Behind The Scenes Of Life As A Minor League Baseball Player
For minor leaguers, it’s not all chartered jets and big paychecks. The love for the game, hard work and a little luck is what it takes to be called up.
Photo credit: instagram.com/j.titus
While the Los Angeles Dodgers are vying for the World Series Championship, ever wonder the path the players take to make it to the big leagues? We did. Meet Jimmy Titus. He’s like any other 20-something guy but when he wakes up, he exudes baseball excellence. We first met Jimmy back July though “Adopt A Minor Leaguer,” a non-profit set up to support minor leaguers, which has become essential during the COVID-19 cancelled season. We were matched up with Jimmy, who has been in the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league system since he was drafted in the 22nd round in 2019.
Jimmy is wise beyond his years, coaching in the Manchester Eagles of the Connecticut Collegiate Baseball League during this unscheduled off-time. He’s coaching college players who are a few years younger than him, but lucky for them, this two-time Gatorade High School Player of the Year is up to date on the technology compared to older coaches and is relaying everything he knows. On top of all that, he is finishing up his final year of college at Bryant University with an Economics major and a Finance minor.
We were so curious about Jimmy’s time in baseball and he graciously sat down with us and let us pick his brain, because like you, we’re also curious about the behind the scenes. Life as a Minor Leaguer is not nearly as glamorous as the major leaguers who are making millions, traveling on chartered jets and staying in five-star hotels. Here’s what he had to say.
Last Night’s Game: Let’s talk about the season that wasn’t. I’m going to start with the question most people are thinking...if/how are you getting paid with the season being cancelled?
Jimmy Titus: We're getting paid more often but we haven't gotten paid as much as we would. I would probably be making almost twice as much as I make right now than the $400 that I get every week. It's still something, especially for someone like me who lives at home during all this. I don't have any expenses.
LNG: I know they publicized the David Price deal - that he was going to send everybody a check. Did you get that? (Background: Dodgers pitcher David Price gave $1,000 to every minor leaguer in the Dodgers’ system when the season was cancelled, even though he never threw a pitch for the Dodgers because he signed with the team before the season started).
JT: Yes. Basically, we heard about it almost 10 days before it broke to the media. He was adamant about the fact he didn't want any credit for it. He didn't want it to be brought up. He just wanted to do out of the goodness of his heart. We heard the news and then it finally broke. Then two days later, I got an email that I needed to submit my information for so they could get it to me. It showed up literally direct deposited in my checking account. I was like, "Wow." It was basically a month and half's worth of pay for us. It was very much appreciated.
LNG: That's pretty cool. He didn't even really want it out there, but of course, it's going to break. JT: Exactly. Especially since he never even played (with the team). I thought that was a pretty significant gesture for 220 minor league players. It's crazy.
LNG: 220? That's -
JT: - some serious money.
LNG: Absolutely, and he's not even getting a paycheck now (because he withdrew from the season for COVID related reasons).
LNG: Are there minor league guys staying ready in case a bunch of people do test positive from what you've heard?
JT: Yes. What they're doing is they have a 40-man roster, which is the major league guys who are getting paid major league money (at least the minimum). Then there's a 20-man taxi squad which is guys who are Triple-A ready or right on the cusp of being ready for the major leagues. Then there are also some guys like me, draft guys. There's a couple of players from my draft class who may not be totally ready to go, but they're getting that extra treatment, I guess you could say, which makes sense. They have a lot of money invested in those guys. They might as well get the best out of them. They're technically ready to go whenever. I forget where they're staying. I think the University of Southern California. I think that's where the Dodgers have their taxi squad ready to go.
LNG: Are they all together quarantined and ready to go?
JT: Yes they are.
LNG: What does the next season look like for you?
JT: I was supposed to be in class A in Michigan this year, Great Lakes to start the year. We never know. Hopefully, I can start there, or even in Rancho, that'd be ideal for next year, just because I'm a year older, but I'm also a year better, even though I didn't play. As long as I keep being better, that’s what matters most. As much as I want everyone to succeed around me, I have to care about myself first and just try to be better than the competition.
LNG: Do you think that your injury changed your perspective on things like a weird blessing in disguise in a way?
JT: Oh, yes, for sure. I've said this a few times to the people who have asked. I looked at the game a lot differently. I went from obviously playing every day to having to watch. Luckily for me, I've always been good enough to not ever really have to watch. I was always the one playing. Getting a different perspective, understanding the game more, understanding my body more too, because once I started doing rehab and stuff, I figured out things about the way that I moved, that I didn't know before that made it easier to transition into the next year and just be as good as I could be. Then obviously taking that, understanding my movement patterns by myself and then going to the Dodgers where they can tell you every single thing you've ever wanted to know about movement ever. As much as I want to say, yes, I wish that I didn’t get hurt, so I could have drafted possibly higher for more money, I would much rather be with the Dodgers now than be with any other team.
