Despite the regular season not starting for another three weeks and most everyone else trying to celebrate Independence Day the best they could on Saturday, it turned out to be a newsworthy day in Major League Baseball.
Pitchers David Price and Felix Hernandez both decided to opt out of playing in the 2020 season, with the Dodgers and Braves respectively both citing personal fears of COVID-19. Under agreements with MLB and the MLBPA, both players will not be paid during the upcoming season. Price in a statement said, “After considerable thought and discussion with my family and the Dodgers, I have decided it is in the best interest of my health and my family’s health for me not to play this season. I’m sorry I won’t be playing for you this year, but look forward to representing you next year.” Price had been acquired from Boston in an offseason trade, and Hernandez joined Atlanta after 15 seasons with the Seattle Mariners. In other news from the Braves, four time All Star first baseman Freddie Freeman along with pitchers Will Smith and Touki Toissant and infielder Pete Kozma all tested positive for coronavirus.
Also on Saturday, a scary moment in the Bronx on the second day of spring training 2.0 for the New York Yankees. Starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka took a line drive off the right side of his head off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton during a simulated game. Tanaka went down hard but was moving after being hit, and despite being down on the ground for almost five minutes was able to walk off under his own power before being taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital where he had a CT scan done that came back negative. He reportedly had concussion like symptoms but was later released and is doing well according to manager Aaron Boone. Tanaka will undergo standard concussion protocols, says Boone. The right hander has gone 75-43 with a 3.75 ERA with 947 strikeouts in six seasons with the Yanks. He later released a statment on his Twitter account saying, “I appreciate all the support. I feel it a bit right now, but I’m all good. Going to try to get back on the mound ASAP! Thanks again for all the encouraging words!”.
