A hearing on a motion is scheduled this Friday in the case of Senne v. Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. For those that have not been following the case, Senne is a lawsuit seeking damages for what minor league players allege is a violation of federal and state wage laws.

While the minor league players had broad based claims for not receiving due and owing compensation, after a series of motions in the case, the scope of the lawsuit has been narrowed to the lack of compensation during Spring Training and Instructional Leagues and for the pay for games played in the California League.

Minor League players are not paid for their play during Spring Training and Instructional League games. Players do receive $1,500 per month for five months, which the players allege amounts to far less than the $8-$10 applicable California minimum wage.

Friday’s motion is the minor league players second opportunity to try to achieve class status. If the minor league players named in the lawsuit were able to achieve class status then any ruling issued by the court in this case would be applicable to every single minor league player. Without class status, the ruling in the case would apply only to the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Naturally, a court ruling effecting all minor league players would have far reaching ramifications. Instead of paying damages to the named plaintiffs (if the court were to find in the plaintiff’s favor), Major League Baseball would owe damages to all minor leaguers and they would be compelled to change the minor league compensation structure.

As alluded to above, the minor league players first request to achieve class status was denied. Back in August, Judge Joseph C. Spero allowed the plaintiffs to file a motion for reconsideration of the previous decision. If the motion is granted, the class would be much narrower in scope than the minor league players initially sought in their first motion.  Rather, the class would be limited to those players who participate in Spring Training, Instructional Leagues, and the California League. In essence, the class will encumber all minor leaguers who participate in baseball activities in Arizona, California, and Florida.

While a hearing on the motion is scheduled for this Friday, it is not definitive that a ruling will be immediately rendered by Judge Spero.