Potts with the Spokane Indians in 2015.
Jamie Potts was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 31st round of the 2015 MLB Draft from Grand Valley State University (NCAA DII). Jamie played one season in the MiLB with the Spokane Indians, the Low A ball affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Jamie shared some very intriguing thoughts with us about the MiLB pay structure. We all know that Minor Leaguers do not generate the revenue that MLB players do. However, Major League teams can more than afford to pay MiLB players livable wages and they choose not to do so. Jamie points this out and we could not agree with his stance more.
"So when you get drafted, you make your money on your signing bonus. Either you’re a high school senior or a college junior (if you go to a 4 year university). Community college guys get big signing bonuses too if they’re good enough. But that’s where people make their money. A lot of college guys get drafted as seniors and teams won’t give them anything in terms of a signing bonus, basically a plane ticket and a thousand bucks, which after taxes is $700. But it’s either you stop playing or you take $700 and a plane ticket to keep living your dream. Minor League life is rough if you don’t sign for anything which is usually half of the guys on the team. You get $400 every 2 weeks for pay which is insane because you technically work 10 hours a day. But that’s your salary. You get a host family so you don’t have to pay for housing or food but you still don’t have any money. You play everyday and you don’t really make any money.
Major League teams have enough money to pay Minors Leaguers 10x and still make money, but they don’t. They rely on the fact that guys want to chase the dream, but 95% of guys don’t get to the Majors from the Minors. It’s a messed up situation and teams continue to get away with giving a few high profile prospects all the money to sign and not paying their Minor League team players anything."
- Jamie Potts