What Does a Minor League Baseball Player Get Paid?

A lot of people are curious about what minor league baseball players are paid. Here is a breakdown of what they make.

Introduction

In order to understand what a minor league baseball player gets paid, it is important to first understand the structure of minor league baseball. Minor league baseball is organized into several levels, with each level representing a different level of skill and competition. The vast majority of minor league players are in Class A or Class AA, which are the lowest levels of professional baseball. Above those levels are Triple-A and the major leagues.

The pay scale for minor league baseball players is different at each level. Players at Class A and Class AA make significantly less than players at Triple-A or the major leagues. In addition, players who are on 40-man rosters (i.e., those who are on the cusp of being called up to the majors) tend to make more than players who are not on 40-man rosters.

With all of that being said, let’s take a look at what a minor league player can expect to earn at each level of play.

What is a Minor League Baseball Player?

A minor league baseball player is a professional baseball player who does not play in Major League Baseball (MLB). Minor league baseball is organized into several levels, with the highest level being Triple-A. A minor league player’s salary depends on their level in the minors. In 2018, the average salary for a minor league player was $6,000 per month, or $72,000 per year. The minimum salary for a player in Triple-A was $2,150 per month, or $25,800 per year.

Players in the lower levels of the minors make even less. For example, players in Single-A make an average of $3,300 per month, or $39,600 per year. The minimum salary for a Single-A player is $1,100 per month, or $13,200 per year. Players in Rookie Ball make an average of $1,400 per month, or $16,800 per year. The minimum salary for a Rookie Ball player is just $290 per week, or $735 per week during the season.

What Does a Minor League Baseball Player Get Paid?

The average salary for a minor league baseball player is $3,000 per month, or $36,000 per year. However, rookies drafted out of high school or college often make as little as $1,100 per month, or $13,200 per year. Salaries increase with experience and performance, and the best minor league players can earn up to $7,500 per month, or $90,000 per year.

Many minor league baseball players also receive signing bonuses when they are first drafted. These bonuses can range from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the player’s skill level and draft position.

How Much Does a Minor League Baseball Player Get Paid?

As anyone who’s played organized baseball knows, it’s not a cheap sport. Between the cost of equipment, league fees, and travel expenses, the bills can start to add up. And that’s before you even get to the professional level. So, what do minor league baseball players get paid?

Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to that question. Minor league salaries are notoriously difficult to pin down, in large part because there are so many variables at play. For example, a player’s salary will depend on their experience level, the league they’re playing in, and whether they’re on a major or minor league team.

That said, there are some rough estimates out there. According to one report from USA Today, the average monthly salary for a minor league player is $2,150. This figure covers all players in all minor leagues, from rookie-level leagues all the way up to Triple-A. Keep in mind that this is just an average, so some players will make more and some will make less.

It’s also worth noting that minor league salaries vary widely from year to year. For instance, in 2019, MLB expanded its minor leagues from 160 teams to 172 teams. This led to a decrease in overall salaries, as each team had less money to work with. As a result, the average monthly salary dropped from $2,700 in 2018 to $2,150 in 2019.

Of course, while minor league salaries may be modest compared to their major league counterparts, they’re still not chump change. And for many players, it’s just the first step on their way to a successful career in baseball.

How to Become a Minor League Baseball Player

You will not get paid to play in the minor leagues. You will, however, receive a signing bonus and an invite to spring training. Your salary will depend on your level of experience and where you play.

In order to become a minor league baseball player, you must first be drafted by a major league team. The draft is held every June and is open to all players who have graduated from high school or are at least 21 years old.

Once you are drafted, you will be assigned to a minor league team affiliated with the major league club that drafted you. You will begin your professional career playing in the rookie leagues or Class A ball.

The vast majority of players will never make it past Class AAA, which is the highest level of the minor leagues. The few who do make it to the majors usually do so because they are filling in for an injured player or they are considered to be “prospects” who might one day be good enough to play in the majors.

What is the Future of Minor League Baseball Players?

As the game of baseball continues to grow in popularity, so does the interest in playing professionally. However, with only a limited number of Major League Baseball (MLB) roster spots available, the vast majority of aspiring players will have to settle for a minor league career.

While minor league salaries have increased in recent years, they still pale in comparison to the multimillion-dollar contracts that are routinely handed out to major league stars. In fact, most minor league players are barely scraping by, often taking home less than $1,000 per month after taxes.

With such low wages and long odds of ever making it to the majors, it’s no wonder that many minor league players are considering abandoning their dreams of playing professional baseball. In fact, there has been a recent surge in the number of players retiring from the game altogether.

It remains to be seen what the future holds for minor league baseball and its players. However, one thing is certain: unless salaries increase significantly, there will continue to be little incentive for talented young athletes to pursue a career in professional baseball.