It was just a couple weeks ago the Los Angeles Dodgers and all other clubs were preparing for Opening Day of the 2020 season. But much has changed in the time since March 12.
When Major League Baseball cancelled all remaining Spring Training games, the start of the season was first delayed for only two weeks from March 26, or the originally scheduled Opening Day date. However, an April 9 start never appeared very likely.
In accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), MLB pushed Opening Day back to some time beyond May 10 — when the suggestion mass gatherings of more than 50 people should be cancelled is tentatively due to expire.
In lieu of current games being played Thursday, MLB had a day full of re-airs, SportsNet LA aired the Dodgers’ 2019 Opening Day game, and the team also streamed it on their social media properties.
Several players commented about wishing they could have been playing, including Kiké Hernandez, who offered a bit of a love letter to baseball.
Dear Baseball; I miss you. I miss the roar of the crowd, the smell of the grass, the adrenaline rush, the joy of playing, enjoying the little moments with the boys and last but not least getting double switched for! (I miss a lot more) Love ya!!! See you soon!! #OpeningDayAtHome pic.twitter.com/9dJpvWu0Kg
— Enrique Hernández (@kikehndez) March 26, 2020
Hernandez recently filled the void by accepting a pushups challenge and completing it on Instagram while dressed in full uniform. Hernandez then issued it to Joc Pederson and Justin Turner, though the Dodgers teammates have yet to accept it as of this writing.
Hernandez appeared in 11 Cactus League games before Spring Training was shut down, batting .300/.323/.667 with two doubles, three home runs and nine RBI. The results further validated a swing change he made during offseason with a focus on not opening his hips too early.
After a strong showing in 2018, Hernandez experienced some regression last season and allowed an opportunity to become the everyday second baseman slip through his hands. In a change from previous years, he spent the entirety of this past offseason training in Arizona.
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