Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. led this year’s pre-arbitration bonus pool with $3,077,595, while Pittsburgh pitcher Paul Skenes came in second with $2,152,057, despite not making his MLB debut until May 11.
Baltimore shortstop Gunnar Henderson ranked third with $2,007,178, followed by Milwaukee catcher William Contreras with $1,722,174 and Kansas City pitcher Cole Ragans with $1,638,013, according to figures from Major League Baseball and the players’ association.
Other players who earned over $1 million include Boston outfielder Jarren Duran ($1,321,661), San Diego outfielder Jackson Merrill ($1,191,534), and New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil ($1,098,628).
Baltimore outfielder Colton Cowser was ninth with $978,671, followed by Milwaukee outfielder Jackson Chourio ($901,335), Cincinnati shortstop Elly De La Cruz ($860,710), and Athletics reliever Mason Miller ($825,276).
The annual pool was agreed upon by MLB and the union in the March 2022 labor settlement to help younger players receive more financial support.
Witt, who finished second in AL MVP voting behind Aaron Judge of the Yankees, has earned a total of $4,202,126 from the pool over the past three years.
Last season, Seattle outfielder Julio Rodríguez topped the list with $509,957, bringing his three-year total to $3,926,156. Other players who earned from the pool include Henderson ($3,435,149), Contreras ($2,808,762), Carroll ($2,347,870), Ragans ($2,019,346), Duran ($1,659,673), and De La Cruz ($1,130,087).
Some of these players have long-term contracts. Witt signed an 11-year deal worth $288.7 million in February, and Chourio, who was 10th on the list, agreed to an eight-year, $82 million deal in December, which is the largest for a player who has yet to debut in the big leagues.
A total of 101 players will receive bonuses under this plan, which aims to provide more financial support to players who don’t yet have enough service time to qualify for salary arbitration. Foreign professional players are not eligible.
Milwaukee had the most players receive money, with eight, followed by Detroit with seven and Arizona, Cleveland, and Seattle with six each.
Players can receive bonuses for certain achievements, including $2.5 million for winning the MVP or Cy Young Award, $1.75 million for second place, $1.5 million for third, and $1 million for fourth, fifth, or being selected to the all-MLB first team.
Other awards include $750,000 for Rookie of the Year, and $500,000 for second place in Rookie of the Year voting or being selected to the all-MLB second team.
The All-MLB teams are chosen by fans, media members, broadcasters, former players, and officials. Players can only earn one bonus per year for the highest achievement, with remaining funds allocated based on a WAR formula.
