SALT LAKE CITY — There won’t be any minor league baseball in 2020.
MiLB announced Tuesday afternoon that Major League Baseball will not be providing its affiliated minor-league organizations with players for the 2020 season and, as a result, this year’s minor leagues will be canceled as the world continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“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,” Minor League Baseball president and CEO Pat O’Conner said in a statement. “While this is a sad day for many, this announcement removes the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season and allows our teams to begin planning for an exciting 2021 season of affordable family entertainment.”
That means it will be a season without baseball for local organizations, including the Salt Lake Bees of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, as well as the Ogden Raptors and Orem Owlz of the rookie level Pioneer League.
Salt Lake was scheduled to open its 2020 season on April 9 against against the El Paso Chihuahuas at Smith’s Ballpark before the PCL season was delayed, prior to Tuesday’s cancellation. Ogden and Orem were scheduled to start their seasons June 19.
The Bees released a statement following Tuesday’s announcement: “While the Salt Lake Bees are disheartened for our community by the cancellation of the 2020 season, we understand today’s decision and believe public health and safety certainly take precedence during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Minor league baseball has been part of summertime in Salt Lake City for more than a century, and we will miss the opportunity to gather at Smith’s Ballpark for America’s pastime in one of baseball’s most beautiful settings. We thank our fans and partners for their continued loyalty and appreciate the players, coaches and staff for their dedication to the franchise.
“Our Triple-A affiliation with the Los Angeles Angels and membership in the Pacific Coast League have a strong legacy and we greatly anticipate future baseball seasons in Salt Lake City. In the meantime, please follow public health guidelines to fortify the safe return of sports.”
MLB recently came to an agreement to play a proposed 60-game regular-season schedule in 2020, with players reporting July 1 and the season starting on July 23 and 24.
There are questions beyond 2020 if the Raptors and Owlz will be playing at all.
The Professional Baseball Agreement between Major League Baseball and MiLB expires in September, and it’s been widely reported that MLB is looking to reduce the number of affiliated squads in the minors by more than 40 teams. Among them would be all rookie ball teams, including Ogden and Orem, according to Baseball America.
In the MLB’s reported minor league reduction proposal, 28 of the 42 teams are at the rookie-level and short-season Class A ball levels and the proposal doesn’t include the Bees.
Last November, a pair of Utah congressmen — Republican Reps. Rob Bishop and Chris Stewart — joined a bipartisan group of politicians, 106 House members in total, who wrote a letter to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred asking Major League Baseball not to go through with the proposal, the Deseret News’ Dennis Romboy reported.
In part, the Nov. 19 letter read: “Reducing the number of minor league baseball clubs and overhauling a century-old system that has been consistently safeguarded by Congress is not in the best interest of the overall game of baseball, especially when Major League Baseball’s revenues are at all-time highs.”
In late April, Baseball America reported that MiLB was ready to agree to 120 affiliated teams in a new Professional Baseball Agreement.
“While the exact details of timetables and funding mechanisms need to be worked out, both sides agree on the need to adopt improved facility standards,” Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper wrote. “MiLB has signaled its understanding that the current Player Development Contracts by which minor league teams and parent organizations reach affiliation agreements will be modified to give MLB teams greater control over choosing their affiliates. MiLB has indicated a willingness to work with MLB on shortening travel and improving the geographical cohesiveness of leagues.”