Following a call with all thirty Major League teams and a consultation with the MLB Players Association, Major League Baseball canceled the remainder of its Spring Training games.
The start of the 2020 season will be delayed at least two weeks as a result of the national emergency created by the coronavirus pandemic.
For a person that loves sports, this truly is not fun. Life with all of the sports leagues either being delayed, suspended, or cancelled, has not been the best. However of course, the precautions that have been taken to reduce the chance of players, staff, and fans from contracting the coronavirus need to be taken and are very understandable.
The Yankees were hit with a plethora of injuries during the 2019 season, and before the 2020 season was delayed, when Yankees fans thought the injury bug was gone, the Yankees took even more hits.
- Gary Sanchez – Back soreness
- Aaron Judge – Fractured rib
- Giancarlo Stanton – Calf strain
- James Paxton – Removal of cyst
- Aaron Hicks – Tommy John surgery
- Luis Severino – Tommy John surgery
- Zack Britton – Hit in wrist by a line drive
Now that the season is delayed, the Yankees may be able to recover from these injuries and may just be ready for when the season begins, aside from Luis Severino.
Aaron Boone told @MLBNetworkRadio that whenever Opening Day does occur, he believes Aaron Judge, James Paxton and Giancarlo Stanton could all be healthy and ready to go.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 16, 2020
The only player on that list that would not have been able to return in 2020 was Luis Severino, as he underwent his Tommy John surgery happened quite recently. Judge and Stanton were likely to miss Opening Day, but now, with it delayed, they will hopefully be ready for whenever Opening Day actually is. Hicks was scheduled to be back around mid-May, but May could be when Opening Day is, so he could even be ready for Opening Day. Paxton was on track to be recovered and fully healthy from his cyst removal 3-4 months after his surgery, which he underwent on February 6th.
If Opening Day is in May or later, Paxton could also be ready to go. Gary Sanchez experienced some back soreness, but with the delayed season, he should be all rested and good to go when the season resumes.
Zack Britton was hit on the wrist by a line drive on March 11th but was expected to pitch on the 14th.
Aside from Severino, all Yankees players out with an injury could very well be back before the season begins.
Some good can come from this delayed season.
Featured Image: Seth Wenig/Associated Press
