(670 The Score) While Major League Baseball continues to draw up return-to-play plans for the start of the regular season, players like Cubs outfielder Ian Happ are watching closely.
Happ has remained in Arizona during the coronavirus pandemic that delayed the start of the regular season, keeping himself in shape -- and even creating a podcast and video series -- with several Cubs teammates.
Happ isn't aware of a definitive plan for MLB to press forward with its season, but he's growing optimistic a solution is coming soon, as he told the Dan Bernstein Show on Thursday morning.
"We're hearing as many of the rumors as everyone else is," Happ said. "I think we're getting closer. I think as other leagues start to announce -- PGA Tour, I think the NFL is close to a preliminary schedule -- as more and more leagues start to get there, we're definitely following what's happening with the Korean baseball league very closely.
"We're getting closer. I really do (believe that). But it's just a matter of what's happening in the world and especially here at home. As states start to reopen, I think that will give us more clarity. Hopefully we'll have something a little bit more concrete in the not-too-distant future."
MLB is "close" to sending a proposal to the players' union for how it plans to conduct a shortened season, ESPN reported Wednesday night. There has been speculation that the league will open spring training on June 10 and hold Opening Day on July 1.
