Philadelphia Phillies Kick Off Spring Training 2.0 With Full Squad Workouts At Citizens Bank Park, FDR Park
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The return of baseball is front and center on the minds of many with the Phillies back in the region, getting ready to play ball. Baseball is forging into a new world as spring training 2.0 opened in South Philadelphia on Friday.
America's favorite pastime had to make some adjustments due to the coronavirus, but the boys of summer are back.
The sounds are familiar but the view is not.
An empty Citizens Bank Park is now the home to the Phillies' second spring training.
You'll find the same masks and social distancing you'd see anywhere else, just surrounded by 43,000 empty blue chairs.
The players are socially distancing to the best of their abilities as the stadium has been repurposed to get the Phillies ready for a 60-game sprint.
Some players and coaches are wearing masks while playing socially distanced catch.
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But that's been the norm.
The underlying severity of all of this isn't lost on super Phillie Bryce Harper, who, in addition to launching some serious taters during BP, says everyone in the clubhouse bares the responsibility of behaving.
"Young guys, they have to buy in no matter what, they have to. This is something that if they get sick and they're not on the field, then it's going to hurt their chances. It's gonna hurt our chances as a team," Harper said.
We saw Andrew McCutchen take part in batting practice coming off a torn ACL in his left knee.
We also saw Harper poke his head out earlier wearing a J.T. Realmuto shirt.
And Joe Girardi, it's been so long since he was introduced, you may need to be reminded, but this is his first year as the Phillies new skipper.
"It's just different, so I think the focus has to be doing things the right way and I think that the veterans have to set the example. And not complain about 'this is uncomfortable,' of course it's uncomfortable but we also know how much we really, truly missed the game and being at the ballpark. You can't ever forget that, because we were all dying to get back and whatever it takes, let's do this, let's play games and go have fun and let's go win," Girardi said about the season restarting.
Harper says a World Series winner may not have anything to do with baseball at all, if teams can't dial into the new normal.
"It's gonna be tough for everybody, but I think the team that transitions the quickest and understands what they have to do the quickest and understands the protocols the quickest is gonna be the team that comes out on top. If you miss one guy or miss another guy, it could be your whole season," Harper said.
Harper says even without fans he plans on playing with the same passion as he always has and hopes when he pumps his fist, you will too in your own living room.
The team will use fields at FDR Park and Citizens Bank Park.
