[WK. 2-4] Summer camp has come and gone, and we are officially a little over a week into the 2020 season. I feel like it is all flying by and yet it also feels like its a movie being slow played with lots of continuous unknowns and scary moments. I am incredibly proud of Rob because he was a non 40 man roster invite to spring training and then summer camp came around and he was put on the 60 man player pool, and he made it to the end of camp but unfortunately was not given a spot on the opening day roster. Of course it’s a bummer but through almost 8 seasons of Rob playing baseball professionally we have learned that baseball is business and we take everything with a grain of salt.
He is currently at the alternate site with the taxi team continuously working hard and looking forward to the opportunity to make his debut with the Orioles and compete back on the big league level, hopefully this season. Fingers crossed.
As his wife, it sucks because as wives of professional baseball players we see how hard our significant others work. We see the ups and downs, the setbacks from injuries, we live the life and feel the pains of being moved around from different teams and cities, and all we hope and want for them is success. I think we all feel that way in both the baseball life or outside the baseball life.
Then to top off you add the situation happening with COVID-19 and trying to successfully play a 60 game season. In a weeks time 21 games have been postponed across the MLB. Television networks were told to prepare for secondary options in the case that baseball was canceled yet again. Marlins have had 18 total players test positive knocking out more than half of their 30 man roster, and the Cardinals are currently at 7 players positive for Corona. This immediately affected 6 teams including the Orioles.
The past week has been a whirlwind and things have been put into perspective on how quickly this season could end. My anxiety has crept in and every single worst case scenario has been played out in my head. The anxiety of simply going grocery shopping and contracting the virus and giving it my husband is always there. Every little thing we do as wives or players can affect the entire team and multiple teams. Socializing is hard. Feeling stuck and trapped is real because should Rob get the opportunity to get called up this year, I would feel so guilty for getting him sick just by doing life’s simple tasks.
I think we all knew how different the 2020 season would be but it is ever evolving and changing, and I could not have expected was happened in the last 8 days. It is hard to be present when the future is so unknown with the challenges MLB is facing to conduct a successful season and players are having to make the tough decision to opt out or continue the year.
Rob has nothing but high praises for how the Orioles have handled the situation at both summer camp and the alternate site where the taxi team is at. I will try to keep you updated as time goes on. I am sure there will be lots of changes to make sure the season continues safely for all players, coaches, staff, and families and I am eager to see what happens over the next week of games.
GO O’s!
Xo Natalie Z
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