Top 10 New Englanders on the move in the minors

Chris Sharpe (Burlington, Mass./UMass Lowell) made the jump to Double A after playing in his first pro All-Star Game. (Rob Lynn)

Since 1980, only eight ballplayers have made their professional debut at the major-league level, and only two since 2000.

With seven minor-league levels, traversing the system to reach the goal of making it to the big leagues can be a slog as hundreds of New England hopefuls attempt to trickle their way up to smaller and smaller streams.

For many, it’s not easy to advance — especially with five-hour bus rides and minimal pay. But every promotion not only puts a player one step closer to “The Show” but also re-energizes his will to continue pursuing his dream.

Here are the top 10 New Englanders on the move in the minor leagues so far this season: