Marlins season delayed: What we know so far

JUPITER, Fla. -- Marlins players on Friday received clarity on where they can live during the temporary shutdown of the Major League season.

Major League Baseball, in agreement with the MLB Players Association, has given Marlins players the choice of either remaining in Jupiter, staying in Miami or returning to their offseason homes.

"After an in-person meeting with MLBPA officials in Arizona, Major League Baseball announced today that Spring Training camps will be suspended, effective immediately," MLB said in a statement released Friday night. "Major League players can elect to return home, remain in their Spring Training cities, or return to their club’s home city. This step is in the best interests of players, employees and the communities who host Spring Training.

"MLB will continue to monitor ongoing events and undertake the precautions and best practices recommended by public health experts. We send our best wishes to all the individuals and communities who have been impacted by coronavirus."

The Marlins are expected to meet this weekend to discuss their next steps.

On Thursday, Major League Baseball announced that Spring Training has been suspended and that the start of the 2020 regular season will be delayed for at least two weeks due to the national emergency created by the coronavirus pandemic.

Spring Training games were initially scheduled to conclude on March 22.

Before the stoppage, the Marlins had 48 players remaining in Major League camp, and two weeks away from having to set their 26-man Opening Day roster.

Minor League camp also had started, meaning more than 100 players total have been at the complex.

But Friday, the back fields at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex were unused, with tarps covering the pitchers' mounds. Although some people mingled around the stadium, the park is closed to the media and the public at least through Sunday night.

The Marlins, who share the complex with the Cardinals, played their last spring game Thursday, falling 3-0 to St. Louis at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Also on Friday, it was announced that fans with tickets purchased through Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium for the suspended spring games will receive a refund for their tickets. Fans who purchased season tickets, season parking tickets, miniplans, group tickets, individual game(s), individual parking tickets, or Batting Practice Experience will be refunded for the remaining unplayed games.

For more details, visit Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium’s website.

? Opening Day delayed at least 2 weeks; Spring Training games cancelled

The Marlins were scheduled to host the Phillies on Opening Day, on March 26.

"We support the Commissioner's decision to suspend Spring Training games and delay the start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season at least two weeks," Marlins CEO Derek Jeter wrote in a statement. "This is an unprecedented time and this is certainly an unprecedented decision that was made in the best interest of the players, fans and communities across the country. We urge everyone to continue to exercise the preventive measures set forth by the CDC and stay informed regarding the latest developments on this virus. The Marlins will make additional announcements, including those regarding ticket information, as details become available."

Below, MLB.com breaks down what we know so far:

When will the season start?
There is no official start date for the season at this time. What we do know is that the start of the season will be delayed at least two weeks. Opening Day had been scheduled for Thursday, March 26.

MLB will continue to evaluate ongoing events leading up to the start of the season. Guidance related to daily operations and workouts will be relayed to all 30 clubs in the coming days.

How will the schedule change to accommodate the late start?
According to the release issued by Major League Baseball, MLB and the teams have been preparing a variety of contingency plans regarding the 2020 regular-season schedule. MLB will announce the effects on the schedule at an appropriate time, and it will remain flexible as events warrant, with the hope of resuming normal operations as soon as possible.

What’s going to happen with the rest of Spring Training?
Forthcoming Spring Training games were canceled as of 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, and 2020 World Baseball Classic qualifier games scheduled in Tucson, Ariz., were delayed indefinitely.

What about Minor League Baseball?
Minor League Baseball announced Thursday that the start of the regular season, originally scheduled for April 9, will be delayed indefinitely.

I have tickets to the home opener, what does this mean for me?
The Marlins will make announcements regarding ticket information as details become available, according to Jeter's statement.

How might this affect the Marlins once play resumes?
A couple of players who have missed substantial action during Spring Training will have more time to rehab before play resumes. Catcher Jorge Alfaro (right oblique) hasn't played since Feb. 25, but he has been working with his mitt and taking batting practice. He was scheduled for live batting practice on Friday. Late-inning reliever Ryne Stanek (lower back stiffness) is on a program for his back, but he has not yet started throwing. Reliever Jeff Brigham (right biceps strain) has not thrown in Spring Training and was expected to start off on the injured list.

What are they saying?
"We're seeing as we go. It's just a matter of how you're approaching every day and how you do whatever you need to do to be safe. Keep washing your hands. Keep being cautious of what's going on." --Miguel Rojas, before Thursday's game

"We know we're going to have time, and how do we ramp it back up? What do we do? That's something that we talk about. What's the best way? How do we get there? How do we get to this point again, where you feel like you're getting close to being ready? We haven't really sat down and talked about it. Obviously, this is an unprecedented situation. It's better to get together and think about it and talk about it before we start trying to make decisions, [rather] than me talking [now] about what we might do." --Marlins manager Don Mattingly

"I think everybody's just being mindful of what's going on with Spring Training games being canceled now. ... A lot of this stuff we will tighten up as we get more information. Just the overall safety of our players, our staff, our scouts, everybody is paramount. We just want to be mindful of that." --Hill