Players reporting to home facilities today, plus some basic info on Spring Training 2.0

Today’s the day, everyone.

Today marks the first day of “Spring Training 2.0” as players from around the league begin to report to their respective facilities. At this point, it’s more like “Summer Training” but that just doesn’t roll off the tongue as well.

ESPN’s David Schoenfield and Jesse Rogers put together a nice document that should help fans of any intensity get caught up and informed for the upcoming season. Below, I’m going to lightly outline most of the important things so you don’t have to scan through everything from the original doc.

What will a normal day look like in training camp?

The workouts will not vary too much from the ones players went through in February and March. This time around, there will only be one diamond in use. No matter who is out on the field, things will certainly be staggered to make sure everyone is able to get their time in while not forcing too many people in the practice area at one time. Pitchers and batters will get their individual work in before ever throwing and batting against each other within their team. That progress into intrasquad contests once everyone is up to speed.

Prior to any type of workout, players will have their temperatures taken and be tested for coronavirus soon after they arrive at their facilities. If any player arrives with a temp of over 100.4, they will be sent home on the spot.

From then on, players will be tested for the virus every other day. If their temperature is ever over 100.4, they will be sent home following being tested on the spot. Players will also have to take their own temps before going to their ballpark.

Which players have already opted out of playing in the 2020 season?

Currently, only four players have publicly announced that they will not be participating in the MLB’s abbreviated 2020 season: Ian Desmond of the Colorado Rockies, Mike Leake of the Arizona Diamondbacks, as well as Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross of the Washington Nationals.

How many exhibitions/intrasquad games can be played?

Teams do not have a limit to the amount of intrasquad games they can play. However, there is a limit of three exhibition games against with opponents who are nearby (i.e., Mets and Yankees) or the opponents that that each team will face in the opening series of the season.

What about fans that show up outside of the stadium?

While no fans will be allowed inside stadiums, there’s only so much that can be done about those who congregate outside the gates. Fans will do what they wish to do in the end, but since no player will come anywhere close the fans, the MLB hopes they’ll just eventually stop showing up in the parking lots.