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MLB To Hold 5-Round Draft

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MLB has decided upon a five-round draft this summer, according to Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com (links to Twitter). The union had previously agreed to the possibility of a draft as short as five rounds, though more recently had pushed for a lengthier process.

Commissioner Rob Manfred laid down the decision when MLB and the MLBPA could not come to an agreement on the particulars. Interestingly, Passan notes, a ten-round draft was also preferred by baseball operations departments. The version on offer from the league would’ve effectively separated the draft into two five-round sections with greater spending limitations on the latter half, along with a cap on undrafted signings.

Ultimately, it seems, owners were more concerned with avoiding the cost of additional bonuses than they were intrigued by the potential to acquire more high-end talent in the later stages of the draft. Draft-eligible players that are not selected in the five rounds will be eligible to sign for a maximize bonus of $20K.

Teams may struggle to woo players they don’t select. Typically, later-round choices can be paid quite a bit more than $20K. With collegiate play a viable alternative, many will elect to await a (hopefully) more lucrative professional starting point.

Then again, perhaps teams will find some success competing with geography, promises of advancement and opportunity, and other creative inducements. Manfred will no doubt need to be proactive in policing this arena. There’s huge potential upside to be had, which creates some potentially worrying incentives.

Finding value in the draft has long been a chief aim of baseball ops departments. Now they’ll have never-before-seen chances to sign an unlimited number of players for bargain prices. That’ll involve recruitment, of course, but there’s a rare possibility for major imbalance in the talent haul.

Even putting aside worries of rule-breaking behavior, there’ll be potential for havoc. Joel Sherman of the New York Post notes (Twitter link) the possibility of pressure on “late”-round picks to take what they can get or face a $20K cap. There’s also a sense that innumerable soft factors could sway large numbers of players in varying directions, as Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com notes on Twitter. There’ll certainly be downstream effects for players that choose to enter or remain in the collegiate and JuCo ranks.

Which CPBL/KBO Team Are You Adopting?

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It may not be the majors, but the Taiwanese and Korean leagues have offered us all a chance to watch competitive baseball while MLB is on hold. Surely some MLBTR readers are partaking … no doubt a few have even adopted new favorite teams.

It’d be even easier to fall in love with these fun leagues if fans were in attendance. Having attended some Japanese games in person myself, I can tell you it’s quite an experience to see how the game is enjoyed on the other side of the Pacific. But even without the full pageantry, there’s a lot to enjoy — bat flips, of course, being the best-known form of punctuation.

So, if you’re following the Chinese Professional Baseball League and/or Korea Baseball Organization, which team have you taken to rooting for? For those that haven’t yet decided, here’s the list … with the team’s former MLB players noted in case you need some help picking.

CPBL

KBO

50 Biggest Deals Of The 2014-15 Offseason

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We previously re-lived the 50 biggest stories of the 2015-16 offseason on a looooong Twitter thread. People seemed to like the concept but some were less than enthused by the cluttered Twitter feed. This time, we’ll do it in a post.

If you need a refresher on the 2014-15 market, you can peruse these background materials:

Here’s how the fifty biggest moves (in my view) ultimately played out, with links to the original MLBTR posts:

