Minor League Baseball Season Canceled
(photo courtesy of Victory Field)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowMinor league Ballparks in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and South Bend will see no baseball action this year. Minor League Baseball has made it official, cancelling the 2020 season because Major League Baseball will not be supplying players to affiliated teams.
However, some Hoosier ballparks say they are adding other types of events during the summer.
“These are unprecedented times for our country and our organization as this is the first time in our history that we’ve had a summer without Minor League Baseball played,” said Minor League Baseball President and chief executive officer Pat O’Conner. “While this is a sad day for many, this announcement removes the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season and allows our teams to begin planning for an exciting 2021 season of affordable family entertainment.”
This year will be the first in nearly 120 years that the Indianapolis Indians have not played. President and General Manager Randy Lewandowski calls the decision disappointing.
“We had remained hopeful that Indians baseball this summer would serve as a rallying cry for our community as we begin our recovery from the pandemic,” said Lewandowski. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to families affected by COVID-19 during this unimaginable time. We are extremely grateful for healthcare professionals and frontline employees who continue pushing forward every day to keep our community safe.”
The team says it will continue to host other events at Victory Field. You can view the full calendar by clicking here.
Fort Wayne TinCaps President Mike Nutter says the team was also optimistic that it would be able to play games at Parkview Field.
“This isn’t just about fans losing the chance to watch baseball games,” Nutter said. “It’s about the 34 full-time staff members and their families that rely on the TinCaps for their livelihood. Our 500-plus part-time seasonal employees that make Parkview Field the No. 1 fan experience in the country. All of these people we care about won’t have games to work this season — that’s what is so impactful about losing the season.”
Nutter says Parkview Field had already begun implementing increased health and wellness measures in the event there was a 2020 season. He says those measures will remain in place when fans are allowed back at the ballpark next year.
The decision also impacts Four Winds Field in South Bend, home of the South Bend Cubs. The team did not have a statement on the move as of late Tuesday afternoon.