CLEVELAND, Ohio — On the day the sports world came to a halt, Cleveland Indians players and some of Major League Baseball’s brightest stars reacted to the news that the game they love will go on hiatus while the world deals with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Word spread quickly after MLB owners and officials revealed that spring training games would be canceled and at least the first two weeks of the regular season will be delayed while the league figures out a plan to move forward. Players have been asked for now to remain close to their spring training facilities, but the situation is fluid, and myriad questions remain as to when preseason activities will resume, and how much impact the delay could have on the start of regular season games.
Meanwhile, players were generally united in their response to the crisis, saying that the coronavirus outbreak is bigger than baseball and the priority for teams and fans alike is the health and welfare of their families.
In Goodyear, Ariz. Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor spoke to media well before MLB’s decision was handed down. But Lindor’s sentiments spoke to the universal truth that times of crisis bring out the best in all of us.
“This is when society gets together and helps each other out,” Lindor said. “Out of this, hopefully we can get something positive and that will be all being in a much better spot when it comes to taking care of each other.”
Zach Plesac is on the verge of making his first opening day roster, yet the 25-year-old righty showed that his priorities are in the right place by reminding followers that “health is #1.”
Mike Clevinger, who will have extra time to rehabilitate his surgically repaired knee thanks to the delay, went with a counterculture hat tip in his hazmat suit message to fans that they’d be seeing Sunshine soon.
Roberto Perez shared a tweet from ex-teammate Jason Kipnis who immediately voiced his questions about what happens next for the players and support staff at ballparks around the league.
Ernie Clement, recently sent down to minor league camp after spending the first three weeks of spring training with the big league club, noted that in times of trouble it’s easy to slip into negativity. Clement encouraged fans to “spread positivity.”
Baseball’s biggest names also chimed in on social media. American League MVP Mike Trout is expecting his first baby with his wife, Jessica, in August. He urged fans to take precautions and reminded everybody that this situation “won’t last forever.”
National League Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso summed up the frustration being felt by all players and fans by opening with the obvious: “I’m going to miss baseball. God willing, it will be a short hiatus from the best game in the world.”
Agreed, Pete. Agreed.
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2020-03-13 10:08:00Z
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