Astros to provide minor leaguers housing in 2022
The Houston Astros are providing furnished apartments to minor league players at all levels for the 2022 season, believed to be the first big league club to do so.
Minor league players were offered housing ahead of last week’s opening day, the Astros said Wednesday, confirming a report by The Athletic.
Housing has been among the greatest difficulties facing minor league players, many of whom will make as little as $10,000 this season despite pay raises introduced for 2021.
Players are unable to use host families this season due to COVID-19 restrictions, and even in past years, they have routinely lived in overcrowded apartments or slept on air mattresses.
The San Francisco Giants said in February of 2020 that they would begin providing allowances to cover housing, but players remain frustrated by the lack of support from teams.
MLB mandated pay raises for minor leaguers beginning this season that brought minimum weekly pay at Class A from $290 to $500. Double-A jumped from $350 to $600, and Triple-A from $502 to $700. Players are only compensated during the five-month regular season.
PADRES HIT BY CORONAVIRUS >> The virus-depleted San Diego Padres made a series of moves to bolster a lineup that is missing outfielder Wil Myers and shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. after they tested positive for the coronavirus. Myers was added to the injured list before a doubleheader against Colorado at Coors Field. Joining him was first baseman Eric Hosmer, who’s out due to contact tracing health and safety protocols. The Padres have now had five players go on the injured list over the last two days due to virus concerns. To take their place, they recalled utilityman Brian O’Grady from and selected the contract of outfielder Patrick Kivlehan.
Later, Victor Caratini lined a two-out grand slam in the sixth, powering the Padres to a 5-3 win over the Rockies in a doubleheader opener in Colorado. Second baseman Austin Nola — a catcher pressed into infield duty — made a gamesaving, over-the-shoulder catch in shallow right to close out the game with the bases loaded.
BRAVES’ SOROKA HAS SETBACK >> Atlanta pitcher Mike Soroka experienced a setback in his recovery from surgery to repair his torn right Achilles tendon and will have a follow-up procedure next week. Soroka was the Braves’ Opening Day starter in 2020. He suffered the season-ending injury on Aug. 3. Soroka was expected to return this season. Now those plans are in doubt.
HARVEY HIT HARD IN RETURN >> Matt Harvey walked to the Citi Field mound for the first time in 3 years. He didn’t know what to expect, but said, “What the fans gave me out there was pretty incredible. I was holding back tears.” Harvey received three standing ovations, but his outing for Baltimore was no better than his final outings for New York. Pitching against the Mets for the first time, Harvey allowed Kevin Pillar’s two-run triple in a three-run second inning that carried New York over the Orioles 7-1 for a seven-game win streak. Harvey gave up a season-high seven runs in 4 1/3 innings. “I wish things went differently,” he said. “I wish the score was flip-flopped.”