On Thursday, MLB announced that they will be compensating minor league players through April 8th. The MLB will pay minor league players their salary until the start of the minor league season. This doesn’t include the players not participating in Minor League Spring Training, receiving Major League salaries, or receiving services from the team.
This move by MLB comes on the heels of the $1 million donation to help provide food during the pandemic. Additionally, the league put forth a plan, paying $30 million to help pay stadium workers during the delayed season.
The MLB released this statement on Twitter:
A league-wide initiative has been announced for Minor League players to receive compensation between now and the scheduled start of the Minor League season. @MLB will continue to work with all 30 Clubs on the development of an industry-wide plan for compensation beyond 4/8. pic.twitter.com/Ck8Lv9uuzp
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) March 19, 2020
Donations Around Baseball
Many individual players have donated to their local communities to provide assistance in the relief efforts. Houston Astros stars Alex Bregman and George Springer helped their local communities as Springer donated an additional $100,000 to employees at Minute Maid Park, while Bregman donated 1,000 food kits to the Food Bank in Houston.
In addition to them, Freddie Freeman made $125,000 in donations as he donated $50,000 to the Atlanta Food Bank, $25,000 to the Salvation Army, and $50,000 to Giving Kitchen, a program for food service workers. Freeman’s former teammate, Jason Heyward, also donated $200,000 to provide food for those affected by the pandemic.
Moving Forward For Minor League Baseball
This pledge by MLB only goes through April 8th which is the start of the Minor League season. As this pandemic has seen no signs of slowing down, opening day has not been announced. The MLB is working with individual ball clubs to create a long-term plan for paying minor-leaguers. The plan would be from April 9th to the to-be-determined start of the MiLB season.
MLB continues to come together and provide support for those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. As baseball has no sign of returning soon and the first MiLB player was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, expect more plans to provide financial support for minor league players and stadium workers.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
