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This minor league season has been a breath of fresh air for so many players. A return to normal. However, we have also heard about a huge number of unaddressed problems that players have already been dealing with
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A THREAD (1/12)
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A THREAD (1/12)
Nearly 1,200 players were released this year.
Guys left with $200 in their bank account and nowhere to live. Players forced on flights to places they haven’t lived in years. Those with serious mental health issues told “good luck” and left to fend for themselves. (2/12)
Guys left with $200 in their bank account and nowhere to live. Players forced on flights to places they haven’t lived in years. Those with serious mental health issues told “good luck” and left to fend for themselves. (2/12)
Those who are lucky enough to continue playing haven’t had it easy either. MLB unilaterally banned host families for the 2021 season, which means players are responsible for housing on paychecks that often barely cover rent. Teams provide minimal assistance finding housing.(3/12)
Teams have asked players to minimize the number of players per apartment due to COVID but failed to provide additional funds to cover the lost savings on rent. In past years, players would often live 6 to a 3-bedroom apartment. (4/12)
Players used these extra savings to send money home to family, to pay for more nutritious meals, or to save for their offseason training. (5/12)
There have also been multiple occasions of poor communication when COVID tests come back positive. Players often don’t know who tested positive and therefore can’t know whether to self-isolate unless they’re told by the staff—which has not often happened in a timely manner.(6/12)
MLB imposed a MiLB COVID protocol unilaterally. The MLB protocol was negotiated by the MLBPA but the MiLB protocol was made with no input from players.
This has allowed for the imposition of gregarious rules fit for an MLB club but not for the MiLB lifestyle. (7/12)
This has allowed for the imposition of gregarious rules fit for an MLB club but not for the MiLB lifestyle. (7/12)
For example, MiLB clubhouses are tiny compared to MLB ones. This means that following COVID protocol is entirely impossible inside a clubhouse. MLB has provided no assistance to address the facility shortcomings but expects strict adherence to the protocol nonetheless. (8/12)
Nearly all minor league players have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and many are fully vaccinated. Yet MLB hasn’t updated any protocol for vaccinated players. This means that a fully vaccinated player contact traced to a positive test will still miss 10 games. (9/12)
10 games may not seem like a lot, but for a minor league player it might be the marginal difference between putting on a big league uniform and never getting that chance. (10/12)
MLB also unilaterally mandated a number of rule changes at the minor league level without any input from the players. By banning shifts and normal pickoff moves and making the bases bigger, MLB has forced minor leaguers to be test dummies against their will. (11/12)
Minor league players need support. More Than Baseball exists to provide that where their teams and the league have failed. These players also deserve a voice in changes to their workplace and the game they’ve dedicated their lives to. (12/12)
@whatwouldDOOdo @MLBPA_News @CespedesBBQ @ddahl21 @UncleCharlie50 @edjacks @Jed_Lowrie @MiLBAdvocates