  • 11/10/14 Mets Sign Michael Cuddyer “Essentially, by turning down the qualifying offer, Cuddyer guaranteed himself an additional $5.7MM and a second year.”
  • 11/14/14 Tigers Sign Victor Martinez “He was reportedly the Tigers’ top priority this offseason, and the team characteristically struck quickly … “
  • 11/17/14 Cardinals Acquire Jason Heyward From Braves For Shelby Miller “A blockbuster in every sense of the word … “
  • 11/18/14 Blue Jays Sign Russell Martin “The contract is a major commitment to a catcher who will turn 32 years old in February … “
  • 11/19/14 Athletics Sign Billy Butler “A rough 2014 season reduced his value but certainly could not detract entirely from his solid track record and young age.”
  • 11/25/14 Red Sox Sign Pablo Sandoval “Sandoval, 28, had spent his entire seven-year Major League career with the Giants, becoming a fan favorite due to his “Kung Fu Panda” persona and his clutch bat.”
  • 11/25/14 Red Sox Sign Hanley Ramirez “It’s clear that the Red Sox are looking to amass as many top bats as possible in the increasingly pitching-dominated league.”
  • 11/25/14 White Sox Sign Adam LaRoche “Left-handed power has been a priority for the Sox this offseason, and LaRoche will bring just that to the table … “
  • 11/28/14 Blue Jays Acquire Josh Donaldson “This deal’s franchise-changing implications are evident on its face.”
  • 12/3/14 Braves Sign Nick Markakis “For Atlanta, the move marks yet another fascinating plot point in an offseason of change.”
  • 12/3/14 Blue Jays Acquire J.A. Happ From Mariners For Michael Saunders “Both teams have been aggressive in adding talent early in the offseason, and this move seems to set up additional action for each.”
  • 12/4/14 Mariners Sign Nelson Cruz “He arguably provides the Mariners with the best power upgrade money could buy on the free agent market.”
  • 12/5/14 Yankees Acquire Didi Gregorius In 3-Team Deal With Tigers, Diamondbacks “The Yankees, Diamondbacks and Tigers have officially announced a three-team trade sending shortstop Didi Gregorius from the D-Backs to the Yankees, right-hander Shane Greene from the Yankees to the Tigers, and left-hander Robbie Ray and infield prospect Domingo Leyba to the Diamondbacks.”
  • 12/5/14 Yankees Sign Andrew Miller “Miller will pair with Dellin Betances — an electric breakout story himself — at the back of the Yankee bullpen, giving manager Joe Girardi a pair of dominant late-inning options.”
  • 12/8/14 Indians Acquire Brandon Moss “The Indians will gladly roll the dice on a recovery, especially since the club will have a chance to decide whether to tender Moss after the season.”
  • 12/9/14 White Sox Acquire Jeff Samardzija “Samardzija was born in Indiana, grew up a White Sox fan, and of course played most of his previous big-league career with the Cubs, so his return to Chicago will represent a homecoming.”
  • 12/9/14 Diamondbacks Sign Yasmany Tomas “The 70-grade raw power is the right-handed hitter’s calling card. His other tools appear largely to be average or slightly below, and it remains unclear precisely what position Tomas will play and how his defensive ability will shake out.”
  • 12/10/14 White Sox Sign David Robertson “Some observers felt that the White Sox were in need of a rebuild this winter, but they apparently believe very strongly that they can win in 2015.”
  • 12/11/14 Tigers Acquire Yoenis Cespedes From Red Sox For Rick Porcello “With generally equivalent contractual situations between the two players — Porcello will cost slightly more, but comes with the possibility of a qualifying offer — this deal is a fairly straightforward talent swap.”
  • 12/11/14 Dodgers, Marlins Agree To 7-Player Trade “With the Dodgers reportedly open to dealing Gordon and the Marlins open to trading from their surplus of young arms, the two made sense as trade partners, especially with Miami rather thin in the middle infield.”
  • 12/11/14 Dodgers Acquire Howie Kendrick “The Angels were said to be targeting young pitching for much of the offseason, and they’ve now landed one of the game’s top prospects in Heaney.”
  • 12/11/14 Marlins Acquire Mat Latos “Though Latos has had some recent arm issues, he is an excellent performer when healthy.”
  • 12/11/14 Tigers Acquire Alfredo Simon “Simon comes with plenty of questions as to whether he can repeat his effort.”
  • 12/12/14 Cubs Sign Jason Hammel “Signing Hammel would help them stabilize the middle of their rotation, but presumably would not preclude them from continuing to pursue an ace like Lester.”
