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Ian Desmond Opts Out of 2020 Season, Writes Lengthy Instagram Post on Baseball’s Problems
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Former MLB All-Star Ian Desmond is opting out of this shortened season.
The 34 year old Colorado Rockie cites COVID-19 while also talking racism, homophobia, sexism, cheating, and the labor dispute between the owners and players in a lengthy, nine-page Instagram post:
Writes Desmond:
“The COVID-19 pandemic has made this baseball season one that is a risk I am not comfortable taking. But that doesn’t mean I’m leaving baseball behind for the year. I’ll be right here, at my old Little League, and I’m working with everyone involved to make sure we get Sarasota Youth Baseball back on track. It’s what I can do in the scheme of so much. So, I am.
With a pregnant wife and four young children who have lots of questions about what’s going on in the world, home is where I need to be right now. Home for my wife, Chelsey. Home to help. Home to guide. Home to answer my older three boys’ questions about Coronavirus and Civil Rights and life. Home to be their Dad.”
Desmond is walking away from $5.5 million dollars by opting out. He joins Arizona pitcher Mike Leake and Washington Nationals players Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross as the first to decline participation in the 2020 season.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com