Ryan Zimmerman remains undecided about playing baseball this season when Major League Baseball takes the field next month. In his latest installment of his diary with the Associated Press, the Washington Nationals infielder candidly expressed his concerns and potential roadblocks to playing his 16th season.
Zimmerman has a three-week old baby. Additionally, his mother multiple sclerosis and is high-risk for complications of COVID-19. He is concerned if he opts to play, he won’t be able to see her until weeks after the season is over.
“I’m still deciding whether to play. When it comes down to it, it’s a decision not just for me, but for my family as well.”
The concern of safety for players amid the COVID-19 pandemic is alarming. Players around MLB have already tested positive for the coronavirus with voluntary workouts, causing the league to shut down spring training facilities in Arizona and Florida once again for deep cleaning.
The risk of players contracting COVID-19 may increase as teams convene to the delayed start of the season. Players will be exposed through travel, hotels, and being around each other, areas of concern for Zimmerman.
But I’m thinking more about the health and safety perspective — and the toughest part for us is going to be the travel aspect of it. That includes for “spring training,” when people are going to be flying in from all across the country and from out of the country, as well. It’ll be interesting to see just how that part of it works out, with so many people going from wherever they are and gathering together all of a sudden.
Zimmerman compared MLB’s restart to those of the NBA and NHL. Both those leagues are planning to resume their halted seasons with a “bubble” concept of teams competing in one city. With baseball resuming with teams playing in their home markets, forcing travel, Zimmerman highlights how the players not the owners will be exposed.
“Once games begin in the NBA and NHL, they’re not going to travel from city to city. Once they’re in their places, they’re there. And I’ll tell you this about baseball: The owners aren’t going to be traveling with us. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be hanging out at their houses, watching baseball on TV.”
Zimmerman makes a great point. The focus has been on the desire to resume the season. Lost in the process are the challenges the players and personnel will face — not just them staying healthy but their families they will come in contact with.
