According to Jim Reineking of USA Today, there are four Major League Baseball players who have decided not to play this season because of concerns related to being infected with coronavirus. They are Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman of Washington, North Carolina, Nationals pitcher Joe Ross of Berkeley, California, Colorado Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond of Sarasota, Florida, and Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Mike Leake of San Diego, California.
Zimmerman will not be playing because his mother has multiple sclerosis, which puts her at higher risk of getting coronavirus. Zimmerman batted .257 with six home runs and 27 runs batted in during 2019 on a Nationals squad that won the World Series. Zimmerman is a two-time all-star (2009 and 2017). With the loss of the slugger it appears the Nationals will use Eric Thames at first base, and rookie Carter Kieboom at third base. Thames signed a one-year deal with the Nationals on January 8, while Kieboom was the Nationals’ first-round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft.
Ross was expected to be part of the Nationals’ starting rotation in 2020. Expected to be the fifth starter, Ross had a record of four wins and four losses in 2019 with a poor earned run average of 5.48. Ross is skipping out on the season due to the personal health and safety of himself and loved ones. Unfortunately for Ross, this could have been the best opportunity of his career to be a starter. With prospects Austin Voth or Erick Fedde about to be part of the starting five, Ross may have to return to the bullpen upon his return.
Like Zimmerman, Desmond is a two-time all-star. The Rockies outfielder did not want to leave his pregnant wife Chelsey and their four children. In 2019 with the Rockies, Desmond batted .255 with 20 home runs and 65 runs batted in. During the 2020 Major League Baseball season, Desmond was expected to play more of a utility role, and possibly the Rockies full-time designated hitter.
Leake was projected to be the Diamondbacks’ number two starter behind ace Madison Bumgarner. Last season Leake had a record of 12 wins, 11 losses, 127 strikeouts and an earned run average of 4.29. The loss of Leake means Arizona will probably have Merrill Kelly return to a starting role even though Kelly led the National League with 14 losses in 2019 and had a poor earned run average of 5.63 in spring training.
