(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
 2020 Major League Baseball-season opens on July 23 and 24
Nederlands
 NEW YORK CITY, New York (USA) -
The 2020 Major League Baseball-season will begin on July 23 and 24.
In a press release on Wednesday (June 24), MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that MLB anticipates to start the season with opening games on July 23 and 24.
Players will have to report for the second version of this years 'Spring Training' on July 1.
It is proposed that all teams play 60 games, followed by Play-Offs and the World Series.
On March 12, Spring Training was abruptly halted effectively immediately and the start of the season was suspended due to measures taken to fight the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
During the pandemic, since March, most sports events and competitions have been either cancelled or were postponed worldwide.
The press release of MLB continues as follows:
,,The announcement follows confirmation today that the MLB Players Association has accepted the health and safety protocols that will guide MLB’s return to play and that players will be able to report for training by July 1st.
The health and safety of players and employees will remain MLB’s foremost priorities in its return to play.
MLB is working with a variety of public health experts, infectious disease specialists and technology providers on a comprehensive approach that aims to facilitate a safe return.
MLB has submitted a 60-game regular season schedule for review by the Players Association.
The proposed schedule will largely feature divisional play, with the remaining portion of each Club’s games against their opposite league’s corresponding geographical division (i.e., East vs. East, Central vs. Central and West vs. West), in order to mitigate travel.
The vast majority of Major League Clubs are expected to conduct training at the ballparks in their primary home cities.
Commissioner Manfred said: “Major League Baseball is thrilled to announce that the 2020 season is on the horizon.
We have provided the Players Association with a schedule to play 60 games and are excited to provide our great fans with Baseball again soon.''''
It was also reported that players will undergo COVID-19 testing upon arrival, then begin workouts if they test negative.
Players, coaches and support staff will be tested every other day during training camps, the regular season and postseason.
Anybody testing positive will be quarantined.
Players will also receive temperature and symptom checks at least twice per day.
To prepare for the new season, most teams will have their preparations, named 'Spring Training 2.0' at their home stadium, instead of at their Spring Training-facilities in Florida or Arizona.
Both States currently have a spike of the coronavirus, which resulted in the closing of all Spring Training-complexes.
In further reports, it was announced that the designated hitter-rule will be used in both Leagues this year.
The DH-rule has been used in the American League only.
During the World Series, the DH is used when games are played at the site of the AL-champion.
When the season begins, all teams will have 30 players on their roster.
This will be reduced to 28 after two weeks and to 26 after four weeks.
This season was to be the first with a 26-man roster instead of 25.
During extra inning games, the international tie-break rule will be used, meaning a runner will be placed on second base to start each inning from the 10th on.
This rule has been in use for several years now during international tournaments.
Team personnel that is not participating in the game, as well as the starting pitcher for the next game, will be seated in the stands or another designated area, separated by 1.8 meters (six feet).
Non-playing personnel who are needed in the dug-out or bullpen must wear masks at all times.
Spitting or chewing tobacco is not allowed.
Also not allowed are high-fives, fist bumps, hugs and other contacts to celebrate.
PLAY BALL!
(June 24)
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