Freddy Sandoval playing for the Angels in 2011.
Freddy Sandoval was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the eighth round of the 2004 MLB Draft from the University of San Diego, signing for $84,000. Freddy played four seasons in the Minor Leagues before becoming a September call-up for the Angels in 2008. He played a total of 11 MLB games, before retiring after the 2011 season, which he finished in AAA. Freddy shares his interesting perspective of the very gradual pay increase as he worked his way up through the Minor League ranks. He also highlights the importance of a supportive family, which he claimed was incredibly necessary, despite his signing bonus.
"I didn't make enough money to live comfortably in the Minor Leagues. It was extremely difficult to live on the salary. At the time, I was making $1300 in A ball, $1500 in High A, $1700 in AA, and $2100 in AAA. I lived with host families for the first two years and lived with teammates later on, to be able to pay rent.
In order to survive at the Minor League level, you have to have a “you don't like it, get better” mentality. Life is far from glamorous at the Minor League level. Each level gets better and better until you reach
Heaven (The Bigs)!
Money is always an issue in the Minors. Just buying clothes can be difficult. I remember Minor Leaguers are considered professional athletes, so we used to get taxed 40%. So, you are clearing a few hundred bucks every two weeks, not to mention having to pay clubhouse dues and any other necessities. In AAA, I remember making $2100, clearing about $1200-1300 a month, paying $15 a day in clubhouse dues, and having to pay rent, gas, meals, and bills. If I wasn't married and my ex-wife wasn't working, I would not have made it."
- Freddy Sandoval