact, he already is. And plumbers don't make a bad living.

Thanks Tiger paw Mom, Orlando, Zeus, That really helpful. But the only part you didn't reply is the signing bonus part, is there any "300,000 to 4 Million" player in the draft? If so, I will let my son to work toward that goal. Otherwise I really don't see the need to let him play baseball after college.

Orlando, you say someone play for the "love of the game", I really don't agree with that, in this capitalism world, most of the kids is playing for the big dream of becoming a Major league star with big $$s.

I think Orlando got it right there:

Despite all of this, guys are lined up for the job. Not for the Big Bucks, but for the love of the game.

Isn't that what makes minor league games so great? My coach doesn't follow the MLB because he thinks most of them care about the money too much. But wouldn't everyone take the money? Tough call. I'm still a Yankee fan.

Catch43

"Despite all of this, guys are lined up for the job. Not for the Big Bucks, but for the love of the game."

That's why I would call for a draft reform. Reduce the draft round to 25 like NFL. Pay the kids national average salary, maybe $25,000 like a primary school teacher. This $1100/month thing is a insult to everyone who put out the hard work like those minor leaguers did.

Those $1,000 per level bonus has to be in your contract not everyone gets it.

Should there be some reform to improve the conditions of the minor leaguers? Darn skippy, if you're coming from the players' perspective. But the Players Union doesn't much take MiLB into consideration.

The owners want to put the best product on the field at the MLB level, and the infrastructure of the farm system is expensive. The players, however, are mostly Birds of Passage.

Scouting is not an exact science; if it were, everybody in the first few rounds would eventually have MLB careers and, frankly, they could stop with those rounds. There's -- what, about 4500 minor leaguers looking at 750 major league jobs (and some of those guys insist on hanging around for more than a year or two . The nerve!). And 1500 more are offered a job every June, although not all sign. For everyone who signs, somebody loses their job.

Guys get injured, guys get married and decide it's time to get responsible, guys see the writing on the wall, guys just don't have the talent to compete, guys don't want it badly enough. There's falloff.

An RHP has a 96 mph fastball and the right build. Surefire, right? Um, no...does it move, does he have a couple of other pitches, what can he throw for strikes, is he durable, is he coachable, can he stand the pressure? This is what the farm system finds out and filters.

Guy's got great range, a sure glove, speed, and a serious stick. Surefire? Only if he's as sure when the rest of that elite 1% are hitting the ball at him or pitching the ball to him. Again, finding out and filtering.

For the most part, it takes years to establish who might make it. And, just like the draft, it's not an exact science. Many (arguably, most) of those September callups ease on back into obscurity after their Cup of Coffee because they didn't have the stuff.

And, to all this, a MiLB player would reply, "So what? I love this, I want my chance."

If you, but more importantly, your son, believe it's all about a paycheck, then he should work toward law school, his MBA, or accountancy. Particularly if you/your son believe that life is about the paycheck and not the experience, he might want to consider more traditionally productive extracurricular activities. Like Junior Achievement.

If you ask a ballplayer what the dream is, it's being a professional ballplayer. It's stepping onto a major league field. The dream isn't looking at your bank balance, as much of a benefit that would be. If playing for the Love of the Game is outside your/your son's experience.....I guess we don't have much common ground.

As has been said often about the game --- it ain't easy; if it were easy, everyone would do it.

Tiger paw Mom:

"I am curious as to why you think that your son might be drafted after HS?"

It's just my way of doing things, set a very high goal, and work hard to reach it. This kid has amazing ability. No matter what you teach him, he will do it perfectly well. I am not a baseball palyer. I learned baseball by reading books and watch MLB games. So I want my son bat like A-Rod, he did it. He is in a traveling AAA team since 10. He hit over 20 Triples when he is 12 with a 5'2'' 105 lb body. He got over .500 batting average when he is 14. In the pitching part, I want him pitch like Rager Clemens. He did exactly like him, a couple of 7 Inn shot out game pitched against some USSSA Major team with a 5'10'' 155 lb body when he is about 14 and half. That's why coaches around our league said he is the best hitter and best pitcher in our team, a "big timer" in the future. Because I am a outsider of baseball, I just don't know if they are really mean it or he is a super talent. So whatever they say I just believe it. That's why the expectation went way high for my son, I really can't wait to see him play next spring HS ball.

quote:

with only 10% out of the minor leaguer make to the majors

Your numbers are off. According to the D'backs GM 2% of minor leaguers see a day in the majors. 1% of minor leaguers stick for a MLB career. He called it a bad career choice, yet the players keep on coming believing they're the 1%. Now take the odds of a high school player getting drafted someday. The odds of becoming a MLB player are staggering. A player has to really want it.

Many years ago I asked a scout why there were 60 rounds to the draft. He told me not all will sign, but the prospects need teammates to play the game. Sometimes mistakes and miscalculations are made and the longshot (Piazza comes to mind) makes it.

Very good post Olando, thanks!
"If you, but more importantly, your son, believe it's all about a paycheck, then he should work toward law school, his MBA, or accountancy. Particularly if you/your son believe that life is about the paycheck and not the experience, he might want to consider more traditionally productive extracurricular activities. Like Junior Achievement."

I just feel the payout doesn't added up to my investment. All the times and hard work with physical and emotional drain don't get rewarded.
$1100/ month just way too low. This is unfair. If this is the fact, we should call the minor leagers ameture player right? Everyone go find a decent day job and paly or practice baseball at night, that will be more fair to the kid. $1100/month is just unacceptable. At least people should get a decent life no matter what they do. $1100 per month is laughable consider the Billion dollar industry like MLB. Someone is stealing money here!!!!

