MLB Teams Consider Smart Alternative to Provide Autographs for Fans Amid Coronavirus Fears

With the spread of the coronavirus becoming both a national and worldwide concern, many sports leagues are trying to be as cautious as possible in regards to the athletes' interactions with fans. Soccer games in Italy are being played in front of empty stadiums. NBA players are avoiding contact as much as possible when coming in and out of the tunnel. What will the MLB do?

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, they're going to provide the best of both worlds. Players are going to start signing balls before games and will then toss them to the fans in attendance. Everybody wins!

With players discouraged from signing autographs at spring training because of coronavirus fears, a number of teams are starting to have players sign balls in the clubhouse before games so they can flip them to fans in the stands. Seems like something every team should consider.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 5, 2020

Most people go to Spring Training to get close to the players and get some memorabilia, so it would've been hard for the MLB to take that aspect away from the fans. This solution is a win-win and will keep the players as safe as possible.

The Pittsburgh Pirates already went to great lengths on that front, going as far as sanitizing their entire spring training facility.

Out of "an overabundance of caution" following a coronavirus case diagnosed nearby, the Pittsburgh Pirates brought in a sanitation team on their off-day Tuesday to clean their stadium, clubhouses and other areas of their spring-training facility. News: https://t.co/zEdP1uYjlY
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 4, 2020

While this certainly affects the Spring Training experience in some way, it's certainly a beneficial alternative for everyone involved.