While the Los Angeles Dodgers finally broke through and won the World Series in 2020, one of their key players watched from home as David Price opted out of the season due to coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.
The decision couldn’t have been easy for Price, but ultimately he did what was best for his family. That was staying home with his wife and two young children instead of playing and taking on the risk of contracting coronavirus.
It is now a new year though, and when the Dodgers pitchers and catchers reported to Camelback Ranch for the start of Spring Training, Price was there with his teammates getting ready for the 2021 season.
“It wasn’t that difficult. It was something I had thought about from the time I opted out,” Price said of deciding to play this year. “That was the toughest decision I ever had to make and when Opening Day rolled around it was even tougher. And when the playoffs rolled around, it takes a new step.
“But to watch those guys all season long and then be able to win a World Series, that made me feel good. If there would’ve been any other outcome, I would’ve probably had a whole lot of regret and I would’ve felt really bad about my decision.
“When Julio threw strike three, that really felt like it kind of lifted a weight off my chest, knowing those guys went out there and won a World Series. That made me feel good.”
Watching how last season played out actually helped Price decide to play this year as he feels comfortable with MLB’s health and safety protocols along with measures the Dodgers took as well.
“I felt like our team especially and Major League Baseball and all the other teams handled it extremely well. I know they had a lot of protocols they had to go through,” Price said.
“Our training staff and all the other training staffs were bending over backwards to make sure guys stayed COVID-free, and I feel like they did it the right way. I think we have a lot more information on it now, and all of that played into the decision to play this year.”
Price joins a Dodgers rotation that is arguably the best in baseball as he will be surrounded by fellow former Cy Young Award winners in Clayton Kershaw and Trevor Bauer, as well as young stars Walker Buehler and Julio Urias.
Price planned on playing since end of World Series
Ultimately, the chance to join that rotation and compete for another World Series was too much for Price to pass up. It was after the Dodgers won their championship that the veteran left-hander began making plans to participate in the 2021 season.
“I knew I wanted to play. When I opted out last year, I knew I was going to want to play last year when baseball started and I was watching it and being away from the game the way that I was,” Price said.
“I talked to Andrew and Dave early on, right after the World Series, and I let them know I had every intention on playing and I wanted to be back. Baseball is my first true love. This is what I’ve always loved to do, and being away from it for that time was tough. I wanted to be back.”
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