Stardad, there is a really good book i would suggest anyone read it, it is called "Good enough to Dream" by Roger Kahn. Great book about being a "Baseball player".
Every dad wants their kids to be great at what they do, if you don't have those expectations some would say would be disappointing. But for the most part like Orlando said it is about the stories, i played a couple years here nor there, in college my goal was i wanted the payday, but ultimately in the end. You realize it wasn't even nesecarily about the end result, but sometimes the road that you got there on. The thing alot of people who have played the game at the higher levels will tell you is it is more about the stories they can tell, the things they did, who they played with, the road trips and so on, the experience of it all. Money is always something we strive for but like Catch43 said most play for the love of the game and the payday is something we strive for but the game is what we live for.

You will go to showcases in the future and your son will be graded, compared, scrutinized, publicized and the whole bowl of wax. The Ultimate goal should be make it to the show be great and make bank, realistic goal should be good enough to get college paid for, play some minor league ball and one day get a good job, have some kids and hope they can have great experiences of their own or turn out better than you did.

quote:

Originally posted by StarDad:
I just feel the payout doesn't added up to my investment. All the times and hard work with physical and emotional drain don't get rewarded.
$1100/ month just way too low. This is unfair. If this is the fact, we should call the minor leagers ameture player right? Everyone go find a decent day job and paly or practice baseball at night, that will be more fair to the kid. $1100/month is just unacceptable. At least people should get a decent life no matter what they do. $1100 per month is laughable consider the Billion dollar industry like MLB. Someone is stealing money here!!!!

If someone doesn't feel it's fair they can head for the world of business and get on with their life. There are plenty more players dying to step up and get a shot for the going rate.

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
[If someone doesn't feel it's fair they can head for the world of business and get on with their life. There are plenty more players dying to step up and get a shot for the going rate.

Well if you think stealing money from the young kids is fair, I will have nothing to say. Everyone wants to do it doesn't mean the owner's has the right to rip people off. I am surprised everyone here seems on the owner's side. Are you a Minor league GM? If somehow I work for the player's union, I will call for a nationwide strike against Minor league Baseball. This depressingly low salary is a unfair practice, we should fight for the players right.

quote:

Originally posted by StarDad:
Tiger paw Mom:

"I am curious as to why you think that your son might be drafted after HS?"

It's just my way of doing things, set a very high goal, and work hard to reach it. This kid has amazing ability. No matter what you teach him, he will do it perfectly well. I am not a baseball palyer. I learned baseball by reading books and watch MLB games. So I want my son bat like A-Rod, he did it. He is in a traveling AAA team since 10. He hit over 20 Triples when he is 12 with a 5'2'' 105 lb body. He got over .500 batting average when he is 14. In the pitching part, I want him pitch like Rager Clemens. He did exactly like him, a couple of 7 Inn shot out game pitched against some USSSA Major team with a 5'10'' 155 lb body when he is about 14 and half. That's why coaches around our league said he is the best hitter and best pitcher in our team, a "big timer" in the future. Because I am a outsider of baseball, I just don't know if they are really mean it or he is a super talent. So whatever they say I just believe it. That's why the expexctation went way high for my son, I really can't wait to see him play next spring HS ball.

Well StarDad, if you are thinking that your son is going to be drafted in the top rounds out of high school just because he has tracked well as a 12 year old through 14 year old playing USSSA, and you do not want him to go into the Minors only getting $1,100/month on the months he is playing because it is not a good return on your investment, you should have your son put his glove away right now and walk away!

My son at 12 hit over 30 homeruns when he was 12 years old little leaguer, he has played with and against 15 year old pitchers that are throwing over 90 mph. Played, and was one of the "stars", for one of the top high school teams in Calif and was on one of the top travel teams in the country winning many national tournaments and was highly ranked by several publications, he was not drafted and is fight for a position on his college team to make the 35 man roster who is restricted to only give 11.7 baseball scholarships!

Baseball is not a good return on your investment; if that is the only way you are looking at it.

High expectations are great, but the pressure you may be putting on your son will most likely cause him to loose the love for the game, especially from someone who is playing and experiencing the game through your son and a book!

Stardad....

Your posts are nonsense and for good reason.

Don't ever recall a 1st rounder coming out of a high school in Missouri.

Simple as that.

You are in "way over your head" in baseball.

Long way to fall.

quote:

Originally posted by Homerun04:
My son at 12 hit over 30 homeruns when he was 12 years old little leaguer, he has played with and against 15 year old pitchers that are throwing over 90 mph. Played, and was one of the "stars", for one of the top high school teams in Calif and was on one of the top travel teams in the country winning many national tournaments and was highly ranked by several publications, he was not drafted and is fight for a position on his college team to make the 35 man roster who is restricted to only give 11.7 baseball scholarships!....

High expectations are great, but the pressure you may be putting on your son will most likely cause him to loose the love for the game, especially from someone who is playing and experiencing the game through your son and a book!

Great posts, that's the help what I am really looking for. How is your son's physical build now? Would you like to share with me? So I would have a good idea how my son will compare with him. On the Home run part, my son didn't hit any when he is 12 , because he is small at that time and play all the games in the 300 feet deep field. Did you watch the LLWS? unlike the USSSA, the little league field is only 225 feet deep. A lot of pop flies become a home run in that kind of ball park. Because I am a outsider, I got a very unique way to spot talent. I look at the kids learning ability, if he can learn quick and perform perfectly, then I believe when he got the MLB body, he should be better than any major leaguers. Is this the scientific way to judge a talent, I don't know. That's my way of doing things. I am a Geek when I was in school, so Geeks do Geek's thing. Hahaha..