Major League Baseball let teams know on Tuesday that the start of the 2021 Triple-A season will be delayed by a month. As a result, MLB clubs will operate alternative training sites similar to those used during the pandemic shortened 2020 season.
The Triple-A season would initially start on April 6, but the matches will be postponed until early May, about the same time that the Double-A and Class A seasons are expected to begin. Some Triple-A teams will tentatively start their seasons on May 4, with the rest two days later.
“This is a wise move to complete the Major League and Minor League seasons as safely as possible, and we look forward to having fans back in ball parks across the country soon,” said Morgan Sword, executive VP for baseball operations of MLB, in a statement.
With the COVID-19 pandemic ending the 2020 Minor League season, alternative sites have been set up as part of MLB’s health and safety protocols, giving clubs a nearby place to train and develop players during the shortened MLB -campaign.
It is still undecided how many players will be allowed in the alternative venues this year. Last season, clubs submitted 60-man player coils, and those who were included in a player pool but were not on the active roster in the Major League could practice on the alternative field. The difference this year is that there will be a simultaneous spring training in April, offering clubs more options to get their minor players prepared for the season.
The reinstatement of the alternative training sites will reduce the risk by temporarily eliminating the commercial air travel that would be required during the Triple-A season. The alternative sites also make it easier for MLB teams to oversee coronavirus testing and to manage protocols.
Meanwhile, the delay of the Triple-A season increases the chance that players can vaccinate before the start of the season, as the COVID-19 vaccine is still being rolled out across the country. President Biden announced Tuesday that by the end of May, there will be enough vaccine for every adult in the United States.