MLB Opening Day delayed at least 2 weeks

BALTIMORE, MD—Orioles fans are going to have to wait a little longer to see the team in action this year.

Following a call with the 30 clubs, and after consultation with the Major League Baseball Players Association, Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. on Thursday announced that MLB had decided to suspend Spring Training games and to delay the start of the 2020 regular season by at least two weeks due to the national emergency created by the coronavirus pandemic.

MLB will continue to evaluate ongoing events leading up to the start of the season. Guidance related to daily operations and workouts will be relayed to clubs in the coming days.

As of 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, forthcoming Spring Training games have been cancelled, and 2020 World Baseball Classic Qualifier games in Tucson, Ariz., have been postponed indefinitely.

MLB and the clubs have been preparing a variety of contingency plans regarding the 2020 regular season schedule.

The league will announce the effects on the schedule at an appropriate time and will remain flexible as events warrant, with the hope of resuming normal operations as quickly as possible.