As MLB’s Opening Day draws closer, players are making adjustments to what will be a very unusual 2020 season. As everyone looks for ways to ensure their safety while playing during a pandemic, Oakland Athletics pitcher Sean Manaea is considering taking a surprising step.
Oakland Athletics’ Sean Manaea may wear a mask during starts
As new cases of the coronavirus continue to spike across the country, more and more people are being encouraged to wear masks to help everyone stay healthy. While MLB doesn’t require players to wear masks during games, Sean Manaea might do that very thing.
The 28-year-old southpaw will use spring training 2.0 to test out how he feels pitching with the mask. If everything feels comfortable and it doesn’t hurt his ability to pitch, it sounds like Oakland’s ace will take the mound with a glove, a ball and his mask.
He might not be the only player to do it this year, either. Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout was spotted wearing a mask during a simulated game. While playing in the outdoors certainly helps reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading, masks do serve as another layer of protection.
In the end, MLB might want to embrace any players who choose to wear masks on the field. Given the risks of baseball shutting down, if there is an outbreak, the league should support every measure of safety that it can.