  • 12/12/14 Red Sox Acquire Wade Miley “While Miley isn’t the durable lefty the Red Sox were hoping to land during the Winter Meetings, Miley is at least younger and far cheaper than Jon Lester … “
  • 12/12/14 Astros Sign Luke Gregerson “The deal may be surprising at first glance, but only if you have not been paying attention to how good Gregerson has been.”
  • 12/14/14 White Sox Sign Melky Cabrera “The move continues an offseason transformation for the White Sox … “
  • 12/15/14 Twins Sign Ervin Santana “By acting more quickly this time around, he was able to secure the multi-year pact he was looking for.”
  • 12/15/14 Yankees Sign Chase Headley “Even if Headley’s 2012 was the offensive peak of his career — and his numbers since that time suggest that it was — the switch-hitter can still bring plenty of value as an average to above-average bat capable of playing elite defense at third base.”
  • 12/15/14 Pirates Sign Francisco Liriano “For an organization that has seen its fortunes change over the last two years, the investment in a major free agent represents both a continuation and departure.”
  • 12/15/14 Astros Sign Jed Lowrie “The 30-year-old Lowrie will serve as Houston’s shortstop in the early stages of the contract — presumably until top prospect Carlos Correa is ready to take over the position.”
  • 12/16/14 Cubs Sign Jon Lester “In Chicago, Lester will front the rotation of an emerging Cubs team that was on the lookout for top-level pitching to complement their outstanding core of young hitting.”
  • 12/16/14 Dodgers Sign Brandon McCarthy “A four-year guarantee would’ve seemed like a fantasy for McCarthy as recently as last summer when he had a 5.01 ERA through 18 starts with Arizona.”
  • 12/18/14 Padres Acquire Matt Kemp “The trade was just one of several major transactions for the Dodgers during a frenzied Winter Meetings.”
  • 12/19/14 Padres Acquire Wil Myers In Three-Team Trade With Rays, Nats “Unpacking this deal is not easy, but it certainly begins with Myers — not only the marquee piece of this trade, but also the key player in the deal that sent James Shields to the Royals two years ago.”
  • 12/19/14 Padres Acquire Justin Upton “New Padres GM A.J. Preller has completely reshaped his club’s offense in about one week’s time … “
  • 12/19/14 Marlins Acquire Martin Prado ” The Marlins will receive Prado, Phelps, and cash in exchange for Eovaldi, Jones, and German.”
  • 12/23/14 Giants Sign Jake Peavy “While the level of production he showed in the season’s second half is very likely to come back down to Earth, there’s no doubt that a full-time move to AT&T Park and the NL West will be of benefit to Peavy’s numbers.”
  • 12/31/14 Dodgers Sign Brett Anderson “Anderson is still only 26 years old and has generally been quite effective when healthy. But he has not thrown over 100 innings since 2010 … “
  • 1/10/15 Athletics Acquire Ben Zobrist“The Rays’ haul is considerable, as one would expect given Zobrist’s considerable talents.”
  • 1/14/15 Astros Acquire Evan Gattis “By adding Gattis, the Astros are adding another big right-handed bat to a lineup that already features two of them … “
  • 1/16/15 Pirates Sign Jung Ho Kang “Some scouts do think that Kang can be a regular in the Majors.”
  • 1/19/15 Rangers Acquire Yovani Gallardo  “In terms of performance, Gallardo has had his ups and downs but is undoubtedly a quality arm.”
  • 1/19/15 Cubs Acquire Dexter Fowler From Astros For Valbuena, Straily “It’s a win-now move for both teams, with the Cubs trading from depth to upgrade their outfield and the Astros getting a new third baseman and adding rotation insurance.”
  • 1/22/15 Nationals Sign Max Scherzer “The Nationals have officially agreed to sign the market’s top starting pitcher to join a rotation that already ranked among the league’s best.”
  • 2/11/15 Padres Sign James Shields “The deal continues an enormous offseason makeover for the Padres … “
  • 3/12/15 Red Sox Sign Yoan Moncada “Moncada, a 19-year-old switch-hitting infielder, is the most sought-after international prospect in recent history.”
  • 3/24/15 Dodgers Sign Hector Olivera  “The Dodgers outbid several teams for Olivera’s services, as the Padres, Marlins, Braves, Giants, Mariners, Yankees, Twins and A’s were said to have varying degrees of interest.”
  • 4/5/15 Padres Acquire Craig Kimbrel, Melvin Upton “The Padres are beginning the 2015 season with yet another blockbuster trade … “
  • 4/27/15 Rangers Acquire Josh Hamilton “Today’s trade brings to a close a tenure with the Angels that was marred not only by this most recent controversy, but also by injuries and a failure to live up to the lofty expectations that came along with his hefty five-year, $125MM contract.”

