“Big League Advance” with Real Sports Producer Nick Dolin

Host Max Gershberg is joined by fellow Real Sports Producer Nick Dolin to examine a new business shaking up the baseball industry: Big League Advance, a private equity fund founded by former Major League Baseball pitcher Michael Schwimer. The investment firm pays Minor League players money before they make it, in exchange for a percentage of their future baseball earnings. If they don’t make it, they don’t have to repay. Schwimer’s all-or-nothing approach is attractive to investors and upcoming players who are notoriously paid little in the Minor Leagues, though critics say it’s exploiting young athletes. Recently the company was in the news when client and MLB star Fernando Tatis, Jr., signed a $340 million contract. They discuss how the business works and examine the risks taken by both investors and players. [The interview starts at 15:00.]   Watch Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on HBO Max. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices