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Following last night’s announcements that the NBA and the MLS seasons would both be suspended in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well an announcement this morning from the NHL, the MLB has indicated that it is indefinitely suspending spring training beginning tomorrow. No official notice has yet been given, though one appears to be forthcoming.
After a conference call among owners this afternoon, Major League Baseball is expected to suspend spring training. The league likely will delay the beginning of the regular season as well. At this point, it's a formality that ownership-level sources expect to happen.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 12, 2020
Announcement expected shortly that MLB will be suspending operations. More details to come.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 12, 2020
While no official word has been given on the status of the regular season, ESPN’s Jeff Passan notes that it is likely to be delayed, at the very least. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman reports that spring training games will halt as of tomorrow.
So spring training games will halt as of Friday
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) March 12, 2020
In an hour there is a conference call with Rob Manfred and the 30 owners. MLB will make an official announcement afterward.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) March 12, 2020
According to Sherman, an official announcement can be anticipated shortly after 11:30 AM PST.
UPDATE, 12:08 PM PST:
According to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, spring training has been cancelled as of 4 PM EST today, and the start of the regular season has been postponed at least two weeks. As Opening Day was originally scheduled for March 26, the earliest the season could start would now be April 9.
MLB is Pushing start of season back by minimum of two weeks and will continue to monitor and see when is best to resume. Spring Training games cancelled as of 4pm ET today.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 12, 2020
UPDATE, 12:11 PM PST:
MLB has officially confirmed that spring training has been cancelled as of 4 PM EST today, and that the regular season hasbeen postponed at least two weeks. Here is the official release.
2020 Opening Day to be delayed by at least two weeks; Spring Training Games cancelled beginning today; and @WBCBaseball Qualifier games postponed indefinitely due to the national emergency created by the coronavirus pandemic. pic.twitter.com/yCgUHkdfpF
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) March 12, 2020
This is an ongoing story which will be updated as news becomes available.