2020 minor-league season canceled amid coronavirus pandemic

Minor League Baseball has decided that it cannot put on a 2020 season after MLB informed its league officials that it cannot provide players this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, MiLB announced Tuesday

"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 played," league president and CEO Pat O'Connor said in a statement. "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."

Though the cancellation of the minor-league season has been expected throughout the pandemic, the expansion of MLB rosters from a typical 40-man to the 60-player pools that will be used this year only solidified the 2020 MiLB season's demise.

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Twenty-eight MLB teams have reportedly committed to paying their minor-league players through the month of July, but only 19 of those clubs have made any kind of pledge beyond that and just eight (including the Nationals and Orioles) ensured their players that they would be compensated through the rest of the regular season.

MLB plans to begin its season July 23, playing 60 games with no fans in the stands and plethora of safety measures in place for preventing further spread of the disease.

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2020 minor-league season canceled amid coronavirus pandemic originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

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