In an article posted Friday at Derek Jeter’s The Players’ Tribune, for which McCutchen serves as a senior editor, the Pirates center fielder wrote about his experience growing up. McCutchen also discussed the various expenses associated with playing for a traveling teams, including equipment, hotels, gas and tournament fees.

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Before rising to MLB stardom in the Steel City, McCutchen grew up in a lower-income household in Fort Meade, Fla., which a 2010 census indicates had a small population of just 5,626. Growing up, his family could hardly afford to buy him new equipment.

For many kids from low-income families, an athletic scholarship is the best chance to not only continue playing baseball, but also to attend college. Baseball scholarships, however, are not easy to come by. Colleges are allotted 11.7 scholarships for baseball, according to scholarshipstats.com, though most schools don’t finance that many and scholarship money is spread among mutliple players. In fact, baseball gets fewer scholarships than football (85), basketball (13), cross country (12.6), lacrosse (12.6), hockey (18) and women’s softball (12). The minor leagues are no better financially, as players are paid less than minimum wage, according to former major league pitcher Dirk Hayhurst.

McCutchen also discussed the financial disadvantages amateur players in the U.S. and Canada face in comparison to international players.

(Ed. note: While there are private baseball academies in Puerto Rico, players from the commonwealth must go through the MLB Draft, unlike players from the Dominican, who are free agents.)

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McCutchen, 28, was selected 11th overall by the Pirates out of Fort Meade High in the 2005 MLB Draft and received a $1.9 million signing bonus. He soon became a big league star and quickly became one of the most likeable and genuine players in the league. He was named NL MVP in 2013 and finished third in the NL MVP voting in 2014. He signed a six-year, $51.5 million contract with Pittsburgh in 2011.

McCutchen led the majors with a .410 on-base percentage and the NL with a 168 OPS+ last season. He also batted .314/.410/.542 in 146 games.

 

Contributing: Tom Gatto