A Kentucky House member has introduced legislation that hopes to preserve minor league baseball in Kentucky by ending a conflict between the state’s wage and hour laws and Major League Baseball’s (MLB) collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
Recent changes in MLB’s labor agreements have benefited minor league players, including substantial salary increases and comprehensive benefits. However, Kentucky’s existing wage-and-hour laws risk conflicting with the new federally negotiated CBA, potentially disrupting player development and team operations in the state.
Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, introduced Senate Bill 15 on Tuesday to remedy the conflict, and exempt minor league baseball players from certain state wage-and-hour requirements. The narrowly tailored exemption, supported by the MLB and MLB Players Association, ensures players can fully benefit from the CBA without being subject to inconsistent state regulations.
“Baseball has long been America’s pastime, and now is the time to act to protect its future in Kentucky,” Bledsoe said.
Kentucky hosts several minor league baseball teams affiliated with MLB, including the Louisville Bats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, playing at Louisville Slugger Field; and the Bowling Green Hot Rods, the High-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, based at Bowling Green Ballpark.
Without legislative action, the existing state wage-and-hour statute applied to minor league baseball players could dramatically alter how they are utilized and how games are played in Kentucky.
Under the new CBA, the 69 minor league players assigned to Kentucky teams annually are treated as salaried employees and receive weekly pay throughout the year, including for spring training and the off-season. The CBA included significant salary increases of 119 percent to 138 percent, depending on the player’s level.
Without this legislative fix, state wage-and-hour laws could impose requirements like overtime tracking and record-keeping, which are incompatible with the nature of professional baseball.
“Minor league baseball is a big part of Kentucky’s communities and economy,” Bledsoe said. “This bill strikes a balance between supporting players and preserving the sport’s viability in our state, but it’s also going to assure the moms, dads and children who enjoy attending these games have more opportunities to do that. Many people enjoy visiting the ballpark to support their team as well as the social environment and having a hot dog and snacks; it’s part of our American DNA.”
The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee.
(Photo: Slugger Field, courtesy of MLB.com)
By Tom Latek, Kentucky Today
