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TAMPA, Fla .– DJ LeMahieu and the New York Yankees are happy that there will be some normalcy in baseball when spring practice games begin on Sunday.
As in, fans in the stands when the Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field.
Due to restrictions brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, this will be the first time fans have seen the Yankees play in person since a spring training game on March 12.
“For me, it’s just Major League Baseball with the fans,” LeMahieu said on Saturday. “Last year I’m glad we played. Glad we got to get in as many games as possible and I thought the playoffs were cool but I just missed that adrenaline and excitement. “
The limited crowd due to security protocols for Sunday’s game is expected to be around 2,800 in the stadium which has a capacity of over 10,000.
“You can definitely tell how excited people are to go to baseball games, especially to watch the Yankees and that’s what excites me,” LeMahieu said. “I love the game, but I know how much it means for a lot of fans to watch the Yankees and baseball.”
Social distancing and mask-wearing rules are in place and there will be no close interactions, such as signing autographs, between players and fans.
“I really miss it,” said LeMahieu, who led the majors at bat last year. “It’s not always my favorite thing to do but I know how much it means. It’s something that I look forward to. I hope that kind of interaction will return.”
The Blue Jays will also perform in front of fans for the first time in nearly a year.
“Just by watching other events, be it college football, NFL games, different games where the fans were there in limited capacity, it changes the look and even feel of watching it on TV.” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I’m sure it will be good for the guys to have this environment and atmosphere that only the fans can create.”
Boone said the first time the lack of fans really hit him last year was the initial series with the Boston Red Sox.
“Where there’s just that extra buzz and angst and intensity that is normal in the regular season,” said Boone.
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