Colorado Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond became the fourth MLB player to announce he will not play during the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier today, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake along with Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross of the Washington Nationals all made it known they would not play this season.
Desmond, 34, made the announcement during a lengthy post on Instagram in which he discussed the murder of George Floyd as well as his own experiences with racism and is critical of MLB for not being prepared to addressing it, homophobia or inequality at large. While of biracial origin, Desmond identifies as African-American.
Drafted by the Montreal Expos in 2004, Desmond made his MLB debut with the team well after they moved to Washington, D.C. in 2009. Desmond played with the Nationals through 2015 making the NL All-Star Team in 2012. He signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers in 2016 making the AL All-Star Team in his lone season on the Junior Circuit.
Desmond joined the Rockies as a free agent prior to the 2017 season signing a five year contract worth $70 million with a team option for the 2022 season. In 11 MLB seasons, Desmond has collected 1432 hits for a lifetime batting average of .263 with 181 HR and 711 RBI along with 181 stolen bases.
With four players opting out today I wonder how many will opt out tomorrow.
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