EASTLAKE, Ohio — Major League Baseball returns this week, but minor league baseball teams are going to have to sit this season out.

What You Need To Know


  • The impact can be tough on not just the teams, but the cities that support them

  • Like many Minor League Baseball stadiums across the country, Classic Park, home of the Lake County Captains, is empty and quiet

  • Fans can still support Minor League teams by purchasing merchandise

"We all expected to be disappointed when the news came down the season was going to be cancelled, but it really hit home once it became official," said Andrew Luftglass, the team’s play-by-play broadcaster. He’s adjusting to life without baseball. 

"I get to watch 140 baseball games a year. And that’s incredibly disappointing to not get to do that."

There were some events like movie nights planed at the ballpark, but those were canceled over safety concerns. The Indians will be using the stadium to train its taxi squad players.

"COVID has a huge impact on this industry. Actually, I help manage six restaurants and overall we’ve already closed two," said Herminio Carrasquillo, owner of Two Bucks Food & Spirits near the stadium.  

The lack of ballpark crowds along with COVID-19 shutdowns are just another strikeout. 

"COVID was already making it bad, and now without baseball also, it’s even probably a little worse."

Eastlake Mayor Dennis Morley says the Lake County Captains have a pretty big economic impact locally. 

"Some people come in and stay at the hotels, so that’s not there, some of the people go to the restaurants we have, so that’s not there. But economics for the city, it could be up to about a half a million or more." 

And while life with no baseball hits on many fronts, Luftglass will miss the sense of community that comes with America’s past time. 

"From the front office people that I get to work with on a daily basis, to all of the fans that we get to interact with, to the players and coaches," said Luftglass. "For sure more than anything, and even more than the baseball honestly. I’m going to miss all of the people without having baseball this year."

Luftglass says you can still support minor league baseball teams by purchasing merchandise on the team’s websites.