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MLB Expected to Suspend Spring Training
By Noah Wright
As other sport leagues delay or suspend their seasons it appears that the Pittsburgh Pirates will finally be impacted as MLB is likely to suspend Spring Training play
The Coronavirus epidemic is affecting the entire world, and sports leagues across the nation are taking action against spreading the virus. Now it appears it is going to impact the Pittsburgh Pirates and Major League Baseball. Earlier today, Jon Heyman Tweeted out the following:
Hearing from folks in Grapefruit League that spring training is expected to be suspended here.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 12, 2020
However, it looks like Spring Training as a whole might get shut down:
There is a feeling of inevitability among executives that Major League Baseball will be suspending spring training as soon as today, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 12, 2020
Now, clearly, this is an issue beyond baseball, and sports in general. Yesterday, the National Basketball Association suspended their entire season, and Major League Soccer also suspended their season today. They join NCAA’s basketball conference tournaments as the sporting leagues suspended so far.
Most MLB teams are taking precautions for the virus. The Seattle Mariners are already going to play their home games to start the season not at T-Mobile Park. California has placed a ban on events that include gatherings of 250+ people.
It is highly possible that all MLB teams start the season without fans in attendance. This is a measure some teams have taken to keep both fans and players safe in the past. This was the case in 2015 when the Baltimore Orioles played in an empty stadium because of civil unrest in Baltimore. This caused the Orioles to become cautions of letting in any rioters or protesters which could have majorly impacted how this one game was played.
This all puts the start of the Major League Baseball season into question, and even more into question if they even have a season. Last week, commissioner Rob Manfred stated that the season is going to start as planned, but that was before many sporting leagues suspended their play.
As for the Pittsburgh Pirates, it could end up with the season opening without any fans in attendance at PNC Park, which would be an awfully strange site to see. Opening Day could also be delayed and pushed back. However, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Now with the suspension of Spring Training play happening sooner rather than later, it’s extremely possible that Major League Baseball delays, or even suspends part of, if not the entirety of the MLB’s regular season.