Texas Rangers to allow 100% capacity

For most of t he past year, as the nation shuttered and struggled to fight the coronavirus, the Texas Rangers, following the lead of Gov. Greg Abbott, adopted more of a devil-may-care attitude toward the pandemic.

As millions stayed home, the Rangers urged their workers to report for duty at Globe Life Field, to the point an employee told ESPN employees were “terrified for their safety.”

As Major League Baseball's 30 franchises played games without fans while adhering to local guidelines to stop the spread of COVID19, Texas and its Rangers flung its doors open to MLB, offering to host three rounds of postseason games as well as 25% occupancy for NLCS and World Series games.

The Rangers on Wednesday announced they will impose no restrictions on attendance at Globe Life Field, inviting Texans to fill up their second- year ballpark 40,000 strong for their home opener April 5 against Toronto.

The Rangers' announcement comes eight days after Abbott lifted a statewide mask mandate and allowed businesses to operate at full capacity, rescinding “most of the executive orders” he'd issued since the virus began its spread in March 2020.

The Rangers will require masks to be worn by fans, except when actively eating and drinking.

REDS: Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto tested positive for COVID19 on Wednesday and was placed on the injured list.

V otto missed two games, a doubleheader in Detroit, when he was on the injured list without an injury designation last season after he reported COVID-19 symptoms.

Players who test positive will have to quarantine for at least 10 days and won't be allowed to access team facilities during that time, according to the league's health and safety protocols. Votto will undergo a cardiac evaluation before returning.