Miami Marlins Forced To Cancel Home Opener Because Of Coronavirus; NBA, WNBA Also Affected

Less than a week after Opening Day, Major League Baseball’s return is being tested.

The Miami Marlins’ home opener against the Baltimore Orioles that was scheduled for Monday night has been canceled amid a coronavirus outbreak within the team, according to multiple reports. Eight Marlins’ players and two coaches tested positive for COVID-19, per ESPN, after four members of Miami’s roster learned of positive tests over the previous three days.

Miami stayed in Philadelphia Sunday after the team’s game against the Phillies. The Marlins had planned to fly home Monday and arrive home just hours before game time.

MLB never seriously considered postponing Sunday’s game in wake of the positive tests, according to The Athletic.

“That was never our mentality,” Marlins Miguel Rojas told reporters after the game. “We knew this could happen at some point. We came to the ballpark ready to play.”

The players that tested positive for COVID-19 must quarantine in Philadelphia until they have multiple negative tests, per MLB’s protocol.

While Major League Baseball faces obstacles with games being played while players are not confined to one location, NBA and WNBA players are staying at protected campuses. But that's still not perfect.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams was given an excused absence from the NBA’s bubble environment as scrimmages began. The veteran went to the Magic City strip club in Atlanta after attending a funeral Thursday, forcing the league to place him in a 10-day quarantine upon his return to the Orlando campus. No NBA players have tested positive inside the bubble.

No WNBA players had tested positive inside their bubble until two Atlanta Dream players were found to have coronavirus before Saturday's opener. Kalani Brown and Glory Johnson both sat out the game. The WNBA players have been living and practicing in a confined area in Bradenton, Florida.

Some notable athletes also opted-out of playing due to coronavirus concerns. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher David Price is the top MLB star that decided to stay home during the 2020 season. Reigning WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne wasn’t part of the Washington Mystics’ opener Saturday, having opted-out of playing this season because she is immunocompromised.