Yankees aren't quite sure where they will play the Nationals on opening day
NEW YORK — In yet another reminder of how difficult it will be to pull off a baseball season in the middle of a pandemic, the Yankees aren’t sure where they will open the season with just seven days to go in training camp.
The Yankees are technically scheduled to open the 2020 season on Thursday in Washington D.C., but that may have to be adjusted. The Washington Post reported Thursday afternoon that city regulations, requiring a 14-day quarantine for any one who comes in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, have not been waived for MLB, forcing the team and league to try and find alternate parks in which to play.
“The main reason for the uncertainty is that players, coaches and staff have to quarantine for 14 days if they are exposed to the novel coronavirus, per the city’s health protocols. D.C. is unwilling to bend that requirement for the Nationals,” according to the Post.
A league source told the Daily News that is the issue that now has the league and team uncertain about if they will be able to use Nationals Park this season. The Nats were considering their spring training site in West Palm Beach, Fla., and their Triple-A park in Fredericksburg, Va.
West Palm Beach is close to the Miami epicenter of Florida’s now raging outbreak of the virus, but does not have the same quarantine regulations. It also is set up for Major League Baseball with video equipment.
The Yankees only learned of the issue Thursday afternoon.
According to an industry source, with just seven days until the opener, there is no idea when the location will be finalized.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo worked with the Yankees and Mets to waive a 14-day quarantine for players and teams coming from hotspots like Florida and Georgia.
The New York State Department of Health issued guidance easing the travel order for all professional sports teams, allowing players, coaches and team staff to break quarantine to play games, practice or provide support.
“Individuals from a state with significant rates of transmission of COVID-19 to New York State for a professional sports activity … may travel to the extent necessary to participate in the professional sports activity, but must otherwise remain quarantined,” according to a guidance document issued by the state Department of Health.
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