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The 2020 season of the Major League Baseball (MLB) finally got underway with the 2019 World Series champions, the Washington Nationals, losing the season game opener to the New York Yankees, 4-1.
The 2020 MLB season got delayed for four months due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
And, also because COVID-19 is still very much around, the 2020 MLB season is shortened to 60 games instead of the regular 162 games.
Thus, it was only but fitting that Dr. Anthony Fauci would throw the ceremonial first pitch for the Nationals.
Fauci is not only the leading expert in infectious disease in the U.S., but he is also a big Nationals fan.
Fauci had told the Nationals' first baseman, Ryan Zimmerman, that he is nervous about throwing the ceremonial pitch.
Zimmerman, who opted to sit out the 2020 season, told Fauci not to worry as there would be no one around to boo him should he bounce the ball.
As part of the COVID-19 pandemic, fans are not allowed to watch the games. So, the teams will be playing in empty stadiums. Some of the teams, however, are opting to fill the bleachers with cardboard cutouts of spectators and piped-in sound effects mimicking a noisy crowd.
Aside from Zimmerman, the Washington Nationals will also be missing pitcher Joe Ross and outfielder Juan Soto who had tested positive for COVID-19.
Zimmerman has decided to forego this season because of the COVID-19. In a message, Zimmerman said that he believes not playing this season is best for his family. Aside from having three young children, Zimmerman's mother is also a COVID-19 high risk as she is suffering from multiple sclerosis.
Ross, for his part, cited personal health and his family's safety as his reasons for not playing.
Nationals team manager Mike Rizzo said that they are supporting the players' decision not to play 100 percent.
The Washington Nationals will face the Yankees again on July 26 and 27 still at the Nationals Park as part of this season's changes wherein games will be played against regional teams so their travels will be limited.
Image credit courtesy of Dan Gold/Unsplash
