Players from major professional sports leagues in North America who have opted out of playing 2020 seasons

July 11, 2020
Sport

With the coronavirus pandemic placing a major emphasis on health and safety issues, many professional athletes have chosen not to return to their particular sports — or even play at all — this season.

Here are the dates in which the major professional sports leagues in North America are expected to resume or begin play: Major League Soccer (July 8); Major League Baseball (July 23); Women’s National Basketball Association (July 24); National Basketball Association (July 30); National Hockey League (Aug. 1); and National Football League (Sept. 10).

Below is a list broken down by sport of those who have made the decision to opt out of participating in 2020. Those denoted with an asterisk have decided to not play due to non-coronavirus-related reasons, such as to focus on social justice reform or personal reasons.

MLB (11)

C Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

SP David Price, Los Angeles Dodgers

1B Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals

SP Joe Ross, Washington Nationals

OF Nick Markakis, Atlanta Braves

SP Felix Hernandez, Atlanta Braves

SP Mike Leake, Arizona Diamondbacks

C Wellington Castillo, Washington Nationals

OF/1B Ian Desmond, Colorado Rockies

SP Tyson Ross, free agent

Michael Kopech, Chicago White Sox