The coronavirus pandemic has claimed another summer tradition in Indiana: Minor League Baseball.
All four of the state’s minor league clubs — the Indianapolis Indians, Fort Wayne Tin Caps, South Bend Cubs and the Evansville Otters — are among the 160 MiLB teams around the country that won’t be playing ball this summer.
"These are unprecedented times for our country and our organization as this is the first time in our history that we've had a summer without Minor League Baseball played," MiLB president Pat O'Conner said in a statement posted on MLB.com.
A statement from the Fort Wayne TinCaps regarding the loss of the 2020 Minor League Baseball season. Full Release: https://t.co/QJkOHKK8aT pic.twitter.com/PKPDsMosDf — Fort Wayne TinCaps (@TinCaps) June 30, 2020
The Kokomo Jackrabbits and the Terre Haute Rex, both college summer baseball teams, also announced the cancellation of their 2020 seasons last month.
The Indianapolis Triple-A club, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, would have played its 120th season this summer.
The clubs are reaching out to season ticket holders and those who have purchased individual tickets to work out exchanges or refunds.
We are reaching out to Ticket Holders and sponsors regarding this years season cancellation. While there is no Jackrabbits season in 2020, we are working to still have plenty of baseball being played at Kokomo Municipal Stadium this summer. Details here: https://t.co/TVcfn0na25 — Kokomo Jackrabbits (@KokomoBaseball) June 23, 2020
Last month, the MLB announced plans to begin a 60-game season in late July. All 30 MLB teams submitted 60-man player pools that include several minor league prospects that will be allowed to work out on their own if they don’t make their club’s roster for the shortened season.
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