MLB delays opening day

Major League Baseball will delay its 2020 season’s opening day by at least two weeks and halt spring training due to the coronavirus, it said on Thursday.

The 162-game MLB season had been scheduled to start on March 26 with all 30 teams taking the field.

“This action is being taken in the interests of the safety and well-being of our players, clubs and our millions of loyal fans,” the league said in a statement.

“MLB will continue to evaluate ongoing events leading up to the start of the season.”

The league added it will announce the effects on the schedule at an appropriate time, and will remain flexible as events warrant, with the hope of resuming normal operations as soon as possible.

The delay marks the first time the MLB season hasn’t begun on schedule due to a non-labour-related issue.

The start of the 1972 and 1995 seasons was delayed due to strikes and the beginning of the 1990 season was postponed due to a lockout. In all three cases, the seasons began before the end of April.

“It’s a unique situation,” Blue Jays pitcher Jordan Romano said after he started and pitched an inning on Thursday on a day where Toronto played split-squad games in Bradenton against Pittsburgh and at home in Dunedin against the Canadian junior national team.

“I never thought we’d be in this situation. First and foremost it’s just keeping people safe. It wouldn’t affect guys like me that much, if I get it it’s not that big of a deal. But my grandparents were down here a week ago and they’re still in Florida, so it’s just thinking of the older population and stuff like that. It’s definitely the right thing to do.”