If and when baseball returns, Pirates manager Derek Shelton plans to 'cherish' his debut

As MLB contemplates ideas of how to conduct its 2020 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates are preparing for the possibility of playing games sometime this summer.

Even if that means Pirates manager Derek Shelton’s major-league regular-season managerial debut could come in an otherwise empty stadium instead of before baseball fans.

“Honestly, it’s not quite the way I imagined it but it’s not going to be any less stressful,” Shelton said on a conference call earlier this week. “Managing a major-league game is going to be special, regardless of where it is. I’m definitely looking forward to doing that. Honestly, if I’m managing my first major-league game then we’re playing baseball. That’s the thing that we’re all looking forward to.”

One scenario MLB is considering is playing at spring training sites in Arizona and Florida, with teams broken up by Cactus and Grapefruit leagues instead of the American and National leagues, respectively. The possibility of players being quarantined and playing all of the games in Arizona — basically, baseball in a bubble — also has been floated.

First, the Pirates would have to complete some sort of regimen to ramp up for the regular season, getting pitchers and position players ready after spring training games were suspended March 12. That is the top priority for Todd Tomczyk, as the Pirates director of sports medicine is monitoring player progress through social media videos and by checking in through FaceTime, Skype and Zoom video chats.

“All of the ideas that are out there, I immediately get a sense of optimism and excitement because that means we’re back to being with our teams, being with our players and taking a step closer to playing baseball,” Tomczyk said. “The challenges are what they are. I have the confidence and the trust of not only the leaders of the league itself medically but us an organization.”

Shelton and Tomczyk commended Pirates president Travis Williams and general manager Ben Cherington for how they have communicated with members of the club during the sportsworld shutdown amid the coronavirus crisis. Tomczyk stressed MLB and the Pirates have put player safety “first and foremost.”

“Collectively, as an industry and as an organization, if we don’t think it’s safe for these players to engage in what we feel they need to get back into their every-day (routine),” Tomczyk said, “then we won’t do it.”

Shelton already has missed the scheduled Opening Day at Tampa Bay, where he was previously a hitting coach, and the home opener at PNC Park. Shelton is looking forward to reuniting with his Pirates coaching staff and players and playing home games in front of Pirates fans, whenever that is.

“At some point, I’m going to get the opportunity and our staff’s going to get the opportunity to be together in Pittsburgh with fans in the stands,” Shelton said. “I’m going to definitely relish that and cherish that. Also, if we’re back and our staff is on the field and I’m managing game, that means we’re playing — and that’s really all I’m looking forward to.”