2008 Woodie Awards
Life in minor league baseball
It is not glamorous, but it is the road to the major leagues
Brooks Kirchheimer
Issue date: 5/1/07 Section: Sports
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SALT LAKE CITY- The picturesque snow-covered mountains stood in the background. Bumble in his black-and-yellow-striped custume pranced around the half-filled stadium and the yellow train slowly, circled the outfield track. It was minor-league baseball at its finest on a sun-drenched Saturday afternoon.
It was the Salt Lake Bees hosting the Sacramento River Cats in a half-empty Franklin Covey Field. Sure we came to watch the NCAA gymnastic championships, but you can never pass up some exciting minor league baseball.
"Trying to achieve your dream in minor league baseball I think you try and create opportunities for yourself in the big leagues, and the more opportunities you create for yourself, the more opportunities you have," said Salt Lake pitcher Greg Jones.
Minor league baseball is no walk in the park and is definitely no glamorous life compared to the major leagues. The minors consists of long bus rides, crappy food, cramped locker rooms, used equipment and very little pay.
"There are a lot of players here that could be playing in the big leagues for a lot of teams. Baseball is the toughest sport to get to the highest level. You got to work your way through the minor leagues," said Bees Head Coach Brian Harper.
There are players that are 23 years old and others like Jones, that are 30 and have been in professional baseball for 10 years and still played just over a year in the majors.
Many think getting to the major leagues is the hard part, but the hard part is trying to stay there for a long time and hopefully for your entire career. Many times players from triple-a, which is the highest level of minor league baseball, are called up to the majors for a day, week or month just to replace an injured player and then are sent back down after that player returns.
"Triple-A, there are guys just waiting to go to the big leagues, most of the guys here are ready for the big leagues, waiting for the right time," said Bees pitcher Henry Bonilla, who is now spending his seventh year in the minors and has yet to make it up to the majors.
It was the Salt Lake Bees hosting the Sacramento River Cats in a half-empty Franklin Covey Field. Sure we came to watch the NCAA gymnastic championships, but you can never pass up some exciting minor league baseball.
"Trying to achieve your dream in minor league baseball I think you try and create opportunities for yourself in the big leagues, and the more opportunities you create for yourself, the more opportunities you have," said Salt Lake pitcher Greg Jones.
Minor league baseball is no walk in the park and is definitely no glamorous life compared to the major leagues. The minors consists of long bus rides, crappy food, cramped locker rooms, used equipment and very little pay.
"There are a lot of players here that could be playing in the big leagues for a lot of teams. Baseball is the toughest sport to get to the highest level. You got to work your way through the minor leagues," said Bees Head Coach Brian Harper.
There are players that are 23 years old and others like Jones, that are 30 and have been in professional baseball for 10 years and still played just over a year in the majors.
Many think getting to the major leagues is the hard part, but the hard part is trying to stay there for a long time and hopefully for your entire career. Many times players from triple-a, which is the highest level of minor league baseball, are called up to the majors for a day, week or month just to replace an injured player and then are sent back down after that player returns.
"Triple-A, there are guys just waiting to go to the big leagues, most of the guys here are ready for the big leagues, waiting for the right time," said Bees pitcher Henry Bonilla, who is now spending his seventh year in the minors and has yet to make it up to the majors.
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