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Could Start of KBO be Litmus Test for Potential MLB Restart

By Jake Mastroianni

In a photo taken on April 26, 2020, Kiwoom Heroes' players attend a training session at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. - Years after giving up on their dreams of Major League stardom, the coronavirus pandemic is offering journeymen US baseball players in South Korea a moment in the spotlight. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP) / TO GO WITH Health-virus-SKorea-baseball-KOR,FOCUS by Kang Jin-kyu (Photo by ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)
In a photo taken on April 26, 2020, Kiwoom Heroes' players attend a training session at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. - Years after giving up on their dreams of Major League stardom, the coronavirus pandemic is offering journeymen US baseball players in South Korea a moment in the spotlight. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP) / TO GO WITH Health-virus-SKorea-baseball-KOR,FOCUS by Kang Jin-kyu (Photo by ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images) /
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With the Korean Baseball League set to start games soon, could their success — or failure — pave the wave for a restart in MLB.

There is a lot of optimism for MLB starting back up sometime this summer, but as of now we really have no idea when that might actually happen.

This virus situation still needs to calm down a good bit before MLB can make serious plans for state officials who will need to sign off on games being played in their states.

But with the Korean Baseball League (KBO) set to begin their 2020 season on May 5, they could lay the groundwork for MLB returning.

Obviously, the situation in Korea as it pertains to the virus is much less severe than we’re facing in the states, so it makes sense for them to pick things back up.

We hope the US is capable of getting to that point sooner rather than later, and we’re already seeing it in some parts of the country.

However, the way the KBO handles the season and the health scare could give MLB the blueprint for its eventual return.

The KBO is set to have players and gameday personnel be tested daily, and they have to wear masks on the field during the game.

Any player that shows signs of having the COVID-19 virus will be tested and quarantined.

It seems like they’re doing everything they can to make sure the players and staff remain healthy.

But I do have to wonder what will happen to the league if a player, umpire, or coach does have a positive test. Would the league automatically shutdown? Would they just suspend games for a week?

I think it will be very interesting to see how things play out in the KBO, and again, I think MLB will be watching closely to see what happens as well.

ESPN is already trying to buying viewing rights to broadcast KBO games, which I will definitely be tuning in for.

If things go well for a week or two, I would not be surprised if MLB announces a possible plan to return to baseball at that point.

My feelings all along have been that we will get some sort of announcement in the middle of May about when a potential restart would happen with a likely return happening sometime in June.

What about the Minors?. dark. Next

We’ll see how things go in the KBO first, though. Again, they are set to have their Opening Day on May 5, and games could be televised on ESPN.

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