The Korea Baseball Organisation is one of the first major professional competitions to get underway since the COVID-19 crisis took hold.
Five matches were played on a delayed opening day to the season, including an 8-2 defeat for defending champions Doosan Bears against LG Twins in Seoul.
Taking to Instagram after the game, Twins starting pitcher Casey Kelly posted a picture with the caption: “When they tell you it’s opening day! Thankful to be starting the season. Twins fans all over the world #fighting.”
In Gwangju, Kiwoom Heroes beat KIA Tigers 11-2, while NC Dinos were 4-0 winners over Samsung Lions in Daegu in a match preceded by a message of thanks to frontline workers broadcast on stadium screens.
A post shared by Casey Kelly (@the_real_ck3) on May 4, 2020 at 5:42pm PDT
Hanwha Eagles won 3-0 at SK Wyverns in Incheon, where the outfield seats were covered with banners showing fans in Wyverns caps and masks.
Lotte Giants were 7-2 winners against KT Wiz after inclement weather caused a further brief suspension to baseball’s return in Suwon.
“After all the extra weeks of waiting and a 72 min rain delay today we finally got to play a game that mattered!” pitcher Dan Straily said on Instagram.
With fans not allowed to attend, venues were filled with cardboard cut-outs of spectators all depicted obediently wearing face masks.
Players and coaches all had to pass through strict screening protocols before entering the grounds and all umpires, first-base and third-base coaches must use masks.
The KBO season was suspended in March but South Korea has shown encouraging recent signs of bringing the COVID-19 crisis to heel.
Latest figures from the country showed just three new confirmed cases and two deaths on Tuesday, taking the overall tally to 254 from 10,804 positive tests.
The K League football season is expected to resume on Friday.
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