With Opening Day nearly two weeks away, MLB umpires are weighing the season's risks during the coronavirus pandemic.
According to MLB Network's Jon Heyman, 11 major league umpires have either exercised their right to opt-out or decided not to participate during the 2020 season. Some of the umpires "are said to have family members who are ill."
MLB typically uses 19 crews with 76 umpires during a season, meaning the league could lose 15% of its squad. The current list includes nearly 90 umpires in MLB.
Despite the notable loss, the league won't be at a loss for filling the vacant positions.