First Minor League Game Postponed Due To COVID-19

Image credit: (Photo by Zach Lucy/Four Seam)

SAN BERNADINO, Calif.—It took less than a week for COVID-19 to have an effect on the minor league baseball season.

The scheduled Low-A West matchup between the Inland Empire 66ers and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes was postponed Friday to allow for continued COVID-19 testing and contract tracing involving members of Inland Empire’s organization. The 66ers are the Low-A affiliate of the Angels.

The postponement comes on the fourth day of the minor league season. It is the first minor league game of the season to be postponed for COVID-19-related reasons.  

Minor league players, coaches and other covered individuals are tested at least twice per week during the season as mandated by Minor League Baseball’s 2021 Operations Manual. Individuals who test positive are required to quarantine for at least 10 days. Those who are identified as having been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 are required to quarantine for seven days.  

The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Josh Norris contributed reporting.