Report: MLB to suspend start of 2020 season due to coronavirus

Major League Baseball will suspend the start of the 2020 season out of growing concern for the spread of COVID-19, known as the coronavirus.

MLB held a conference call on Thursday with all 30 teams, where owners and executives decided to cancel the remainder of spring training and to postpone the start of the 2020 season. In a statement, the league announced it will push back the start of the season by at least two weeks.

2020 Opening Day to be delayed by at least two weeks; Spring Training Games cancelled beginning today; and @WBCBaseball Qualifier games postponed indefinitely due to the national emergency created by the coronavirus pandemic. pic.twitter.com/yCgUHkdfpF
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) March 12, 2020

The MLB regular season was set to begin with Opening Day on March 26. However, the ongoing global pandemic from the coronavirus has caused MLB to take action.

RELATED: NBA suspends season

MLB joins the entire sports community by taking unprecedented measures to ensure the safety of players, team personnel and fans. On Monday, a string of decisions=s around the NCAA that announced the cancelation of the top men’s college basketball tournaments.

Major League Soccer, the National Lacrosse League and the National Hockey League have suspended their seasons.

While the NFL is taking precautions by canceling events and draft prospects meeting with teams, the 2020 NFL Draft is expected to be held without fans and free agency will start as scheduled.