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- Michael Cruz of the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas has made less than $15,000 in each of his five seasons in Minor League Baseball.
- He is just one of hundreds of examples of Minor League players forced to survive, and somehow thrive, while living barely above the poverty line.
- More baseball news here.
25-year-old catcher Michael Cruz has been playing baseball professionally for six years in the Cubs and Angels organizations. In that time he has never made more than $15,000.
He’s married with a baby daughter born just this year. He hasn’t seen his daughter since he had to report to spring training because he can’t afford the plane tickets and lodging. He’s even had to temporarily to share a bed with a teammate in a three-bedroom apartment that at times has been the home to six people. And there’s very little chance that he ever makes it to the Major Leagues.
He’s far from alone in his plight. In 2016, it was reported that a majority of Minor League Baseball players make less than $10,000 per season. Of those players, a generous estimate says 10 to 12 percent will ever get to play a game in The Show.
So why do players in the Minor Leagues do it?
Cruz has been forced to live in his car. He’s lived with nine teammates in one apartment. He participated in extended spring training with the Angels and wasn’t paid a dime. He’s lost 12 pounds this year because of poor nutrition and unhealthy food options.
“It’s a lot to sacrifice,” Cruz tells The Athletic. “I mean, you always have to sacrifice something in life, don’t get me wrong. But those sacrifices shouldn’t be sleeping on the floor, leaving your family behind.”
Every two weeks during the season, Cruz gets a check for $950. Rent for his apartment is $395.
“(Players) are afraid to speak up and get their names out there because they’re afraid to get kicked out,” says Cruz. “I’m not afraid to get kicked out. I’m not afraid of getting kicked out because it’s my career. I know what I can do. I know that I’m a good player. I know that there’s a purpose for me in this life.
“It just needs to be said.”
Cruz is speaking out because one of his teammates on the Rocket City Trash Pandas, 27-year-old pitcher Kieran Lovegrove, also went public about the living conditions in July.
Speaking to ESPN about his situation, Lovegrove said, “It’s gotten to the point now where there are guys who are in a serious mental health crisis because of how stressful money is here. I really do think it affects not only their play on the field, but I think it affects quality of life overall. We’re reaching a point now where this is actually becoming detrimental to the players’ overall health, and the owner not addressing it is [the organization] actively saying that they don’t care about the health of their players.”
Lovegrove, during his time in the Minor Leagues, has battled alcoholism and depression, and at one point even attempted suicide.
“There’s been many cases like Kieran’s,” says Cruz. “Thankfully Kieran is here and still alive. I’m grateful for that. But how many more? How many more cases (of depression) do we need to have in order for this to change?”
When asked what his message would be to the Angels front office, Cruz replies, “Help us, just help us. We need help. Plain and simple. You as a GM have to be able to make other players comfortable, where they feel that they can talk to you about their needs. Because they’re afraid they’re going to be (released).
“They think they don’t mean anything. That’s sad. It shouldn’t be that way.”
Considering the amount of money Major League Baseball teams make (in 2020, the combined revenue of all Major League Baseball teams was $3.66 billion), it really shouldn’t.