What was Raley Field and is now Sutter Health Park / MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images / Contributor
SCOTTSDALE — The wait for minor league baseball’s return will go on.
After previously releasing a schedule for the Triple-A season, MLB has opted to delay the season at least a month. Doing so allows more time for the vaccines to spread and gives Triple-A a better chance to have fans (or more fans) in the park. Also, the reported hope is minor leaguers will be able to be vaccinated before they report to the affiliates.
ESPN first reported the developments.
Sacramento received a memo from Major League Baseball on Tuesday alerting the Giants affiliate of the shift. Sacramento now will begin to prepare to host another alternate site, where perhaps prospects and those closest to the 26-man roster will reside.
Triple-A had already extended its season into September — the River Cats’ last regular-season game was set for Sept. 21. How or whether the games would be made up is unclear. Sacramento’s season was supposed to start April 8. The lower minor league seasons already were pushed back to May 4 starts.
It is unknown how many players will be allowed at alternate sites. According to the ESPN report, there could be about two dozen players. That would be fewer than last year, when 60 players were allowed in teams’ pools, while 30 or 28 players were on major league rosters.