(The Center Square) – Minor league baseball players in Wisconsin are finally going to be able to legally see all of the benefits of their last contract.
The Wisconsin Senate approved legislation that will align state law with Minor League Baseball’s 2023 minor league collective bargaining agreement.
The 2023 deal declared Minor League players as salaried employees, with many new benefits including increased pay, team-paid health insurance, and increased housing benefits.
Wisconsin law still treats the players as hourly workers and makes them eligible for overtime. The change that passed through the Senate ends the overtime requirement.
“Wisconsin is home to roughly 70 minor league players who are set to realize the benefits included in the new CBA. Unfortunately, a change in Wisconsin law is necessary for this new agreement to be upheld. SB 374 exempts minor league baseball players from Wisconsin’s wage-and-hour laws by treating them as salaried professionals. This would line up Wisconsin’s statute with the new collective bargaining agreement,” Sen. Dan Feyen, R-Fond du Lac, explained.
Wisconsin has several minor league teams, but only two will be impacted by the change. Players for the Brewers’ affiliate Timber Rattlers in Appleton, and the Miami Marlins affiliate Sky Carp in Beloit.
“Being a professional baseball player is a unique job, to say the least. With countless hours of training, practicing, rehabbing, playing the game, and more. If minor league teams are forced to track hours and overtime, players could feel the effects through reduced playing time, practice, or training to avoid accruing overtime,” Feyen added.
Feyen said the 2023 CBA hiked minor league pay, in some cases by almost 140%.
The legislation now heads to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk for his signature.
