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Major League Baseball players are currently getting tested for Covid-19 with spring training starting later this week. However, we are starting to see players opt out of the coming season amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Mike Leake was the first, and now first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and pitcher Joe Ross of the Washington Nationals are following suit, per reporter Britt Ghiroli.
Zimmerman was one of the original faces of the Nationals organization, but the decision to sit out is not a shocking one. He has been thinking about it for some time now, openly discussing his thought process in a recurring diary for the Associated Press. He appeared in 52 games last year and finished the season with a .257 average, six home runs, and 27 RBIs.
Ross was expected to compete for the Nationals 5th starter role. Last season, he appeared in 27 games with nine starts. He finished 4-4 with a 5.48 ERA and 1.67 WHIP.