CLEVELAND — Opening Day for the Cleveland Indians' 2020 season is finally almost here.
And it figures to be unlike any Opening Day unlike any other.
But while fans won't be in the stands for the foreseeable future -- and possibly not at all for the rest of the season -- the Indians still plan to commemorate the start of their 2020 campaign. On Thursday, the team announced the following festivities will take place at Progressive Field ahead of Friday's 7:10 p.m. matchup against the Kansas City Royals (which will air on Channel 3).
Ceremonial First Pitch: The Indians will air a pre-recorded first pitch, which will be thrown out by Aleta Wissner, a Cleveland Clinic caregiver from the Fairview Hospital Med/Surg COVID-19 unit.
National anthem: A pre-recorded version of the Star-Spangled Banner performed by the string section of the Cleveland Orchestra will be played.
God Bless America: A pre-recorded version played by the Cleveland Orchestra.
Frito Lay Ball Play Intro: A pre-taped intro from some of Cleveland Clinic’s frontline heroes.
Additionally, there will be pregame moments honoring social justice initiatives and a moment of silence for lives lost during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We got a peak at how these moments might look during Thursday's games in Washington and Los Angeles.
3News will have total coverage of today's game beginning with "GO!" in the morning and later on with a special pregame show at 5 p.m. on "What's New." It all leads up to the first pitch at 7:10 p.m.