TAMPA, Florida – DJ LeMahieu and the New York Yankees are happy that there will be a little bit of normalcy in baseball when the spring training games start on Sunday.
Like, fans in the stands when the Yankees host Toronto Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field.
Due to the restrictions brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, it will be the first time that fans will see the Yankees play in person since a spring training game on March 12.
“For me, it’s just the Major League Baseball with fans,” said LeMahieu on Saturday. “Last year, I’m happy that we played. Happy that we managed to get into as many games as we could and I thought the playoffs were cool, but I missed the adrenaline and the emotion.”
The limited crowd due to security protocols for Sunday’s game is expected to be about 2,800 people in the stadium, which seats more than 10,000.
“You can see how excited people are to go to baseball games, especially to watch the Yankees, and that’s what I’m excited about,” said LeMahieu. “I like the game, but I know how much it means for many fans to see the Yankees and baseball.”
The rules of social distance and the use of masks are in effect and there will be no close interactions, such as autographs, between players and fans.
“I definitely miss that,” said LeMahieu, who led the major hitting championships last year. “It’s not always my favorite thing to do, but I know how much it means. It’s something I’m looking forward to doing. I hope that kind of interaction will return.”
Blue Jays will also be playing for fans for the first time in almost a year.
“Just watching other events, be it college football, NFL games, different games where fans were present in limited capacities, it changes the look and feel, even watching on TV, I feel,” said the Yankees coach , Aaron Boone. “I’m sure it will be good for the guys to have that atmosphere and atmosphere that only fans can create.”
Boone said the first time the lack of fans last year really hit him was in the opening series with the Boston Red Sox.
“Where there is just that extra normal agitation, anguish and intensity in a regular season setting,” said Boone.