Minor league is tough for young players, especially those from outside the USA. These kids get put on a plane at 18 and have to make it in a world so vastly different from their own. Even if they come from an English speaking country, America has a completely different culture. Taking them away from their families and having to live with players they don't know and may not speak the same language as can be isolating, add to that the lack of money. Spring training is a love job as they don't get paid; they still have food to buy accommodation to pay for. We know of an international who worked from the day he arrived back home in the off season until the day he flew back to spring training just to get him through the year ahead. That makes it a very long year. There may be great rewards if you make it, but if you don’t, what other job do you come away from after 5 years as an apprentice, trained for nothing? This is what faces these boys, being 25 and having no backup. Would they change anything? I doubt it. I know not all players go through each level of the minor league system, but a lot do and when, and if they finally make it to the show, they are very grateful. They are living every kid’s dream if only for a few years.
