Most kids dream of playing baseball in the major leagues.  Playing everyday and getting paid to do it appears to be a glamorous job.  But there is a long road to get there, sometimes its very short lived and most of it not all so glamorous.  What follows is a breakdown of the minor league system and what lies ahead for a player on his way to the major leagues.  I will start with a description of the different levels in the minor leagues:

The first level of professional baseball is rookie ball.  This consists of players brought in from the Dominican and Venezuelan leagues and a mix of recent draftees and second year players.  It is very low-pressure as there are few spectators.  Salaries are $300-$400/month and meal money at all minor league levels is $20 per day while on the road.  The major league club pays salaries at all levels and the minor league clubs handle all other operations and expenses.  The Texas Rangers affiliate is the Arizona League Rangers.

The next level is A (short season) or “low A”.  This is also made up of first and second year players.  Salaries for the first year is $850/month.  This is typically the first time players use wooden bats and play everyday for a prolonged period, as amateur competition is regulated to the number of games per week.  The Texas Rangers affiliate is the Clinton LumberKings.

A (full season) or “high A” is made up of the California, Florida State, and Carolina Leagues.  Most players have a year or two of professional experience with the exception of a few high 1st round picks with college experience.  A player’s salary is $1000/month for the 1st year and no less than that in the following years.  The Rangers A affiliate is the Bakersfield Blaze.

AA is usually located in mid-sized cities or suburbs of large cities.  This is considered the biggest promotion in the minor leagues since many players are promoted directly from AA to the majors.  If a player excels at this level, they are considered major league ready.  Salaries are $1,500/month for the first year and no less than that in subsequent years.  The Rangers affiliate is the Frisco Roughriders.

AAA is the the highest level of minor league baseball.  Teams usually are located in the largest cities without MLB franchises (Buffalo, Las Vegas, New Orleans).  Typically the remaining players on the 40-man roster that are on rehab assignments, players waiting to be called up later in the season, or a struggling player in the major leagues is often placed in this league.  Before the season starts you also see teams stockpile “journeyman” or veterans with major league experience at this level to provide depth in case of injury.  The salary is $2,150/month for the first year and no less than that in following years.  The Rangers affiliate is the Oklahoma City Redhawks.

Once a player reaches the big leagues, he earns a prorated portion of the major league minimum of $390,000 based on the number of days with the big club.  While minor league compensation is small in comparison to big league salaries, many players receive considerable bonus money from the draft.  The bonus money is typically between $2-$6 million for 1st round draft picks.  This year Buster Posey signed with the Giants for $6.2 million which is the largest up front bonus money in MLB draft history.  Many players are requesting a major league deal which means the player is placed immediately on the 40-man roster.  Players and agents use different tactics to get lucrative deals.  High school seniors will threaten to attend college and hold out until the signing deadline to force teams to meet their demands and get the most money possible.  To be eligible for the draft, a player attending a four-year college is not eligible until after his junior year, which is why many players attend junior college since they are eligible at any time.

Players are placed in the minors immediately after they are drafted (18-22).  A 22 year-old is usually a college senior and his development should be fairly polished.  If a prospect does not make their first trip to the big leagues by the age of 25, they are considered an old prospect.  A club will have patience for a season or two with someone who has potential, but not much longer.  For instance, Jason Botts and Nelson Cruz are both 28 years old and have both spent time in the big leagues.  Both have struggled when called up, but crush AAA pitching when sent back down.  Rangers management has shown patience, but both players are definitely on their last audition (Botts was actually sent to Japan in June).  Occasionally, there is a prospect in their late 20’s that makes it to the big leagues for the first time, but he is usually a journeyman and has been given up on by several teams.

The actual life of a minor league player is very busy.  The schedule is constant with games, travel, practice, and meals.  Combining families is difficult.  Teams have different philosophies on how much interaction they want with their players.  Wives usually do not work regular jobs because of their husband’s erratic schedule and because many of them are only in the minor league town during the season.

These conditions are not always taken into consideration when dreaming of a professional baseball career.  Unless a player gets a large bonus in the draft, players do not make much money.  But all of this is a small price to pay to achieve the childhood dream of playing in the big leagues.