Does a Bat Boy Get Paid in Major League Baseball?
It‘s the bottom of the 7th inning with the Padres clinging to a 2-1 lead over the Dodgers. Star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. settles into the on-deck circle, watching intently as the batter ahead of him works the count full. He gestures to the dugout and 17-year-old Jake Knowles springs into action. Knowles quickly grabs Tatis‘ favorite maple bat and a pair of batting gloves and hustles them over just as the previous hitter draws a walk. Tatis smiles in thanks as he wraps his wrists and gives a practice swing, the bat making a resounding crack that echoes throughout Petco Park.
Moments like this represent a typical shift for MLB bat boys like Knowles. And yes, they most certainly do get paid for their work behind the scenes at baseball‘s highest level. The average hourly wage for bat boys falls between $9-10 per hour based on reporting from numerous sports media outlets.
A Day in the Life of an MLB Bat Boy
For many young baseball fans across the country, the chance to work in the dugouts of iconic MLB ballparks feels like a distant dream. But for roughly 60 lucky individuals each season, it becomes reality. The life of an MLB bat boy offers a tantalizing mix of exciting access and demanding responsibility.
Spring Training kicks off an arduous 12+ hour workday routine focused on catering to the needs of players and coaches. Mornings start with stocking and straightening equipment in clubhouses and dugouts. Come batting practice, bat boys stand poised near the on-deck circle to hand off lumber and other gear to hitters readying for their turn in the box. By the time first pitch rolls around, bat boys stay busy charting pitches while managing a smooth flow of baseballs and game-ready bats to players competing on the field.
Post-game entails another round of heavy lifting, sorting uniforms & equipment for laundry, and thoroughly sweeping dugouts and team areas in the stadium to prepare them for the next contest. It‘s a full-time commitment that former MLB bat boy Matt Orlando believes helps these young teens grow on a personal level:
"Long days working your butt off for the guys pays off tenfold when you witness first-hand the passion and dedication up close. Lessons that can shape your character and work ethic for the rest of your life."
The payoff can also prove lucrative at times given the tips doled out by generous players and coaches. Six figure salaries remain uncommon due to limited hours, but average total earnings often land comfortably between $15,000 – $20,000 according to research by industry publication Baseball Prospectus. Not too shabby for a part-time high school job!
Behind the Coveted Jobs in Baseball
Of course with only 30 teams in Major League Baseball, openings for bat boys number quite short of even the rare middle relief pitching prospects that clubs stockpile at the minor league level. Applicants face daunting odds, though connections with team personnel open doors that skills, dedication, and basic qualifications can help you walk through.
Minimum age set at 16 years old, candidates must showcase sufficient physical strength & stamina, outstanding work ethic, expansive baseball aptitude, and unwavering team-first attitude. Willingness to work extended hours while avoiding the star-struck tendencies that come with rubbing elbows daily with elite talent also weigh heavily.
The stiff competition leaves room for only a dozen or so new bat boys to put on MLB uniforms each season. But those who embrace the grind become staples for years to come. Houston Astros lifer Nicky Delzer donned the tools of ignorance behind the dish for a record-setting 2,632 consecutive games worked over an unbelievable 53 season tenure. Talk about loyalty!
Added Context: Salaries & Rules in MLB
Even the "lowly" bat boys earn wages well beyond what most teenagers could imagine. But their annual earnings pale mightily compared to the average yearly salary of MLB players that approaches nearly $5 million dollars. Even umpires outpace them by millions thanks to minimum compensation starting around $150,000 for first year officials and climbing north of $350,000 for 10-plus year veterans.
Of course uniforms and equipment prove far less expensive for bat boys considering teams pick up the tab in full. Interesting rules dictate everything from glove leather thickness to sock height and stain color that players must abide by strictly or risk fines. Meanwhile superstitions run rampant across the sport, like Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer‘s insistence that the bat boy wear his dirty batting practice jersey unwashed on the days he starts to maintain good luck!
Life as an MLB bat boy teeters exhaustingly between dirty work and priceless memories carved from America‘s pastime. Pay hovers modestly near minimum wage levels. But players, coaches, and fans appreciate their efforts behind the scenes that allow on-field action to shine brightly as the central spectacle. Despite back-breaking effort, long hours, and little public acclaim, MLB bat boys proudly serve on the industry‘s ground floor fetching gear and baseballs…all while getting to soak up the game‘s traditions and preparations up close with diamonds glittering under the stadium lights.
