Karstens with the Pirates in 2010.
Jeff Karstens was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 19th round of the 2003 MLB Draft from Texas Tech University. Karstens spent parts of four seasons in the Minor Leagues before making his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2006. He played seven Big League seasons with the Yankees and Pirates. Jeff shared his Minor League experience with us and mentioned the struggles of living off of such a low salary at a young age.
"The struggles were that first year making $850 a month pre-tax. Luckily, the Yankees pay $200 a month of our rent at the St. John’s dorms in Staten Island. This meant that in the offseason you had to find a job, one that was flexible enough so that you could get your workouts in during the day. If you weren’t a high draft pick, like myself, you had to be cautious about spending. Meal money was $20 bucks a day, but you also had to pay clubhouse dues, which added up throughout the year."
- Jeff Karstens