Report: Rangers' Shin-Soo Choo Donating $1K to 190 Minor Leaguers Amid COVID-19

Texas Rangers outfielder and designated hitter Shin-Soo Choo is donating $1,000 to each of the team's 190 minor league players, according to Naver Sports in South Korea (h/t Korean baseball reporter Daniel Kim).

"I came here with nothing, but baseball has given me a lot since," Choo said of his donation, per Kim. "Minor league players are future of our organization. I just hope that they can fight through and overcome this difficult time."

Many in recent years have drawn attention to minor leaguers' low pay. PennLive.com's Daniel Gallen noted in July some players didn't earn enough from their MiLB salary to qualify above the federal poverty line of $12,490.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation by postponing the start of the 2020 season.

MLB announced Tuesday it will continue to offer financial support to minor leaguers through May 31. The league initially confirmed it planned to provide players with "a lump sum equal to the allowances that would've been paid through April 8."

The Associated Press' Ben Walker and Jake Seiner reported in February that minor leaguers are set to receive a pay raise across the board starting in 2021. The increases will range from 38 percent to 72 percent of the existing salary standards.