Abstracts Psychology

Surviving the Season: Substance Use in Minor League Baseball

by Zack Pace

Purpose of the Study: This research examines the day-to-day experiences of minor league baseball players, specifically what substances they ingest; why they use these substances; and if they perceive these substances to be ergogenic. Through this examination, minor league baseball (e.g. coaches, officials, owners) can become aware of the conditions and challenges players face when attempting to perform at their highest level on a daily basis. This awareness might convince minor league baseball to re-think scheduling, mode of travel, and living conditions of its players or take steps to either educate players about or offer alternatives to the ergogenic aids commonly utilized. Procedure: For this descriptive study, a snowball sample of 336 current minor league baseball players was given a written survey consisting of closed-and open-ended questions. Ninety-seven usable surveys were returned (28.87%). The survey asked minor league baseball players to identify what substances they used in the previous two weeks, how often, and for what reason. The substances on the survey included alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, marijuana, amphetamines, pain killers, cocaine and methanphetamines. Participants' open-ended responses were read by two investigators to develop codes, which were then used to identify themes. Findings: Alcohol, caffeine, pain pills and tobacco were the substances most frequently used by players. When asked how each substance helps them get through a baseball season, three themes emerged: improving performance, recreating, and surviving the season. While player comments generally minimized these substances' ability to improve on-field, physical performance, players believed that these substances were ergogenic aids in that they helped provide energy, increase focus and improve sleep (which might ultimately improve performance). Implications: This study contributes to an understanding of the experiences of minor league baseball players, in particular, exposing how they adapt to the minor league environment. Based on the adaptations undertaken by players, this research raises questions as to how minor league officials and owners can better support their employees. It broadens the idea about what constitutes an ergogenic aid, by focusing on more than game performance (and therefore, anabolic steroids and hgH). Rather it emphasizes surviving as a minor league player through a long season, i.e. taking care (or not) of their bodies; keeping mental focus, dealing with pain, etc.