Goldeyes to be vaccinated at U.S. training camp

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This article was published 30/03/2021 (1976 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WITH Winnipeg being hit with blistering wind and a flurry of snow on Tuesday, it may feel silly to be talking baseball. 

But don’t let Mother Nature’s knuckleball fool you, Opening Day for the Winnipeg Goldeyes is right around the corner.

The American Association kicks off the 2021 campaign on May 18. Three days later, the Fish are currently scheduled to have their home opener at Shaw Park against the Chicago Dogs. 

Despite that date being less than two months away, owner Sam Katz still isn’t 100 per cent sure if that game will be played in downtown Winnipeg or not. But what Katz does know is that his players, coaches and trainers will be protected this season as they will all be vaccinated in the United States prior to Game 1. 

“We’re going to start our training camp in the United States as well as we’ve been assured that (our team) will be able to get vaccinated,” Katz said in a phone interview.

“That’s a significant plus having all our players get the vaccine and they’ll have at least that two-week time period that it takes to give it the full efficacy of approximately 70 per cent… In the meantime, we’re moving forward with the season starting and putting all of our COVID protocols into place and just waiting to hear that final word from government officials. As you know, they call the shots, not me or you.”

Katz wouldn’t say where training camp would take place or where the team would be getting vaccinated, but with the U.S. vaccine rollout going at a much quicker pace, the Fish, as well as other teams in the league, have been able to secure shots. Katz was asked to specify how the arrangement came together.

“I think it was a combination of the league and other teams that are doing this and were kind enough to include us as a part of it,” he said.

The main sticking point for the Goldeyes and whether or not they’ll be able to call Shaw Park home this summer is the Canada-U.S. border.

Katz believes they should have a good idea by the end of April if playing baseball in Winnipeg in May is feasible. Plan B would be to rework the schedule and have the Goldeyes start the year on a long road trip until restrictions are lifted.

The AA is going back to a 100-game schedule featuring 12 teams in 2021. Last season, the Fish were a travelling team based out of Fargo, N.D., and one of only six clubs competing in a 60-game schedule that took place between July and September.

The Fish had two players test positive for COVID-19 in training camp but were able to remain healthy for the remainder of the season.

“The realities are, there could be the opportunity to play in May in the U.S. and then come back in June when, hopefully, we have a better answer and the borders are open. Like I say, we don’t know for sure right now,” Katz said.

“We’re waiting and hoping the border will be open. In the meantime, we’re doing everything as if everything was a normal season and going according to plan. But as we know, the plan can change depending on the border being open and the quarantine situation.”

Whenever it may be, Shaw Park will look different the next time it opens its doors for a game day. The ballpark will have increased sanitization, overall capacity will be cut by more than 50 per cent in order to allow for proper distancing, additional entrances and exits will be added to create space among fans, no more printed tickets, all payments will be cashless, and between-inning promotions will abide by distancing guidelines are just a few of the things featured on the long list of precautions that will be taken by the venue.

As for how many fans will be allowed in the stands, Katz isn’t sure on that one either.

“It’s probably too early to know. But I do know we can work with a capacity that will work for us and it’s a very safe environment,” he said.

“As I’ve said on many occasions, the most important thing is the safety of our fans, our staff, and our players. That’s priority No. 1. That will always be No. 1. If we’re told we can operate at one-third capacity, that’s what it’ll be. If it’s 40 per cent, it’s 40 per cent. If it’s 25 per cent, it’s 25 percent. We do have a big advantage being outdoors which makes a big difference as opposed to being indoors.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31