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In the wake of Major League Baseball suspending play for what will likely be at least three months, the league announced on Tuesday that all 30 clubs would pledge $1 million to support ballpark employees who are currently out of work. This is a significant development for those who will receive this supplement, but also for the league as they look to weather the coming months of suspended play.
Major League Baseball and its Players Association also made a separate pledge that will support two charitable organizations.
In addition to the $30 million total committed by the clubs to seasonal employees, MLB and the MLB Players Association made a combined $1 million commitment — split evenly between Feeding America (FeedingAmerica.org) and Meals on Wheels America (MealsonWheelsAmerica.org) – to assist those who have difficulty accessing food. Various players have taken the individual opportunity to help those in need, such as Alex Bregman and Lance McCullers Jr. donating to the Houston Food Bank and the Anthony Rizzo Foundation arranging the donation of meals to nurses, doctors and staff of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital.
Braves News
These are the Braves’ biggest roster decisions
Mark Bowman highlights several key decisions that will be necessary once baseball returns.
Third base
It seemed easy to project Johan Camargo would start the season as Atlanta’s third baseman and possibly lose that role to Riley within the season’s first few weeks. The thinking was that, instead of possibly being fooled by what was seen in Spring Training, the Braves would allow Riley to prove himself at Triple-A Gwinnett before making the decision that could significantly improve both the middle of the lineup and the bench.
But knowing how tight the National League East race might be, the Braves might not be as comfortable going through any portion of a potentially shortened season with their roster at less than optimal strength.
So, when baseball resumes, if Riley were to continue to impress like he did while using improved balance and plate discipline to construct a 1.080 OPS in 32 Grapefruit League plate appearances this year, there would seemingly be less reason to hesitate putting him in the middle of the order and moving Camargo to a backup role right away.
2020 Gwinnett Stripers Roster Predictions: This Is Gonna Be Fun
Garrett continues his series of minor league roster predictions, with this installment focusing on the Gwinnett Stripers. The Triple-A club should be loaded in 2020 as they return a wealth of starting pitching depth along with top outfield prospects Cristian Pache and Drew Waters.
MLB News
Ranking the top 10 lineups in MLB for 2020
See who Anthony Castrovince ranks as the top lineups in baseball for the 2020 season.
2nd NYY Minor Leaguer positive for COVID-19
The Yankees now report two positive tests for COVID-19 among their minor leaguers.
Verlander has surgery on right groin
Justin Verlander would ordinarily be greatly delayed by groin surgery in mid-March, but instead he is expected to be back for Opening Day due to the suspension of play.