Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross opt out of the 2020 MLB season
Mr. National Ryan Zimmerman and starting pitcher Joe Ross have announced today that they will not be playing in this year’s shortened MLB season for, “the personal health and safety of themselves and their loved ones.”
Zimmerman said in a statement today, “I have a 3-week-old baby. My mother has multiple sclerosis and is super high-risk; if I end up playing, I can pretty much throw out the idea of seeing her until weeks after the season is over. There’s a lot of factors that I and others have to consider. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer; it’s everybody’s individual choice.” Zimmerman did mention how this is not a retirement and he hopes to resign with the team this offseason.
Ross has not yet released a statement on why he will not be playing this season.
Ross and Zimmerman are the second and third players to opt-out of this season after Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake did on Monday.
The Nationals are starting spring training on July 3rd and are expected to have their first game of the season on July 23rd at home vs the New York Yankees.
