MLB to voluntarily recognize minor league players' unionization with MLBPA

Minor league players trying to unionize with the MLB Players Association will be recognized by the league.

Minor league players' bargaining representative would be officially accepted by MLB. By next week, the union and MLB hope to have an agreement on who the bargaining unit is for.

More than 50% of eligible players would need to vote in favor of unionization in order for the MLBPA to hold a vote. More than half of minor league players turned in union authorization cards, according to the MLBPA.

The MLBPA wants to grow its rank-and-file more than fourfold after representing only players on major league teams' 40-man rosters. The union is considering representation for players on Dominican Summer League teams and at teams' Dominican complexes in the future.

Advocates for Minor Leaguers, a group that helped organize the players who distributed the authorization cards and fought for improvements, including higher pay and housing in home cities, has been hired by the MLBPA.

Jeff Passan was a contributor.