Five-spot is slang that was used for the five-dollar bill in the 1930s. Click here to check out the new look!Close

You must be ready to field the ball at all times.
First on Second


Better than second on first

This is me waiting in the field for a ball last summer.

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Some kids dream of being professional baseball players when they grow up.

Kids Dream


Kids like me

This is me getting ready to bat in a game, two summers ago

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Only a few make it to the major leagues. Their love of the game and commitment to hard work helps their dream come true.

The real fact is that only one out of every 100 high school players gets picked to play in minor leagues—that's just 1%.

Then only 1% of those minor league players get picked for the major league.

Work for the money

Learning to throw properly takes a lot of practice.

Let's take a look at how much money a pro ball player can earn and how he or she will earn it.

When you first start out in baseball, you do not make a lot of money. It takes years of experience and a really good contract to make real big money.

For instance, if you start out in the minor leagues, you usually get a standard seven-year contract. The amount of money you make depends on your level.

You Can Make More

When you play away games (games away from your home field), you would make an extra $20 a day to cover your meals.

After 60 days you could also receive a bonus or incentive as another way to earn money. Those amounts vary a lot depending on your level.Close

Here's a chart that describes the levels, along with a short explanation of each level.

Levels

Working through the levels
Level	First Year	Second Year	Third Year
Rookie	$1,150	$1,200	$1,250
Short Season A	1,150	1,200	1,250
Low A	1,300	1,350	1,400
High A	1,500	1,550	1,600
Double A	1,700	1,800	1,900
Triple A	$2,150	$2,400	$2,700

• Rookie: The lowest rank—most high school drafts are here.
• Short Season: This is where the college drafts picks are.
• Low A: This is a mixture of baseball players from rookie and short season levels.
• High A: This is the best talent of the baseball players from the lower levels.
• Double A: These are the most talented baseball players. They're one step below the major leagues, and most likely will get picked to play in the majors.
• Triple A: This is a level with a mix of baseball players who may be older, have played many years of ball, and have played major leagues before.

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Every year, players from one of my favorite teams...