 

 

A-Rod Reportedly Bails On Mets Bid

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If you were looking forward to the spectacle of Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter squaring off from rival owners’ boxes in the NL East, this news will come as a disappointment. Per Thornton McEnery of the New York Post, A-Rod’s longshot attempt to pull together a bidding group for the Mets has been scuttled.

It seems that Rodriguez and fiancee Jenifer Lopez simply weren’t able to gain traction with potential co-investors and have decided to call off the effort. They made some headway with Wayne Rothbaum (see here and here) but obviously failed to put together a viable partnership.

The report goes on to dish about the Mets’ financial difficulties, which are a major factor in the ongoing efforts to sell the team. It seems the club could be looking at losses approaching or even reaching nine figures if the gates to Citi Field never open in 2020.

It’s certainly a suboptimal moment to be seeking a buyer for a baseball franchise. While the chance to own a New York team would normally hold great appeal, these aren’t typical times. The Mets’ longstanding financial woes loom larger than ever.

The difficult operational challenges facing a potential new owner are compounded by the fact that the current Wilpon ownership group is evidently committed to holding onto its ownership of the SNY regional sports network. Whether or not the Wilpons can keep their revenue-producing TV business while still moving the organization for a big price remains to be seen, but the marketplace seems rather skeptical.

MLB Preparing To Present MLBPA With Proposal For Resumption Of Play

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5:53pm: The league’s proposal is expected to be presented to the Players Association by early next week and perhaps before the weekend, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. It’s expected to include a pay scale, though Sherman indicates that the MLBPA “almost certainly will reject” the terms put forth by MLB. That said, the league’s aim is to begin preparing for a best-case scenario so that in the unlikely event it comes together, the wheels will be in motion. And, if not, the logistics groundwork laid on this effort can be applied to dates further down the road.

Meanwhile, Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes tweets that the MLBPA just issued a memo to its members emphasizing that no proposal from the league has been received — particularly not one that specifies dates.

1:49pm: ESPN’s Jeff Passan said on Sportscenter today that some clubs have told players to “get ready” but without a specific date in mind. The June 10 Spring Training date and potential July 1 opener that Plouffe and Hughes have mentioned are the likely the earliest possible dates but are far from set in place, as everything hinges on the state of the ongoing pandemic.

The league has yet to even come to the Players Association with a proposal for the resumption of play, although that’s expected to happen within the next week or so.

10:43am: A couple of recent big leaguers created quite a stir when they suggested that MLB could have some dates in mind for starting play in the 2020 season. Trevor Plouffe (Twitter link) and Phil Hughes (Twitter link) indicated that a June 10th resumption of Spring Training and July 1st Opening Day were at least on the table (or about to be placed thereon).

There isn’t much support for Plouffe’s rather more optimistic initial framing of the dates, though subsequent developments indicate there could be some actual discussion of this general timeline. Phillies skipper Joe Girardi says he has “heard some chatter about that” potential schedule, as Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia writes. Jon Heyman of MLB Network characterized the dates as aspirational, as he has before (Twitter link).

Most interestingly, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic writes (subscription link) that Indians officials have floated a July 1st Opening Day in comments to players. But the dates were not set forth as as a firm plan so much as “mere targets, fully expected to change.”

This latest round of intrigue surrounding a resumption of play seems destined to go the way of the others we’ve seen — that is to say, it’ll ultimately prove obsolete when the next proposal hits the newswire. But that doesn’t mean it’s irrelevant to discuss, given the indications of some level of realistic contemplation around the league.

It’s notable, at minimum, that MLB is considering a season in which most or all of the play would occur in its typical home parks. We’ve heard all manner of possibilities for play involving the gathering of players in certain geographical areas, which broadly would hold out some potential for limiting certain risks associated with hosting games during a pandemic but also quite a few logistical and other challenges.

More interesting still is the concept of re-gathering players as soon as a month from now. Agent Scott Boras would like to see it occur even sooner than that, though there’s no shortage of reasons to question whether his viewpoint will take the day.

Though we’re still left without anything approaching real guideposts for a return of professional baseball to North America, it seems safe to presume that notions of a 162-game season can be put to rest. At the same time, the desire to attempt something like an otherwise mostly “normal” campaign (albeit sans fans in attendance) may be rising, as against the more drastic changes to the format of the game that had previously been floated.

Indeed, the major takeaway here may lie elsewhere in Rosenthal’s report. He writes that “the league’s goal, according to sources, is to open in as many home cities as possible.” Unfortunately, it still seems more an informed hope than a developed plan at this stage.

Collin McHugh On Rehab Progress, Red Sox Role

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In an appearance on the podcast of Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com (audio link), veteran hurler Collin McHugh discussed his opportunity with the Red Sox and the potential return of baseball. It’s an interesting listen from a thoughtful ballplayer.

McHugh joined the Boston organization on an incentive-laden, one-year MLB deal in early March. That means he spent only a brief amount of time in camp before the spring activities were halted.

Still, McHugh says he was glad to get rolling with his new organization at the time. A December elbow procedure “cut a lot of options” that he had been exploring. Once he began to build back up, “a lot more interest started to snowball really quickly” and McHugh was able to join the Boston organization.

