short season A ball vs. advanced rookie league

[Herk]

was is the difference between Short season A ball leagues like the NY-Penn and the Northwest league and advanced rookie ball leagues like the pioneer and appy leagues? are their different player eligability rules? how much better compition (If any) is short season over advanced rookie?

[needz]

do they get paid in the rookie league

[Herk]

yes rookie leagues are paid leagues

[HeadFirst]

The NY-Penn and the Northwest are considered a notch above the Appy and Pioneer. The former are usually where high-draft picks and second-year pros go after extended spring training; the latter are usually where high schoolers go after a year in the Gulf Coast or Arizona, and lesser college players go for their first pro year.

They are paid. A little.

I went to a game in Oneonta (NYPL) a couple of weeks ago. Those kids get well-fed. If a player hits a triple, he gets a free pizza from a local pizza joint, a medium sub from one place, a large sub from another, et cetera. There are also food prizes from local eateries for doubles, HRs, and so forth. Also, for a dinger, a player gets a free pair of silk boxer shorts. I am not making this up.