ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER
On Sept. 17, 2019, Sacramento topped Memphis in the Triple-A National Championship Game. Little did anyone know, that game would be the last between affiliated minor league teams for 595 days.
The coronavirus pandemic canceled the 2020 season, and a lot more has happened in the interim. The Dodgers won the World Series after a 60-game sprint of a season. The minor leagues were slashed from 160 to 120 teams, with the short-season and Rookie-advanced classifications eliminated entirely.
Big league teams began playing seven-inning games in doubleheaders. The National League tried the DH for a season. Extra-inning games began with a runner on second base. Minor league teams used their ballparks as golf courses, restaurants and Airbnb properties.
But now there’s sunshine, green grass and white lines at the end of the tunnel. Opening Day across the minor leagues is slated for May 4, when many prospects will get their first chance to play in a competitive atmosphere in nearly a year and a half.
While the simple return of the game is exciting enough, there are plenty of prospects we at Baseball America will be especially intrigued to watch. We chose one
