Korean Baseball Features Amazing Social Distancing First Pitch

While Major League Baseball continues to plan how to salvage their 2020 season due to COVID-19, the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) began their baseball season earlier this week. ESPN2 is airing KBO games this week including the Doosan Bears vs. LG Twins today and NC Dinos vs. Samsung Lions tomorrow. Our weekly baseball guest, Jay Jaffe wrote about the ESPN deal on Fangraphs earlier this week. One special Opening Day feature that caught the attention of many was the "Social Distancing First Pitch" prior to the game between the KT Wiz and the Lotte Giants. Dan Kurtz, who lives in Tacoma, Washington is the best Twitter follow for anyone wanting to follow the KBO and he posted video of the unique first pitch prior to the KT Wiz game.

According to a story published by Reuters, Lee Raon is the nine year old baseball fan who had the opportunity to go into the giant baseball balloon and roll himself to home plate for the ceremonial first pitch.

I hope that the El Paso Chihuahuas take this concept and run with it, especially the way it can be used for kids. The organization is always at the forefront of creating new and exciting ways to get fans involved in the game, and that social distancing first pitch is right up their alley. Kids would love an opportunity to get into a giant baseball and walk themselves to home plate. I could also see the Chihuahuas conducting a promotion in between innings where they have two fans race each other in the outfield while running in those balloons.