Now, there are signs or progress even as McHugh works out remotely. He says he’s “about a month into my throwing program” — which certainly bodes well for his availability once the season gets underway. McHugh is engaged in daily contact with the team.

Once the 2020 campaign gets started, McHugh says, he anticipates functioning in a flexible capacity for the team — perhaps moving between the rotation and the bullpen or working in a role that he described as a “hybrid-type thing.” That’ll surely depend upon the precise needs of the roster and McHugh’s progress by the time play resumes.

As ever, it’s also interesting to hear the different perspectives of players on when and how MLB can return to action. Most of the interview involves McHugh’s well-considered thoughts regarding the timing and nature of a return of the sport.

On The Royals’ Pair Of Potential Stars

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The Royals are trying to pull off a tough feat: a quick, low-pain rebound in place of a lengthy slog of a rebuild. That’s a tall task for any organization, but especially for a small-market franchise that pushed a lot of chips onto the table as part of a successful effort to maximize a recent window of contention.

As you might expect, the development of existing players is critical to this effort — as much or more than prospects, the younger big leaguers who’ll be relied upon to produce in the next few seasons. It’s absolutely critical for the K.C. organization to find some big-time production from players who aren’t commanding big salaries. Otherwise, deciding to hang onto Whit Merrifield, Salvador Perez, and other veterans could really sting in the long run.

The Royals have a pair of pre-arbitration players whose up-and-down careers to this point suggest equal parts upside and uncertainty. At times, shortstop Adalberto Mondesi and corner outfielder/infielder Hunter Dozier have performed like stars. But can they do so sustainably?

There’s plenty at stake for all parties. Both Mondesi and Dozier enter the 2020 season with two full years of MLB service, but not enough to reach Super Two status. Accordingly, they’ll be playing for their first big payday — as first-time arbitration-eligible players — whenever this campaign gets underway.

These two players have notable lineages and abundant physical ability. Mondesi’s dad had a long and excellent MLB career. Dozier was the eighth overall pick in the 2013 draft.

Their careers have certainly seen some peaks and valleys from those starting points. Mondesi shot up onto top-prospect rankings and burst onto the MLB scene with his first extended action in 2018, when he showed a rare blend of power (14 home runs in 291 plate appearances) and speed (32 stolen bases). But he took a step back at the plate last year — he posted an 82 wRC+ and Statcast credited him with a putrid .282 xwOBA — and ended up being shelved late in the season with shoulder surgery that he’s still fully recovering from.

Dozier’s dip came earlier in his professional career, as he struggled to convert promise into production in the minors. Health issues also intervened. By the end of the 2018 campaign, Dozier seemed likely to be a bust. He had reached but struggled at the MLB level and wasn’t hitting much in the upper minors. And then came 2019 … when Dozier suddenly broke out at the game’s highest level. He launched 26 long balls and posted a .279/.348/.522 slash line over 586 plate appearances, producing 85th percentile exit velocity and 80th percentile sprint speed. While Statcast still saw some good fortune in the batted-ball outcomes (.337 xwOBA vs. .360 wOBA), that hardly took the sheen off of a breakthrough campaign.

I’m not going to tell you I know what to expect from this duo. Each has struggled with swings and misses at some points, but also shown an ability to produce despite occasionally hefty strikeout rates. Their respective power potential has likewise alternately shown up and fallen off.

The upside here is tremendous. At his best, in 2018, a 22-year-old, switch-hitting Mondesi produced 2.5 rWAR and 2.8 fWAR in less than a half-season. He could be a true superstar if he can return to that level of output over a full campaign. Dozier was a 3.2 rWAR/3.0 fWAR performer in 139 games last year. That also reflects poor baserunning numbers and defensive grades at third base. Dozier graded better in right field, where he’ll appear primarily in 2020. Perhaps there’s still more upside in that regard.

There’s a load of overall uncertainty in Kansas City, but also some intriguing talent. The team’s other obvious boom-or-bust players — Maikel Franco, Jorge Soler, Danny Duffy — are set for free agency after 2021. Then there’s a host of younger players and prospects that have yet to put down much or any track record in the majors. Mondesi and Dozier occupy a middle ground of experience and contractual control that makes the 2020 season particularly pivotal for them and the team. If these two can settle in as steady stars, the Royals could be looking at three more campaigns apiece of cost-controlled quality to build around.

