US: MLB suspends spring training, delays Opening Day

WASHINGTON

Major League Baseball (MLB) announced Thursday it is suspending the remainder of spring training and delaying Opening Day by at least two weeks.

It is the latest major U.S. sports league to postpone its season because of the spread of the new coronavirus.

Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement following a telephone call with all 30 teams and the MLB players association, the league said in a statement.

It was prompted by "the national emergency created by the coronavirus pandemic," the league said.

"This action is being taken in the interests of the safety and well-being of our players, Clubs and our millions of loyal fans," it said.

The 2020 World Baseball Classic Qualifier games that were to be played in Tucson, Arizona have been "postponed indefinitely."

The National Hockey League suspended its ongoing season Thursday, citing in particular shared facilities with the NBA, which halted its season Wednesday after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the new virus, officially known as COVID-19.

All members of the Jazz were tested for the virus, and another individual's results were positive, the team said in a statement.

Major League Soccer, the U.S.'s premier professional football league, also suspended match play for 30 days Thursday as it attempts to evaluate the virus' impact.