As Opening Day of the 2020 MLB season draws closer, Boston Red Sox pitcher Collin McHugh became the latest player to opt out of the upcoming season.
Red Sox P Collin McHugh opts out of 2020 season
Major League Baseball has seen a wave of players exercise the opt-out clause for the 2020 season. While a majority of the decisions have been related to the risks of playing during the COVID-19 pandemic, though, the Red Sox will lose McHugh for a different reason.
The 33-year-old signed with Boston this offseason with the hopes of competing for a spot in the team’s rotation. However, his recovery from an elbow injury that derailed his 2019 season has been slow. Even weeks into spring training 2.0, McHugh wasn’t close to returning to game action.
McHugh was outstanding in limited action for the Houston Astros in 2018. He recorded a 1.99 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across 72.1 innings, emerging as an outstanding reliever for the club. However, elbow soreness caused him problems this past year and led to a 4.70 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 74.2 innings.
What MLB players are sitting out the 2020 season?
McHugh joins a growing list of players who will voluntarily sit out this season. With MLB moving to a 60-game schedule due to the start of the season being suspended in March, several players have decided not to take part in a season with a shortened schedule and great health risk.
- Chicago White Sox star pitcher Michael Kopech opted out of the 2020 season.
- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher David Price, projected to be the No. 3 starter, is sitting out this year.
- Houston Astros reliever Joe Smith is expected to not play this season.
- St. Louis Cardinals closer Jordan Hicks opted out on Monday.
- San Francisco Giants star Buster Posey won’t take part in the 2020 season
- Washington Nationals catcher Welington Castillo will not play this year.
- Colorado Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond won’t take part this season.
- Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and pitcher Joe Ross both opted out of playing.
- Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake is sitting out the 2020 season.
- Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis opted out after a conversation with teammate Freddie Freeman, who has COVID-19 and is dealing with symptoms.
- Braves pitcher Felix Hernandez is sitting out this year due to COVID-19 concerns.