Baseball Eyeing Possible Return For Mets, Yankees, Phils: Report

Fans of the New York Yankees, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies who've been wishing for a little baseball may soon get their wish.

Major League Baseball and its players are reportedly working on a plan that would see a return to the field as early as May, an idea that would allow America's Pastime to become the first professional sport to return amid the coronavirus crisis. ESPN reported the plan "has the support of high-ranking federal public health officials" and would likely be the most unique season in baseball history.

Major League Baseball officials issued a statement later Tuesday morning saying the league has been exploring options but that no details are settled. The statement said the league has "not sought or received approval of any plan from federal, state or local officials, or the Players Association."

ESPN's report said the plan does not include fans going out to their local ballparks. Instead of games at Citi Field, Citizens Bank Park and Yankee Stadium, all 30 teams would play at stadiums scattered across the greater Phoenix area. Players, coaches and team personnel "would live in relative isolation" at hotels.

If everything goes right, MLB could begin play in May or June, ESPN reported. The most important thing would a robust COVID-19 testing process with a quick turnaround that would not adversely affect the public's access to testing.

The statement from Major League Baseball said that while the one-location plan has been discussed, "We have not settled on that option or developed a detailed plan."

"MLB has been actively considering numerous contingency plans that would allow play to commence once the public health situation has improved to the point that it is safe to do so," the statement said. "While we have discussed the idea of staging games at one location as one potential option, we have not settled on that option or developed a detailed plan."

The ESPN report said that instead of fans in the stands, the players would sparsely populate the stands instead of sitting in the dugouts. Other changes would include using an electronic strike zone to keep umpires far enough from players, and a number of seven-inning doubleheaders to get close to the usual 162 games, despite the late start.

Major League Baseball officials shut down spring training and indefinitely delayed the start of the season in mid-March.

So while the plan would mean no entertaining dances from the Phillie Phanatic, no big apple rising after home runs at Citi Field and no Judge's Chambers at Yankee Stadium, there would be games to watch.

Read the full ESPN story

With reporting by Mike Carraggi, Patch staff