Baseball will play full season with fans in stands, few COVID-19 restrictions – WANE

by: Travis Meier, Matt Stewart, Nexstar Media Wire

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) Baseball games in empty stadiums could soon be a thing of the past.

Major League Baseball announced Monday that the season will start on time and a limited number of fans will be allowed in the stands for games starting at Spring Training.

Anyone going to a game this upcoming season will not need a COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination or even a temperature check. However, they will have to sit at least six feet apart from others and wear masks unless eating ordrinking. There will also be a buffer zone around dugouts, meaning no fans in the first three rows unless a team puts up Plexiglas.

Fans will also be allowed to watch as soon as Spring Training.

Before Mondays decision, the MLB discussed shortening the season by eight games and delaying the start of the season by a month. They wanted to give the country more time to get more vaccine out there.

However, the players union rejected the offer.

Teams will play a full 162 game season and revert to the same rules as before the pandemic no expanded playoffs, no seven-inning doubleheaders, no starting extra innings with a runner at second base and no designated hitter in the National League.

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Baseball will play full season with fans in stands, few COVID-19 restrictions - WANE