MiLB 2020 Season Gets Canceled Officially

Major league baseball players have already started returning to the training camp facilities to start spring training. The league has decided to resume play as was agreed even after the news of 40 people including players and staff being tested positive for coronavirus came in. While MLB is on its paths to these positive developments, there is certainly some bad news for the Minor League Baseball (MiLB), which has made official announcements of 2020 Season cancellation.

Fans & Players Reaction.

Anything like this is happening for the first time in the entire 120-year of the league's history — when the entire season has been canceled. The fans pretty much have assumed that it would not be possible for the league to play the entire season given the mayhem the pandemic has caused and is still causing. But it is completely shocking for them to accept that the entire season has been canceled. This announcement has completely ruled out any hope of MiLB happening this year.

MiLB president Pat O'Conner, in the announcement, said that "These are unprecedented times for our country, and our organization as this is the first time in our history that we've had a summer without Minor League baseball players. While this is a sad day for many, this announcement removes the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season and allows our teams to begin planning for an exciting 2021 season of affordable family entertainment.”

How will the Decision affect Prospects?

This is indeed bad news for the players who were looking forward to progressing their careers and making a living this summer. This year is going to be a challenging year for prospects with respect to receiving instructions. The officials have informed that most prospects won’t be getting any instructions or maybe not to the extent that they usually get. Only a handful of the MiLB prospects would be allowed to take part in their MLB team's 60-player roster pool. Only these handfuls of players will be getting the chance to participate in drills and practice and remain around the club. Some of them may also be called on to suit up for the big league club. However, for most of the MiLB players, this is going to be simply no action year.

About the Fall League or winter league.

However, we cannot say anything about the Fall League or winter league, but it may or may not happen. For now, it would be too soon to come to any conclusion with the prevailing pathetic condition of the pandemic and how it will affect the world during fall or winter. In case, the second wave of the pandemic kicks in, the plans may get ruined. This is why the owners have decided to make these announcements only when we reach there.

Minors’ Pay & League’s Other Preparations.

At this time, minors are barely being paid. In fact, most minors are not paid any high. However, during the pandemic, every minor is getting $400 weekly stipends. Most clubs have decided to pay this amount to the minors at least till July.

Until most minors won’t be in action, they can work towards achieving the goal that the league has been trying to push forwards from quite some time. There will be a lot of transformations taking place during this whole episode of the shutdown. By the time Minor league Baseball is back, it will have an altogether different outlook. As many as 40 teams may lose their affiliate status and more such developments may come.