While the professional leagues in America search for solutions to resume operations, there's a blessing of sports to fill the void: the Korea Baseball Organization, which will hold its Opening Day in empty South Korean ballparks on Tuesday.
The KBO features 10 teams and a surprising number of local connections. The games will be broadcast on ESPN, offering American baseball fans a fix.
Here's what to watch for in the KBO.
The KBO is considered one of the top professional baseball leagues in the world -- behind Major League Baseball and the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan.
South Korea has seen 10,801 total coronavirus cases as of Monday, of which 1,332 are currently active. With an average of around 10 new cases each day in the country over the last two weeks, the KBO was cleared to play its 2020 season without fans. The league is enforcing temperature checks and has quarantined its players, coaches and staff. Spitting on the field is also forbidden.
The KBO's 10 teams play a 144-game schedule -- with each team playing 16 regular-season games against the other nine -- and the league features wrinkles like ties after 12 innings and a universal designated hitter.
The Doosan Bears are looking to defend their KBO championship but must do so without 2019 league MVP Josh Lindblom (20-3, 2.50 ERA in 2019), who signed with the Brewers this offseason.
The KBO's teams are the Bears, SK Wyverns, Kiwoom Heroes, LG Twins, NC Dinos, KT Wiz, Samsung Lions, Kia Tigers, Hanwha Eagles and Lotte Giants.
The first ESPN broadcast will feature the NC Dinos and Samsung Lions, who will start Tuesday at midnight CT.
Looking to reverse franchise fortunes and turn a perennial loser into a champion, the Lotte Giants hired Cubs scout Sung Min-kyu as general manager last September.
Sound familiar?
Cubs fans around the world who watched their team break through in 2016 with its first World Series championship in 108 years will appreciate the underdog Giants, who have won just two championships in their 38-year existence.
Seeking success in 2020, the Giants made a major addition by signing Straily this offseason. The 31-year-old Straily struggled in Baltimore in 2019, posting a 9.82 ERA over 47 2/3 innings of work.
Straily had a brief stint with the Cubs in 2014, posting an 11.85 ERA in 13 2/3 innings. He was part of the return for the Cubs in their acquisition of shortstop Addison Russell from the Athletics in 2014, with Chicago sending right-hander Jeff Samardzija to Oakland.
Former major leaguers Dixon Machado and Dae-ho Lee are also part of the Giants' roster.
The Giants open their season against the KT Wiz on Wednesday.
Looking to invest in the KBO season? Place your bets.
Doosan Bears: +300SK Wyverns: +400Kiwoom Heroes: +450NC Dinos: +550LG Twins: +700Kia Tigers: +800Samsung Lions: +1,000KT Wiz: +1,600Lotte Giants: +2,000Hanwha Eagles: +2,200