Ron Washington Expects to Wear Mask for Entire MLB Season

Atlanta Braves third base coach Ron Washington said Sunday that he expects to wear a mask throughout the entire 2020 MLB season, a possible sign of things to come for MLB players and managers alike.

At 68 years old, Washington is among the oldest coaches in the major leagues, and could be at a much greater risk from coronavirus than his players or fellow coaches. With masks proven to be effective at slowing the spread of the disease, this seems like a no-brainer for not just Washington, but other coaches and managers around the majors as well.

According to David O'Brien of The Athletic, Washington stressed that he will still be there to support his players, even if traditional celebrations may not be on the table. He plans to wear gloves at all times in addition to a mask, but still hopes to have the same bond with his players.

With the coronavirus pandemic already causing a major disruption to the 2020 season, MLB teams would be wise to advise their staffs to follow Washington's lead. Masks have been shown to greatly reduce transmission rates of the virus, and large strings of infections in clubhouses across the country could doom an already shortened season.