Released minor leaguer blasts Mets for mishandling his injury, signing Tebow
Major League Baseball teams released minor leaguers en masse on Thursday, leaving hundreds cut loose and potentially over 1,000 unemployed by the end of the month as clubs continue to reduce costs.
Andrew Church, who was in the New York Mets' minor-league system, took to Instagram to blast the organization that cut him.
While Church acknowledges the people who gave him the news over the phone "had nothing but good things to say," the pitcher brought up troubling details regarding the way the team handled his injuries.
"They knew I would never say no to competing and would fly me around to fill in for anyone that got injured," Church wrote. "I realized this wasn't in my best interest when my delayed flight finally landed in the third inning, and I was on the mound in a (Triple-A) baseball game for the first time, without any warm-up throws. My UCL originally tore that night.
"Instead of seeing a doctor like I asked, they sent me back to High-A to pitch in the playoffs. When I told them I couldn't, I was made out to be the bad guy."
Church also brought up the infamous signing of former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow to a minor-league deal.
"Then the next year, they made a mockery of our team by putting a celebrity on it to sell tickets," Church said, referring to Tebow, who joined High-A St. Lucie in 2017 after landing a $100,000 signing bonus.
"We weren't playing to win, we were playing to make everyone else money," Church continued. "Not the players. We never saw a cut. Well, allegedly that one player did."
He did share some positivity about the organization that employed him since 2013 after drafting the now 25-year-old in the second round.
"I honestly think they are making strides to be a better organization, but the culture that has been built within that organization for decades is toxic," the right-hander said in a comment on his own post. "Filled with snakes and bottom-feeders trying to elevate their professional careers at the expense of the players, with no remorse."
Over seven seasons with the Mets across six minor-league levels, Church authored a 4.83 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 454 1/3 innings.