What’s the Average Salary for Minor League Baseball Players?
Contents
We research and analyze the average salary for Minor League Baseball Players to help you understand what you can expect to be paid if you pursue a career in professional baseball.
Introduction
The minor leagues are professional baseball’s training ground, where players hone their skills in hopes of one day being called up to the major leagues. But while minor league players are paid to play baseball, their salaries are far below those of their major league counterparts.
According to a report from MLBPlayers.com, the average salary for a minor league player was $6,000 in 2017. That figure includes players at all levels of the minors, from rookie ball to Triple-A. It’s worth noting that the vast majority of minor leaguers make far less than that; in fact, most make less than $3,000 per season.
So how do minor league salaries compare to those of major league players? Major league players earned an average salary of $4 million in 2017, according to MLBPlayers.com. That’s more than 660 times the average salary of a minor leaguer.
Of course, not all minor leaguers are paid equally. Salaries vary depending on a player’s level in the minors, with players at the higher levels ( Triple-A and Double-A) typically earning more than those at the lower levels (rookie ball and Single-A). In addition, player salaries increase as they move up through the ranks of the minors; for example, a player who starts out in rookie ball and eventually makes it to Triple-A can expect to see his salary increase significantly over the course of his career.
It should also be noted that not all minor leaguers are paid by major league teams. Some players are instead signed by independent or foreign teams; these players typically make even less than those who are affiliated with an MLB team.
While minor league salaries pale in comparison to those of major league stars, it’s worth remembering that most minor leaguers will never make it to the big leagues. In fact, according to Minor League Baseball’s website, only about 6 percent of allplayers drafted by MLB teams end up making it tothe Majors. For manyMinorLeaguers,’the loveofthe game’ isenoughcompensationfor their years spentplayingin frontofsmaller crowdsand earninga smaller paycheck.
The Different Minor League Baseball Leagues
There are five different minor league baseball leagues, each with their own average salary. The lowest paying league is Rookie Ball, where players can expect to make around $850 per month. players in A ball make around $2,150 per month, while AA ballplayers make $2,600 per month on average. The highest paying minor league is AAA, where players make an average of $7,500 per month.
Salaries by League
The average salary for minor league baseball players varies by league. Players in Triple-A earn the highest salaries, followed by players in Double-A. The salaries for players in Single-A and Rookie leagues are lower.
Players in Triple-A earn an average salary of $2,150 per month. Players in Double-A earn an average salary of $1,500 per month. Players in Single-A earn an average salary of $1,100 per month. Players in Rookie leagues earn an average salary of $550 per month.
Salaries by Team
The average salary for a minor league baseball player is $3,000 to $7,500 per month for the five months of the season, according to Minor League Baseball’s website. Players at the rookie level make $850 to $1,100 per month, while players at the Triple-A level make $2,150 to $2,700 per month.
Salaries by Position
The salaries of minor league baseball players vary widely, depending on their position and experience. For example, a starting pitcher in AAA (the highest minor league) can make as much as $100,000 per year, while a utility player in A-ball (the lowest minor league) may only make $1,100 per month.
Here is a breakdown of the average salaries by position:
STARTING PITCHERS
AAA – $5,000 per month
AA – $2,150 per month
A – $1,500 per month
RELIEF PITCHERS
AAA – $2,625 per month
AA – $1,625 per month
A – $950 per month
CATCHERS
AAA – $2,875 per month AA -$1,875 per month A -$1,200 per month
INFIELDERS
AAA – $3,000 per month AA -$2,000 per month A -$1,350 per month
OUTFIELDERS AAA – $3,000 per month AA -$2,025per mont A-$1,375per mo
Conclusion
In general, the average salary for minor league baseball players is between $3,000 and $7,500 per month. Major league baseball players, on the other hand, make an average of $4.5 million per year.