For nearly two months now, the 2020 MLB season has been on hold due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. But it appears the Cleveland Indians may know the answer to when the league will be kicking off its 2020 campaign.
According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, Indians officials told their players to prepare for the league's new Opening Day to be held on July 1. The revelation came during a Zoom call with 70 members of the organization, in which it was also shared that a three-week "Spring Training 2.0" was expected to begin on June 1.
Rosenthal said the dates mentioned were targets that could change, but that the Indians wanted their players to be prepared should the league overcome all of its "logistical challenges."
While MLB has yet to confirm these plans, the dates mentioned by the Indians, per Rosenthal, coincide with the dates shared by former Major League pitcher Trevor Plouffe in a tweet earlier this week.
As for what baseball will look like when -- or if -- it returns, that remains unclear. Last week, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the league was considering splitting into three geographic-based divisions, eliminating the traditional American League and National League format.
While those games would be played at MLB ballparks, the possibility exists teams would need to begin their seasons in hubs, including Arizona, Texas and Florida. According to Rosenthal, league officials are currently concerned about the possibility of a surge in coronavirus cases in states that are reopening their economies, which could further delay baseballs' return.