As coronavirus (COVID-19) cases exponentially increased during the month of March, the sports world found itself in uncharted territory. The NBA made the difficult decision in suspending its 2019-20 season, and soon followed the NHL, MLS and Major League Baseball.
For the latter, that meant cancelling all remaining Spring Training games and issuing a two-week delay to the start of the regular season. Opening Day, originally scheduled for March 26, was pushed back to the middle of April.
Those plans were derailed after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended against holding large gatherings of 50 or more people for eight weeks, leading to another postponement.
Nearly two months have passed since MLB came to an indefinite halt, and while there isn’t yet a plan in place for the 2020 season to start, a multitude of scenarios continue being discussed.
In the midst of a lengthy quarantine, Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Cody Bellinger revealed that he most misses taking the field at Dodger Stadium and hopes play will be able to return as soon as possible, via SportsNet LA:
“Man, I think it’s just getting out there and playing. It’s so boring just sitting here. For me, it’s getting a reflection on how blessed you are to play the game. Especially in Los Angeles, at Dodger Stadium. I miss it, man. I’m sure everyone out there misses it as well, so hopefully we can get back soon.”
Like Bellinger, Kenley Jansen, Gavin Lux and Justin Turner, among others, have noted they would be willing to play in a centralized location if it means expediting baseball’s return.
To prepare for that possibility, Bellinger has been working with co-hitting coach Brant Brown in Arizona to stay on top of his game.
If and when the 2020 season is able to get underway, Bellinger will look to defend his National League MVP crown. He is coming off a stellar season in which he hit .305/.406/.629 with 47 home runs and 115 RBI across 156 games.
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