LNG: How are the Dodgers helping you stay in shape in the off-season?
JT: The Dodgers are smart when it comes to performance and what it takes for the performance to actually work. This is for the offseason as well as in season, where it is even more important. They're bought into making sure that we're fed, we have a chef that travels with us and cooks food for us, and they’re making sure that we're recovering correctly. It's more the intangible stuff rather than just how we're performing. It's definitely good. Since I have been home, we have kept in constant contact on the strength and conditioning side to make sure that I am staying on top of my game.
LNG: It's a first-class organization.
JT: No doubt.
LNG: I imagine most teams don't have that all the way down through the minor league system do they?
JT: No. Especially, when I played rookie ball last year. You wouldn't really expect that. Maybe in Triple A (the minor league team that’s the last step before being named to a major league roster) you'd expect that from a typical organization. There are stories about my friends (on other teams) eating PB&Js for every single meal.
LNG: Now that you’re done coaching (a side gig picked up during the pandemic), are you getting ready for fall league (an instructional league)? Are you still scheduled to go?
JT: Yes. Instructional league would normally be at the end of August, beginning of September and that would run through the middle of September. We haven't heard anything about that. The way the Dodgers operate they're not going to tell you the day before that you got to pack up your stuff. They'll give you a heads up well in advance. Everyone else that I've talked to from other organizations they don't know either. It's basically just been a big waiting game, but I don't think anything is going to happen this year.
I think they're just going to keep us training and stuff like that and stay in shape. If you come back as good as you were before then that's fine. If you come back better, then that's even better. There will be some guys in some organizations that didn't take advantage of the time and got worse.
LNG: Absolutely. You mentioned the organization uses a lot of technology when it comes to its players and that’s helped you while coaching. Can you tell me more about that?
JT: The Dodgers are good about that stuff relaying it to us. They have a lot of data and video analysis of our play. Doing the analytics and data is something that I actually would want to do after I'm done playing, I would want to work directly with the players. My dream job outside of playing would actually be to work with Dodgers as a hitting coordinator.
LNG: Just stay in the organization and maybe culture, something?
JT: Yes. Well, because I understand like the analytics portion, I understand what they're trying to tell me without them having to really dumb it down, and I think that is a testament to me going to school and understanding the statistics, and even stuff that isn't necessarily stuff that directly translates. I'm an economics major and a finance minor. I have a good understanding of numbers, I guess you could say, in a very broad sense. Just the way that they can relay it to the players,
I find that very interesting. Then during the whole coaching thing and giving lessons and stuff, that's been something that's opened up a passion that I didn't know that I had.
LNG: This has been so interesting. Thank you for giving us an insight into your world and the work that goes on behind the scenes from a player perspective. As always, we’re rooting for you.
JT: Thank you so much.
You can follow Jimmy and his journey to the big leagues on Instagram @j.titus and of course the Dodgers at @Dodgers.
5 Things You Need To Know About An Unprecedented MLB Season
“Strike” up a conversation as the boys of summer head into the playoffs.
Major League Baseball was the first of the four major professional sports to return to play. Here are the important things you need to know about the return to the field for the boys of summer.
Step up to the plate,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Remind me what happened last year
The Washington Nationals won their first World Series and everyone in sports still hates the Houston Astros for stealing signs. And no, we’re not talking about billboards.
1. The biggest talk of this season is obviously COVID but unlike many other professional sports, MLB (Major League Baseball) isn’t requiring their players to live in a “bubble.” They will be playing 60 games instead of 162 games and only playing regional games. Then there’s the Toronto Blue Jays who aren’t allowed to play at home per the Canadian Government, because the government didn’t want players coming back and forth into the country from the COVID hotspot that is the U.S. HOWDY NEIGHBOR
2. There may be no bubble but that doesn’t mean there aren’t A LOT of safety rules to follow. Some include no spitting (um have you ever watched a game? They all spit), no brawls, no showers and no licking fingers (this is something most pitchers do). Because of social distancing rules, games will start with some players sitting in the stands instead of the dugout. CHEER SQUAD
3. Since there will be no fans at the games, the league has found an interesting way to fill the silence. Fans can boo or cheer on their team via the MLB app and ballpark staff will adjust the sound accordingly in the stadium for the live game. Unlike attending a game in person, fans can boo their rival team from the bathroom. FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME
4. Filling the stands with compliant, well behaved fans has never been so easy. A handful of teams are selling personalized cardboard cutouts that will be placed in the stands during home games. Some have taken it to another level by benefitting a charity with each sale and others will send you the ball if it hits your cutout. WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF NEXT?
5. The first game of the season will be on Thursday, July 23 when the Washington Nationals take on the New York Yankees. Tune in early to see Dr. Anthony Fauci throw out the first pitch for his beloved Nats and stay for the highly anticipated pitcher’s duel between the two teams. STRIKE OUT COVID
If you want more about the new rules of the game for this season or our frequently asked questions, check out our baseball 101.