Boras Calls For Resumption Of Spring Training

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In an op-ed published by the New York Times, super-agent Scott Boras has called for baseball to “return the players to spring training-style camps as soon as possible.” The idea would be for MLB to take steps now to lead into a season that would provide fans with a “sense of hope and normalcy.”

It’s obviously not a unique concept to suggest holding a 2020 campaign — or to launch a second Spring Training in advance thereof. All of the various coronavirus-altered scheduling proposals have included some concept of players ramping back up to prepare.

What’s notable about the proposal from the game’s most powerful player representative is that it is premised not on a specific plan for resuming play, but on launching the preparatory steps even without one. Perhaps concerned with the possibility of a rushed second spring, and/or sensing a chance to build some momentum, Boras proposes re-gathering the players and support personnel that were scattered by the mid-March suspension of pre-season activities.

Boras writes:

“Even before we know when, where and how we will have an Opening Day, we should give players the chance to ramp up for Major League competition. Like many others, they are doing their best to make things work without access to the ballparks that are their ’offices.’ But the best basement batting cage or backyard mound can’t give world-class hitters and pitchers the game-speed preparation they need.”

Some might think this is putting the cart before the horse, particularly given the many concerns with ramping up economic and social activity at all at a point where infections are still on the rise.

But Boras does also suggest utilizing “staggered reporting dates” to ease the transition. And perhaps there’s an important underlying point here: by starting with team-by-team gathering for training, and then building up from there, MLB can iron out workable processes and accelerate as circumstances permit. It’s arguable that the alternative — at some point, declaring a target start date and then trying to ramp to prepare for it — is actually more fraught with risk and less likely to succeed.

Boras also notes that we can now learn from the experiences of Asian leagues. As we covered earlier today, Taiwan’s league is even nearing live fan attendance. Of course, even the preparatory stages that have led to a regular season in Taiwan and Korea only occurred after public disease transmission was brought under control.

Latest On Michael Fulmer’s Rehab Progress

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Tigers righty Michael Fulmer appears to be making nice progress in his attempt to rehabilitate following Tommy John surgery. As Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports, the team finds itself trying to hold him back.

Fulmer is working out at the team’s Florida complex, so it’s not implausible that he could face live hitters. But pitching coach Rick Anderson says there’s “no chance” of that at the moment.

Though it seems Fulmer is fully on track from a physical perspective, the team understandably wishes to proceed in a measured and cautious manner. Anderson suggests that the team would like to build Fulmer up slowly from live bullpen sessions into sim game action.

It’s tempting to think that moving ahead now could set Fulmer up to be ready at the start of the season. But the team is understandably concerned with unleashing Fulmer without full oversight and structure in place. The 27-year-old was once and could again be a key asset for a Detroit organization that is firmly in rebuilding mode at present.

[RELATED: A Missed Opportunity For The Tigers?]

Fulmer is controllable through the 2022 season, so the team is wisely taking the long view. That’s probably best for him as well. Fulmer battled knee and other health issues even before blowing out his ulnar collateral ligament. If he’s to return to the quality pitching he provided in 2016-17, Fulmer will need to return to and remain at full health.

Taiwan’s CPBL Preparing For Live Attendance

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Having successfully staged live professional ballgames for a month in the midst of a global pandemic, Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League is now preparing for the next step. As CPBLStats.com covers, the league is preparing to welcome fans through the gates.

Taiwan’s CDC, which has overseen one of the world’s most successful responses to the coronavirus, already greenlit a proposal for 250 fans per contest. (Per the Fubon Guardians’ Twitter account.) The CPBL has already sought approval for permission to let a thousand fans through the door as soon as this weekend.

It won’t quite be business as usual, to say the least. The turnstiles won’t be rotating quite as many times as normal. And there will be restrictions on those that show up to see a ballgame in the flesh. Fans will not only have to provide their names and undergo temperature screening on their way in, but will need to maintain social distancing and don masks during the contest.

The CPBL became the first professional baseball league to launch after the coronavirus crisis halted play around the world. And it remains a clear success story, with no indication that play has interfered with efforts to protect the health and welfare of participants or the broader public. It’s also no longer alone in staging ballgames, with the Korea Baseball Organization kicking off play overnight.

Though it’s tempting to interpret these developments as cause for optimism, the sobering reality is that the situation is far different in Taiwan and Korea than in North America. Those countries have only reached the point of staging sports — and, now, allowing fans to congregate — after all but fully stomping out the spread of COVID-19.

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