Trout returns to practice but doesn’t feel ‘comfortable’
His N-95 mask squarely in place, Mike Trout stroked line drives, streaked around the bases and caught flyballs at Angel Stadium. The sport’s biggest star then let something drop — he’s not “comfortable” in this COVID-19 environment and isn’t sure he’ll play this season.
At Citi Field, Mets twotime Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom ran sprints by himself in shallow right field, then grabbed his personal bag of baseballs to throw off a bullpen mound. At Camden Yards, Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde watched practice from the stands behind the dugout.
“It’s weird,” Reds star Joey Votto said.
At Nationals Park, Max Scherzer limbered up with 65 pitches as the World Series champion Washington Nationals got back to work at 7:45 a.m. High in the press box, it was possible to hear players talking on the field about the virus.
No doubt, those sentiments echoed all around the majors.
Baseball tried to take another step forward Friday in a most uncertain setting, with players on the field at their empty home ballparks for the first team workouts since exhibition games ended March 12.
A few players were missing: San Diego outfielder Tommy Pham, Cleveland outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. and Texas reliever Brett Martin are among those who have tested positive for the virus.
“I’m sure they have fears and are dealing with the change, the protocol, the testing. All of that is different,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “But when we got out on the field and started working, it felt a lot like the beginning of spring training.”
It was a very strange scene in Miami.
While the team worked out on the new artificial turf, there was a long line of cars outside Marlins Park because it’s a testing site for the coronavirus, and cases have been surging in South Florida.
Major League Baseball announced 31 players and seven staff members tested positive for the coronavirus during intake for the resumption of training, a rate of 1.2%. The positive tests occurred among 19 of the 30 teams.
Opening day for the delayed, shortened 60-game season is July 23. Major League Baseball said the All-Star Game, scheduled for July 14 at Dodger Stadium, has been canceled.
At Comerica Park in Detroit, the effects of virus precautions were evident.
“There’s Xs in the dugout where we can and can’t stand. You have to come down to the field one way and back off the field another way,” Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer said. “It’s going to definitely take some getting used to, but as long as we’re playing baseball, I can follow about anything.”
Trout, the three-time AL MVP, wants to wait a bit.
The Los Angeles Angels outfielder and his wife, Jessica, are expecting the couple’s first child in August.
“Honestly, I still don’t feel that comfortable,” the 28-year-old star said.
“If I test positive, I talked to doctors and they said I couldn’t see the baby for 14 days or Jess can’t see the baby for 14 days if she’s positive, we’re going to be upset,” he said.
Mets catcher Wilson Ramos could sympathize.
“It’s hard right now to be here,” Ramos said, thinking of his wife and children in Florida. “But at the same time, I’m very happy to be here doing what we love to do.”
Phillies star Bryce Harper had his own crowd. His pregnant wife and their 10-month-old son accompanied him to Philadelphia.
“The last three days, understanding what we’re going to do on the field, understanding that we do have to wear masks wherever we go, those are things you have to get used to and respect the people around you ... I feel safe right now,” Harper said.
In Phoenix, it was 102 degrees as the Arizona Diamondbacks held their first summer workout at steamy Chase Field, which had the roof closed but the window panels on the back wall open.
MLB CANCELS ALL-STAR GAME >>
Dodger Stadium’s 40-year wait to host the All-Star Game is going to last even longer.
The game scheduled for July 14 was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, and Dodger Stadium was awarded the 2022 Midsummer Classic. The 2021 game is set for Atlanta’s Truist Park, home to the Braves since 2017.
“Once it became clear we were unable to hold this year’s All-Star festivities, we wanted to award the Dodgers with the next available All-Star Game, which is 2022,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
No date for the 2022 game has been announced, although Dodgers President Stan Kasten said it would take place in the third week of July.
This year will be the first time since 1945 that no game is held. Travel restrictions because of World War II kept the game scheduled for Boston’s Fenway Park and any player selections from taking place that year.