Major League Baseball is attempting to move forward with a shortened 2020 baseball season that will feature reduced travel and greatly enhanced safety measures designed to keep players, coaches and staff free from contracting COVID-19.

At times, the MLB season seemed tenuous at best – and still may be – but hopes of a minor league season were very low. Last week, the official word came down that the minor league baseball season was officially a no-go.

The decision came down after consideration of the costs both in financial terms and in safety concerns.

With fans not being allowed into ballparks, but costs for game essentials such as lights, equipment and staff still a concern, the finances didn’t add up. Safety concerns for players, coaches, umpires and team staffs also were a major concern that had to be factored into the decision.

“On behalf of the entire IronPigs organization, I promise that when the 2021 season arrives it will be our best season ever,” said IronPigs president and general manager Kurt Landes in a statement. “More promotions, more fun and more entertainment.

“We will honor our front-line heroes, recognize our essential workers and heal together – all while taking in our national pastime.”

The 2020 season would have been the 13th season of IronPigs baseball in the Lehigh Valley and would have likely seen top prospects Alec Bohm and Spencer Howard play at least part of the season in an IronPigs uniform.

Various promotions and theme nights had already been planned for the season. Several members of the Phillies organization including former IronPigs Roman Quinn, Matt McBride and new manager Joe Girardi came to the Lehigh Valley in January for their annual banquet tour and were ready for the upcoming season.

The IronPigs organization has found creative ways to use Coca-Cola Park for family fun, including allowing dads to hit around a few golf balls on the field, having drive-by events for fans to get to wave to IronPigs mascots and hosting fireworks nights where people could view the fireworks from their cars.

When Opening Day had been canceled, the team worked with the Pawtucket Red Sox to present video game versions of what may have happened in the opening weekend of games.

They also built a charity component into the event with proceeds going to fight the coronavirus at local hospitals. Those plans will continue throughout the summer.

“We will be back, and IronPigs baseball will be better than ever,” said Landes’ statement. “In the meantime, we will continue to focus on other ways we can provide fun and entertainment at Coca-Cola Park. We will also focus on supporting our community and the individuals who make the Lehigh Valley the wonderful place it is.

“We will miss baseball at Coca-Cola Park this summer and everything that makes the ballpark experience great. But more than anything, we will simply miss our fans the most.”

Major league teams depend on minor league teams – especially at the Triple-A Level – to feed players to the big leagues. With minor league baseball shutdown, teams will have a taxi squad of players who will train and workout at minor league ballparks across the country. The Phillies will have their extra players stationed at Coca-Cola Park, which is known for its first-class training facilities and player amenities.

The park’s proximity to Philadelphia is also a plus for the team. It’s not expected that fans will be allowed into the park to witness any of the workouts or baseball activities that the players will be participating in throughout the summer. As many as 34 players will be stationed at Coca-Cola Park for the remainder of the summer once the season begins

The IronPigs sent an email to season ticket holders giving them the option of either rolling over their investment in tickets for the 2021 season or getting a full or partial refund for their seats that were already purchased.