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Korean baseball league begins in empty stadiums, with umpires in protective masks and pictures of fans in the stands

The new baseball season began in South Korea on Tuesday with the crack of the bat and the sound of the ball smacking into the catcher’s mitt echoing around empty stadiums.

After a weeks-long delay because of the coronavirus pandemic, umpires wore protective masks and cheerleaders danced beneath rows of unoccupied seats as professional baseball got back on the field.

There were many faces in the stands in at least one stadium, but they were pictures instead of real people because fans aren't allowed into the venues — at least for now.

Instead, it was easy to hear players cheering and shouting from the dugouts.