Might because Gumbel is kinda stupid
They are "minor league" because they don't have enough skills or talent to play in the majors. No difference than being a very good shortstop at pool (no pun intended)
The pay is not so good. But, the light at the end of the tunnel could turn out to be
a $250M contract.
Of course, many will never get that contract, but if they get the Major league minimum, they walk away with $400K a year, with the chance to sign a better contract once they prove themselves. The major league average is around $5M per year.
And the low pay is for folks drafted in the last rounds..... first round draft pick is putting a cool million or more in his pocket while he "sits" in the minors until he is ready for the big leagues... sometimes they never make it, but they walk away with a cool million just for trying.
Plus, those "minor league" players can coach/instruct baseball, get jobs at High Schools... and private lessons they command $45 for 1/2 hour. If they are smart, even the low level minor leaguer who never makes it can make a name for himself.
also, they can get hired in the corporate world, it never hurts to say you played professional baseball, cause the guy hiring is most likely a baseball fan, and then he adds you to the company softball team and they finally win that year
Plus, playing minor league baseball, I can only imagine the "fun" he had at bars telling the ladies he was a professional baseball player
So, no, I would have to disagree, minor league baseball is not as bad as pool, as there is just too much upside.
There was a kid this year that played in the College World Series and the MLB World Series in the same year. First time in history that ever happened, as he spent only a few months in the minor leagues after he was drafted. He gonna be rich very soon and he's not even the best baseball player in the league. SVB had to be the best guy in the country before he started to make some cash.