‘Summer Camp’ starts a season like no other for Canada’s young hopefuls
Providing there isn’t a snag in health and border issues to add another delay, the Toronto Blue Jays hope to hit the Rogers Centre field today to begin preparations for the 2020 MLB season.
What will follow is a rush to prepare for an expected July 24 season opener in Tampa Bay, the start of a 60-game schedule planned around the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the mid-march closure, most players ramped down their preparation as the season was delayed first by the virus, and then with a senseless, drawn-out labour squabble.
Now it’s on the fast track to a restart, all the while dodging what might be the toughest obstacle of all — the health and safety of players and staff around the league.
Here’s a look at some of the notable storylines.
1. WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN?
The Jays will operate camp with their 60-person player pool, a number that could fluctuate depending on how many players test positive for the virus.
The team will stagger workouts throughout the day at the Rogers Centre for safety reasons and to best utilize the limited facilities while attempting to apply a semblance of social distancing.
After finally getting federal government approval last week, the Jays began weekend workouts in Dunedin, Fla. while also undergoing testing for the virus. No players or staff members were to be cleared to fly north unless they posted two negative tests.
2. READY, SET, GO?
Unlike traditional spring training, where teams play dozens of pre-season contests to ready for the season, the Jays won’t have a single exhibition game during what MLB has christened “Summer Camp.”
The league has said teams are permitted to play three exhibition games, but given the logistical restrictions on the Jays — they are in Canada — it didn’t make sense to purse that avenue. Instead, the team plans to prepare via intrasquad action to replicate the game-day experience.
Perhaps the most pressing work facing the Jays will take place off the field, as the team looks to secure approval to play their 30 regular-season home games at the Rogers Centre. Team president Mark Shapiro hopes to have that verdict rendered by the federal government within the week. If not, the Jays will be based in the blistering summer heat of their spring training home TD Ballpark.
As for the schedule itself — one in which the Jays will face their regular AL East foes as well as the five NL East squads — it’s expected to be released soon.
3. WHAT ABOUT NATE?
As he was back in February and March, top Jays pitching prospect Nate Pearson will be among the dominant stories in the summer version of camp.
Given that it’s almost certain that Pearson will be with the team at some point — there is no minor league ball this year, after all, and it would be ludicrous not to have such a valued commodity getting work in — the only question is whether the heat-throwing starter breaks camp with the team.
GM Ross Atkins was evasive when asked about it, leading to speculation that Pearson’s promotion will be delayed to help manipulate service time.
“Nate’s been fantastic,” Atkins said on a conference call. “His desire to use all the resources and have a consistent routine is elite for a major league player, and it has certainly been elite for someone where he is.
“As we get everyone into camp and see where they are, then we’ll make those decisions as we get closer to opening day.”
4. CAMP QUARANTINE
The Jays have vowed to go above and beyond the already extensive MLB protocols for health and safety.
Upon arriving at a remote area of Pearson airport, the team will travel by a sanitized bus to the Marriott hotel at the Rogers Centre, where an isolated bloc of rooms has been set aside for the team.
From there, the Jays will operate under a modified quarantine requiring them to remain in the building for 14 days.
With 60 players in camp, the team will spread out as much as possible, using four different locker-rooms and staggering workouts throughout the day to limit contact with teammates and staff.
The club’s preference is to have the dome’s roof opened for a respite from the quarantine and to get some fresh air.
5. COVERT COVID
With players around MLB testing positive for COVID -19, the Jays aren’t immune, with multiple players and staff recording positives in Florida in June.
As of now, the Jays aren’t revealing names of players who tested positive.
“We’ll approach it with the player,” Atkins said. “If the player wants it to be public, then it most likely will be.”