SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) — Syracuse Mets pitcher Adam Oller is not the outspoken type when it comes to advocating on behalf of Minor Leaguers. However, he speaks on behalf of all players when he shares his excitement over the new housing policy that will require team owners to provide housing for all MiLB players starting in 2022.
“It makes a huge difference,” Oller, the Mets’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year, said.
Up until this point, Minor Leaguers had been required to pay for their own housing, but that leaves most players with very little money to support themselves in other ways. Oller estimates that he makes close to $2,000 every month of the season and spends around half of that on his home for the spring and summer. The 27-year-old typically spends the rest on Ubers or gas money, food, and other nutritional supplements.
After all of that, there’s usually not any money left. Most players will pick up a job – maybe even two – just so they can have a little bit of money saved. During the offseason, he’s worked as a valet, hitting coach, substitute teacher, and Home Depot employee. Taking these jobs is not optional for Oller if he wants to make ends meet.
“I have to make money because the money that I got paid in season, you can’t save that,” he said.
Oller admits that the challenge of balancing his expenses has negatively impacted his mental health
“You get a lot of anxiety on how you’re going to be able to pay for your training that next week, or pay for your rent, or just not go broke in general,” he said.
The new housing policy helps alleviate some of the stress. Keep in mind that no matter what the housing policy is, Minor Leaguers are still paid below the poverty line. Many will still have to take on an extra job and still face mental health issues, but the little bit of support from the owners still counts for something.
The team owners have not decided how they plan on providing the players with housing. That can be done a couple of different ways, but it is likely that the owners will either provide stipends that fully cover the cost of housing or the living space itself.
