Players ready for spring training 2.0

Rockies all-star shortstop Trevor Story pays close attention to the reports about baseball’s possible return in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

He’s aware that Cleveland Indians players were informed during a Zoom call earlier this week that June 10 is a possible target date for spring training 2.0 and that July 1 is targeted as the tentative opening day of the season.

And multiple news outlets have reported that Major League Baseball will soon submit a plan to the Major League Baseball Players Association about reopening the 2020 season.

“I’ve heard all of that, but I’m really not sure what to believe yet, because I’m not sure anyone knows for sure,” Story said from his home in Texas.

According to ESPN, general managers and managers from at least a dozen teams have suggested to players that they ramp up baseball activities in anticipation of a second “spring training.” The thinking

is that teams want to make sure players are in shape and ready to go when Major League Baseball green lights training camps.

Several Rockies players, including player representative Scott Oberg, said they have not been provided any target dates yet. Story, however, believes the majority of his teammates will be prepared.

“I know I’m ready to go right now,” Story said. “I’ve stayed on top of my workouts, and knowing our guys, I think we’ll all be ready.”

All-star third baseman Nolan Arenado, who is working out in his native Southern California, said he’s “ready to go” right now and anticipates that a second spring training would take 2-4 weeks.

Rockies right-hander Jon Gray, who’s been on a steady throwing program, said last week that he doesn’t think it would take him very long to be ready to pitch six or seven innings in a game.

“From here I am right now, I think it would take me two or three weeks to get ready,” he said.

Since the coronavirus forced baseball to shut down on March 12, Gray kept his arm in shape by pitching into a net and lifting weights in his home gym in his native Oklahoma. He recently moved to Scottsdale, Ariz. where he’s been throwing to catcher Tony Wolters.

The Rockies have not yet told their players if a camp would be held at its Salt River Fields complex in Scottsdale or if preseason training would take place at Coors Field. Temperatures in Scottsdale are already topping 100 degrees, so that could be a determining factor. Currently, a handful of Rockies players have returned to Denver and are working out at Coors.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals have explored the feasibility of hosting preseason workouts at Busch

Stadium and not the team’s spring training facility in Jupiter, Fla. Plans for a camp at both sites, however, are being considered, just in case.

According to the Post-Dispatch, using Busch Stadium appeals to the Cardinals because it would centralize workouts and gets the team home as soon as possible. However, having just one field, as opposed to the several practice fields available at the Cardinals’ spring training home in Jupiter, would require practices to take place in shifts.