The Major League Baseball Players Association dropped what would've been a bombshell this morning, except the surprise emerged on Sunday night as word leaked of their campaign to unionize minor league baseball players.
Here's the official statement from the MLBPA:
The Major League Baseball Players Association has launched a campaign to unionize Minor League Players across the country #1u #FairBall pic.twitter.com/DDq4Q8NOXI
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) August 29, 2022
My initial reaction was "all right," countered by "uh-oh." Minor leaguers have seen gains with organized actions through groups like Advocates for Minor Leaguers, from increases in pay to improvements in housing accommodations to pushing Congress to investigate MLB's antitrust status, so increased recognition and organization would be more of a good thing.
On the other hand, if Rob Manfred was already intent on exploring opportunities to reduce the amount of minor league teams that are the responsibility of MLB clubs, then this would provide him a weapon to wield.
Legitimately worried that without addressing the monopoly that unionization will directly result in fewer MiLB teams. Two parties will be at the table and a third will await its fate.
— Scott Bush (@scott_bush) August 29, 2022
Also, the MLBPA in previous CBA cycles had bargained away rights and leverage for pre-union players in order to solidify their standing. While the union did a better job in advocating for younger players this last time around, and it's great that they're supporting MiLB organization, there's a precedent for tension if one group is going to represent both parties.
The good news is that the MLBPA decided to pick this is up in the first year of a five-year CBA term, so there will be plenty of time for the ramifications to be understood before the threat of a work stoppage or other hard-line activity from the league comes into play.
Memphis 6, Charlotte 2 (completion of Saturday's game)
- Yasmani Grandal caught the first seven innings before the weather and went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.
- Yolbert Sánchez, 0-for-2 with an HBP.
- Adam Haseley was 1-for-4 with a double and a K.
- Lenyn Sosa singled in his only at-bat.
Memphis 8, Charlotte 7
- Yasmani Grandal played first base and went 2-for-4 with a homer and a walk.
- Lenyn Sosa, 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Adam Haseley went 1-for-5 with a double.
Mississippi 8, Birmingham 6
- Duke Ellis was 0-for-3 with a walk, sac bunt and strikeout.
- Oscar Colás was 2-for-5 with a strikeout.
- Bryan Ramos, 1-for-5 with a K.
- Luis Mieses, 2-for-4.
- Colson Montgomery wore the collar and silver sombrero.
- DJ Gladney doubled and struck out thrice.
- Wilfred Veras went 2-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Matthew Thompson: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 3 HBP, 38 of 69 pitches for strikes.
Asheville 11, Winston-Salem 2
- The Dash were held to two hits. It's rough out there.
Carolina 5, Kannapolis 2
- Jordan Sprinkle hit his first professional homer during a 2-for-4 day, striking out once and bunting.
- Jacob Burke went 1-for-3 with a walk with a stolen base.
- Jonathan Cannon's pro debut: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
