CINCINNATI — Athletes across the country who play spring sports are facing the reality that their seasons – and for some, their careers – may be over due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“I can’t imagine not being able to play my senior year of high school. I empathize with those guys and those girls very, very much,” explained Cincinnati Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart.
Barnhart stumbled a bit, trying to verbalize how he felt regarding those young athletes; but he encourages them to use this time wisely.
“If you want to keep playing, do anything and everything you can to get your work in,” Barnhart told WCPO.
Even Major League Baseball players are being forced to improvise and find alternate ways to get their work in during this unique time.
“I bought a net and a tee,” explained Barnhart. “I’ve got it and getting ready to put it in my backyard when it starts to warm up so I can hit in my backyard.”
The Ohio High School Athletic Association has already canceled what was left of winter sports.
Spring sports are still considered suspended, but schools are already planning to stay closed through at least May 1, which puts spring sports in jeopardy.
“If you want to use the excuse that you don’t have the resources you normally would, then so be it. You can … but if you want to play bad enough that you can do plenty of things to figure out how to get things done right now,” he said.
