MLB Releases Official Statement Confirming Suspension of Spring Training
By Sam Dunn
The writing was on the wall. Then, players and teams started discussing whether to hang around or go home. And now, Major League Baseball has confirmed what we all knew to be the case: Spring Training is on hold.
After consulting with the players' union, the MLB came out Friday evening to announce on an official basis that all spring camps have been suspended due to concerns about the coronavirus.
MLB's official release on spring training and players on 40-man rosters: pic.twitter.com/WLtsvCT77A
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) March 13, 2020
Now, it's up to the individual teams to decide how to go about their business as the start of the 2020 MLB season hangs in limbo. "Major League players can elect to return home, remain in their Spring Training cities, or return to their club's home city," the statement read.
Notably, the New York Yankees already made the decision earlier on Friday to stay at their Spring Training site in Tampa, Florida. Per reliever Zack Britton, the players voted unanimously to stick around.
The #Dbacks are the only #MLB team who has their spring-training facility in their own city, so players likely will continue using it after a deep cleaning over the weekend.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 13, 2020
As it stands, Opening Day in Major League Baseball has been pushed back for a minimum of two weeks. It will feel like quite a rosy scenario if that's the extent of the delay, but for now, the best thing we can all do is remain in positive spirits and do our best to tend take care of ourselves in the midst of the COVID-19 public health crisis.