what do minor leaguers do in september and october?

[djoctagone]

currently, the brewers have six minor leaguers on the 40-man roster that aren't part of the expanded september roster. and obviously, there is a slew of minor league players whose seasons have ended (not counting those getting ready for the arizona fall league).

 

obviously, any player could be recalled or have his contract selected for the rest of the regular season and/or the postseason (if postseason eligible), so what are these minor leaguers up to during this potential call-up time?

 

i'm sure they're working out in case they get a call, but i'm more curious if there's anything in their contracts (major league and minor league) that stipulates no vacations, no leaving the country (or in the case of foreign players, extending their visa through 1 october or even beyond), etc.

 

or is there nothing explicit in their contracts and minor leaguers just play it smart and postpone their weddings, vacations, etc. until after they know that their organization has been eliminated from postseason play?

[djoctagone]

from this tweet, we know that jorge lopez (on the 40-man) returned to puerto rico after the season ended. being a u.s. territory, lopez would've been free to return to the continental u.s. and not have to worry about visa issues (but obviously, travel logistics challenges as many in puerto rico are unfortunately facing right now).

 

this still doesn't answer my question . . . one has to think that mlb teams take steps to insure that they have reserve players readily available for activation from the second week of september on.

[zagski6]

Well...if you're Tucker Neuhaus, Mitch Ghelfi, and Ryan Aguilar, you are living out of a decked out Ford Transit van out west. (check out their instagram accounts).

[djoctagone]

we got some insight from tyrone taylor--a player on the 40-man roster. he interviewed for a job with fedex and was offered the position. so, apparently, there's not a clause in the player's contract that prohibits them from seeking employment once the minor league season ends.

 

one can also assume that the brewers extended taylor the courtesy of telling him that he wasn't in their roster expansion plans, which freed him to pursue off-season employment.

[jerichoholicninja]

I seem to remember a few years ago, can't remember how many, the Brewers brought a bunch of 40 man guys that weren't called up to Milwaukee and had them work out with the team to keep them ready if any were needed.

[djoctagone]

2020 certainly is unprecedented, and here's another way that it's unprecedented:

 

in september, the minor league "season" will continue at the alternate training sites through 27 september and onward for teams that qualify for postseason play. players on optional assignment and minor league assignment typically don't play past the first weekend in september, when minor league seasons typically end.

 

and also, in september, rosters will not be expanding from 28--although they were originally expected to expand from 26 to 28 (not 40) had a full season been played.

 

thus, in this unprecedented year, we know what some minor leaguers will be doing in september and october.