Page 21 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Saturday 21 March 2020

Texas Rangers minor league players Chris Seise, right, and Kevin
Mendoza shake hands in greeting in the batting cages Thurs-
day, March 12, 2020, in Surprise, Ariz.
Associated Press
Judge reveals he

Texas Rangers minor league players Chris Seise, right, and Kevin Mendoza shake hands in greet-
ing in the batting cages Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Surprise, Ariz.
Associated Press had collapsed lung,
Minor league advocacy group says rib improving

demands $15,000 salaries By MARK DIDTLER date, especially since we

Associated Press really don't have a date."
By JAKE SEINER a nonprofit group and not the beginning of the com- TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New Judge said "Just trying to let
AP Sports Writer a union, but he is hoping ing season," it said. York Yankees slugger Aar- it heal, don't try to rush it."
A collection of former one is formed eventually, It's unclear when the minor on Judge revealed he had Judge plans to continue
and current players have perhaps with his associa- league season will start, but a collapsed lung that has working out and getting
formed an advocacy tion's support. players are likely to be on healed and said his broken treatment at the Yankees'
group asking that Major Minor league hockey play- their own until at least May. rib is improving. spring training complex.
League Baseball roughly ers have their own union, Fans have been contribut- Judge had a CT scan on "I got a place here, so I
double salaries in the mi- and an effort is underway ing to fundraising efforts to Friday. The Yankees an- might as well just stay here
nors to $15,000 per season. to organize NBA G League help. More Than Baseball, a nounced two weeks ago and still work with the guys
Advocates for Minor players. nonprofit support group for that Judge had a stress that we have as long as
Leaguers is led by Garrett "Would I like to see a minor minor leaguers, has part- fracture to his first right rib. they don't shut us down."
Broshuis, a former pitcher league union in the future? nered with the @adopt- "The bone is still about the the California native said.
and the lawyer who has Yeah, I think that would be milbplayer Twitter account same, slight improvement," "That's the biggest con-
represented players in law- a great situation for minor and raised over $6,500. Em- Judge said as he left Stein- cern, getting shut down."
suits alleging minor league league players," Broshuis ily Waldon, a sports writer brenner Field. "The bone is "The great thing is they
salaries violate minimum said. Broshuis said the for The Athletic, said she healing the way it should have this open so we can
wage laws. The group said group has not reached out has collected over $10,000 be, so probably another come here and still do
it "will strive to provide a to MLB about its concerns. for players. test here in a couple more some baseball activity and
collective voice for minor Asked how the group Broshuis said he saw those weeks and go from there." stay ready," Judge added.
leaguers." would get the league to efforts as complimentary Judge added the scan "Just kind of feel like we're
The announcement was take its concerns seriously, to Advocates for Minor showed a "pneumothorax still in baseball mode. But,
made amid a particu- he said "it's going to be a Leaguers' goals. came back completely when you go home, it's
larly tense week for minor long road" and his goal "Hopefully in the future, gone." helped me out a little bit.
league players, most of right now is to ensure "play- there won't be a need for a "A little thing on the lung I've got some stuff around
whom make $5,000-$10,000 ers out there to know we'll GoFundMe campaign just that we were having a little the house to do, put up
per season. Many have be fighting for them." so a guy can buy diapers issue with, but that was all some stuff on the wall,
been shut out of their spring MLB responded to a re- for his kid," he said. healed up." Judge said. cleaning.
training camps due to the quest for comment by The group also hopes to "Good to go. Which means But after I get all my stuff
coronavirus pandemic, pointing to its statement protect players' jobs as MLB I can fly if I needed to go done on my apartment, I
despite their reliance on Thursday announcing is negotiating with the Na- home." think I'm kind of going crazy
those complexes for food, that minor league players tional Association of Profes- The 27-year-old didn't a little bit."
training facilities and often would receive allowanc- sional Baseball Leagues, played in any spring train- Judge and the Yankees
housing. es through the previously the governing body of the ing games because of believe the star right fielder
"This past week really pro- scheduled end of spring minors, to replace the Pro- soreness in his right pecto- hurt himself making a div-
vided an example of why training April 8 and that a fessional Baseball Agree- ral muscle and shoulder. ing catch late last season.
this group needed to be plan was being hatched to ment that expires after With opening day pushed Removal of the bone is a
out there," Broshuis said. compensate players after the 2020 season. MLB pro- back into mid-May at the possibility, depending on
The Major League Baseball that during baseball's shut- posed cutting 42 of the 160 earliest due to the new the healing process.
Players Association repre- down. required affiliated teams coronovirus, Judge has Since winning the 2017 AL
sents only those on 40-man "MLB remains in commu- during those talks, a plan more time to recover with- Rookie of the Year award,
rosters, leaving roughly 100 nication with clubs on the criticized by minor league out missing games. Judge has been limited to
or more players per fran- development of an indus- team owners, fans and pol- "That's the silver lining in all 112 games in 2018 because
chise without representa- try-wide plan for minor iticians. Such a move could of this, just having the abil- of a broken right wrist and
tion. Broshuis said Advo- league player compensa- eliminate over 1,000 roster ity to not feel rushed trying to 102 games last year due
cates for Minor Leaguers is tion from April 9th through spots.q to get back for a certain to a strained left oblique.q