Mets first baseman Pete Alonso joined Baseball Night in New York: Living Room Edition on Wednesday to discuss his new charity, and also spoke about what he's doing to stay ready with MLB on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"Thankfully my gym is a private gym, and we've been training in groups of three or four people," Alonso explained. "One of the people is my brother, and one of the other people that trains with us is one of my defensive guys -- his name is Steven Negron. He's actually with the Mets right now. And my strength coach (is the other). Those are the four people I've been doing my strength and conditioning with. I've been training in a cage with Steven and our hitting coach, Tom Slater."
While large gatherings are not allowed at any MLB facilities in Florida, players are still allowed to use them. And that's exactly what Alonso has been doing -- while practicing social distancing.
"I've been able to get into facilities but it's obviously been with one or two people at max, obviously practicing distancing -- staying away from people I'm not around all the time," Alonso said. "But for me, I've gotta do whatever I can to get ready for the season. Because let's say a vaccine comes out next week, we're gonna have a two-week notice and then we gotta get going for spring training. For me, I'm just making due with what I got, the cards that were dealt. Just trying to always get better. Even though it's a tough situation and you kind of have to stay away from a lot of things. But for me I'm doing whatever I can to stay ready and stay safe as possible."
SNY's Andy Martino reported Wednesday that as the league continues to discuss scenarios for a return that there is "definite optimism among clubs and agents and other officials" that MLB is on track to play the 2020 season.
What that season looks like if/when it happens remains to be seen, but the expectation is that the season will begin with games being played without fans in attendance.
If what Alonso said above is a firm timeline -- with players getting a two-week notice in advance of when an abbreviated spring training will start -- it's fair to believe that any potential Opening Day is at least a month or so away.
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