As the world continues to grapple with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Major League Baseball has steadily increased how drastic of measures its taken.
Their first step, at the beginning of last week, was to restrict clubhouse access to players and essential personnel. By the end of the week, MLB had cancelled all remaining Spring Training games and delayed the start of the season by at least two weeks.
Spring Training operations were subsequently suspended, notably including a ban on organized workouts and activities that would lead to players gathering. On Monday, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said the league was pushing back Opening Day indefinitely as it took heed from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to not have 50 or more people together.
As the process has continued to unfold, the Dodgers released videos from manager Dave Roberts, Spanish-language broadcaster Jaime Jarrín and Justin Turner, with each sharing encouraging messages to fans.
A message from Dave Roberts. pic.twitter.com/sMLIxlZocO
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 12, 2020
Les tenemos un mensaje de parte de @JaimeJarrin.#LosDodgers pic.twitter.com/ZiG96kSz3I
— Los Dodgers (@LosDodgers) March 12, 2020
.@redturn2 with a message to fans. pic.twitter.com/ttnsWY8nXg
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 13, 2020
With the latest developments, the earliest the MLB season figures to begin is mid-May. However, even that may be optimistic as players presumably will require a some semblance of a second Spring Training.
Prior to MLB shutting down Spring Training camps, the Dodgers anticipated the majority of their players remaining at Camelback Ranch. “Our guys are pretty adamant about wanting to stick around, because it is only two weeks,” Roberts said.
With the situation having changed, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said over the weekend that the club was in the process of determining which players were going to stay in Arizona, and who preferred to return to Los Angeles for workouts at Dodger Stadium.
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