Minor League Baseball in Crisis

An SI survey on the effects of the pandemic showed that a group of minor league teams are at risk of collapsing. The loss of a team would be felt throughout baseball towns across the country. One family in Colorado Springs, Colorado spent last season hosting two Rocky Mountain Vibes players in their home. The end of minor league baseball is more than losing a team. For the Addington family, it's about losing a part of their heart and soul.

The future of Major League Baseball's player development world is rapidly changing. From effects due to the Covid-19 pandemic to the expected elimination of 40-plus minor league affiliates (meaning fewer minor league roster spots), opportunities for amateur players to get into a Major League organization are dwindling. Major League Baseball has announced that the 2020 Draft will be shortened to five rounds in light of the lack of revenue for teams with no games being able to be played thus far. Combine the minor league contraction with the shortened draft and opportunity to play professionally is getting squeezed at both ends.

With that said, there will be several Arizona State baseball players with unique and interesting decisions to make in the next month or two. While ASU First Baseman, Spencer Torkelson won’t be put into that difficult decision as he’s expected to go in the first few selections of the draft, Spencer has a few teammates who’s options won’t be as obvious.

Draft eligible players who are not selected in the draft can sign with any team for a maximum bonus of $20,000, meaning many players who in a normal draft would have typically signed for anywhere from $100,000 to a couple hundred thousand will now be left to consider the maximum $20,000 bonus or return to school for another year. The concern with returning for school is that players lose negotiating leverage as they continue to use up collegiate eligibility and get older.

Several of Torkelson’s teammates will have to mull over those exact options. Juniors, Pitcher RJ Dabovich, Pitcher Justin Fall and Outfielder Trevor Hauver could see their draft experience go either way. If not selected, do they take the $20,000 and start their professional careers or go back to school and bet on themselves that they can get drafted in better position in 2021?

What happens with players who could normally have been selected in the back half of the draft to fill organizational depth and given the opportunity to prove people wrong? Former ASU Pitcher Sam Romero was drafted and signed in the 40 round in 2019. Is there room for players like Romero to get their chance at pro ball?

It’s a trying time in the game and one that will have several Sun Devils left with tough decisions ahead.