Thursday would have been Opening Day for baseball. Instead, all parks remain dormant with the coronavirus pandemic. TMJ4 Sports caught up with former player and Muskego resident A.J. Ellis, now a baseball executive, who takes us inside what the present and future could hold for the National Pastime.
Instead of baseball signaling the start of spring, it might truly be the boys of summer when it starts.
"The potential of getting back on the field [is] late May, early June at the earliest," A.J. Ellis says.
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A.J. Ellis lives in Wisconsin. But he gives us a glimpse of what baseball players are doing to stay in shape.
TMJ4 News Sports Anchor Lance Allan asks, "obviously, guys can't throw 95 miles an hour with their wife or kids, so what do you do?
"I told Josh Lindblom he should throw from one end of the park to the other, then run after the ball. I'm being sarcastic. I've talked to a couple guys who limit their sessions to the bullpen once a week," Ellis says.
As the special assistant to the general manager of the Padres, he realizes another spring training will be needed.
Lance Allan asks any idea if there will be another spring training?
"Yeah, absolutely, there will be some type of 2, 3, 4-week lead up to the season," Ellis says.
When the game returns adjustments will be necessary.
"I do think you'll see expanded rosters. I saw a report about more doubleheaders," Ellis says.
Ellis, Christian Yelich, and Josh Lindblom are trying to give back locally, to Milwaukee.
"Yeah, Lance, I've talked to Children's Hospital and Dr. David Margolis, and we've gotten Christian Yelich, and Josh Lindblom involved to help people donate blood," Ellis says.
And eventually, he feels baseball can help the healing.
"Everybody has a part to play. Eventually, it's going to be professional sports and baseball's turn to help bring the country together," Ellis says.