“You see explicitly the kinds of struggles that parents go through,” says executive producer David Zucker
Major U.S. professional sports like the NBA and MLB have returned (the NFL is getting started on it 2020 season), but not everyone will play over concerns of the coronavirus pandemic.
Buster Posey
The six-time All Star catcher with the San Francisco Giants opted out of the 2020 season after he and his wife planned to adopt two identical twin girls who were, a journalist for The Athletic reported.
Getty Images
David Price
David Price, a pitcher formerly for the Boston Red Sox who this season was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, opted out of the season on July 4 out of the interest of the his health and his family’s.
Getty Images
Ian Desmond
Ian Desmond, an outfielder for the Colorado Rockies, opted out in part because of his pregnant wife and four young children. It was reported that he’d be sacrificing $5.55 million in pro-rated salary for 2020.
Getty Images
Ryan Zimmerman
Ryan Zimmerman, the 35-year-old first baseman for the World Series champs Washington Nationals, clarified that he would not be retiring by opting out this season. He forfeited $740,000 of pro-rated salary.
Getty Images
Nick Markakis
Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis opted out of the 2020 season after seeing his teammate Freddie Freeman contract the coronavirus and be sidelined with symptoms of COVID-19. “Just hearing him, the way he sounded on the phone, it was tough,” Markakis said in a press conference. “It was kind of eye-opening. With everything that’s going on, not just with baseball but all over the world, it makes you open your eyes.”
(Update: Markakis pulled a surprise move on July 29 and decided to rejoin the team for the remainder of the season).
Getty Images
Mike Leake
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake, 32, became the first known MLB player to opt out of the 2020 season on June 29. He was scheduled to make $16 million in a full season and is a free agent in 2021.
Getty Images
Felix Hernandez
Felix Hernandez, a longtime pitcher and All Star for the Seattle Mariners, opted out of the 2020 season on July 4. He signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves this season and was competing for a rotation spot.
Getty Images
Joe Ross and Tyson Ross
Joe Ross, 27, and Tyson Ross, 33, two brothers and MLB pitchers for the Washington Nationals and a free agent respectively, both signed out of the 2020 season.
Getty Images
Jordan Hicks
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jordan Hicks, 23, opted out of the season after being identified as a high-risk player due to his Type 1 diabetes. He’s also recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Getty Images
Michael Kopech
Michael Kopech, 24, a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, announced on July 10 through the team’s general manager that he would be sitting out the 2020 season. Kopech was recovering from Tommy John surgery that kept him sidelined in 2019.
Getty Images
Yoenis Cespedes
Before New York Mets slugger Yoenis Cespedes opted out of the season, the team was alarmed to find that Cespedes did not report to the ballpark and that he and his belongings were missing from his hotel room. The team was not made aware of his decision to opt out prior to his absence.
Getty Images
Lorenzo Cain
A week into the season, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain opted out of the season after the team’s home opener against the St. Louis Cardinals was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak among Cardinals players.
Getty Images
Willie Cauley-Stein
Cauley-Stein opted out on June 25 because he and his partner are expecting a baby in July.
Getty Images
Spencer Dinwiddie
Dinwiddie is one of the few players that won’t be playing due to a positive COVID-19 test. On July 7 the Nets’ doctors advised Dinwiddie he should not play out of an abundance of caution.
Getty Images
Avery Bradley
Bradley, a vocal critic of the NBA’s restart taking attention away from the nationwide social justice movement, opted out on June 23 in order to remain with his wife and three children.
Getty Images
Wilson Chandler
Chandler opted out on June 28 so he could remain with his family and grandmother.
Getty Images
Thabo Sefalosha
Sefalosha opted out on July 1, though a specific reason was not given. He had previously expressed concerns over playing in the bubble amid the pandemic.
Getty Images
DeAndre Jordan
Like his teammate Dinwiddie, Jordan also will sit out the rest of the 2020 campaign after revealing he tested positive for the disease.
Getty Images
Victor Oladipo
The Indiana Pacers star had just come back from a ruptured quad tendon before the shutdown. He cited the uncertainty of the Orlando bubble as part of his reason for opting out, but he reversed course and ultimately played in the first game for the Indiana Pacers’ restart.
(Update: Oladipo joined the Pacers in Orlando and played in scrimmages, but it is still unclear if he’ll be part of the season restart).
Getty Images
Trevor Ariza
Ariza opted out June 22 in order to commit to a one-month visitation window with his young son. Families are not allowed inside the NBA bubble until the end of August.
Getty Images
Andre Smith
Smith was set to play for the Baltimore Ravens this season.
Getty Images
De’Anthony Thomas
Baltimore Ravens
Getty Images
Star Lotulelei
Buffalo Bills
Getty Images
Jordan Mack
Mack, an undrafted rookie with the Carolina Panthers, decided on July 28 to forgo his rookie season out of uncertainty from the virus.
Getty Images
Eddie Goldman
The Chicago Bears defensive tackle opted out on July 28 citing health concerns.
Getty Images
Stephen Guidry
Another undrafted rookie, this one with the Dallas Cowboys. Guirdry is one of two Cowboys to opt out, joining Maurice Canady.
Getty Images
Devin Funchess
Funchess is skipping his first season with the Green Bay Packers over COVID-19 concerns. He had family members that contracted the virus.
Getty Images
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
The Kansas City Chiefs’ starting lineman was the first NFL player to opt out of the season. Duvernay-Tardif spent the offseason as medical volunteer at a long-term care facility in Montreal that was treating coronavirus patients.
Getty Images
Michael Pierce
Pierce, one of the Minnesota Vikings’ big offseason signings, has respiratory concerns and is considered high-risk.
Getty Images
Multiple New England Patriots
Led by Dont’a Hightower, six Patriots have already decided to opt out of the season, with more expected.
Getty Images
Nate Solder
The New York Giants’ star lineman has a son who is currently battling cancer. Solder is also a cancer survivor himself.
Getty Images
Marquise Goodwin
The new Philadelphia Eagles receiver has a 5-month daughter after his wife previously had three miscarriages.
Getty Images
Chance Warmack
Warmack missed of all 2019 and was set to compete for a roster spot on the Seattle Seahawks. He is a former top-10 draft pick.
Getty Images
Ja’Wuan James
Denver Broncos
Getty Images
Ash Barty
The top-ranked female tennis player in the world is skipping the U.S. Open in New York next month. The Australian cited concerns of traveling to a COVID-19 hotspot.
Getty Images
Rafael Nadal
Nadal will also skip the U.S. Open over COVID-19 concerns. Nadal won the tournament last year and is seeking to tie Roger Federer’s record for Grand Slam wins.
U.S. pro sports are back in action, but many are deciding to sit out
Major U.S. professional sports like the NBA and MLB have returned (the NFL is getting started on it 2020 season), but not everyone will play over concerns of the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: Read Full Article