Spectator-less season will kick off on Friday with Rakuten Monkeys playing Chinatrust Brothers

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/04/08
By:  Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s professional baseball league will become the first in the world to start its 2020 season as many countries have been forced to delay or cancel sports events due to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The country’s Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) is set to begin its new season on Friday (April 11), with ballparks closed to the public as a precaution against the coronavirus. Throughout the season, matches will only be attended by team members, league and stadium staff, cheerleaders, and journalists.

The opening game will take place in Taoyuan City on Friday evening, with the home team and last year’s champions, Rakuten Monkeys, competing against the Chinatrust Brothers. CPBL President John Wu (吳志揚) has called on baseball fans to stay home for the broadcast and refrain from gathering outside the baseball stadium to avoid potential exposures to the virus.

The league will also implement strict preventive measures at stadiums, training fields, and hotels that will receive baseball players following the advice of experts and the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), the CPBL said via a statement. It has also simplified game schedules to ensure that teams will travel less during the season, the statement said.   [FULL  STORY]