San Francisco—The Oakland Athletics are offering fans a chance to be part of the action at the Coliseum this Major League Baseball season, despite a coronavirus ban on spectators.
With Major League Baseball aiming to open a shortened season in July, the Athletics announced their “Coliseum Cutouts” program on Tuesday—with fans able to send in photos of themselves to be made into cardboard cutouts to be placed in the stands—for a fee.
Costs for the cutouts are $49 for A’s Access members, $89 for general fans or $129 to be placed in the Foul Ball Zone.
“If a cutout in the Foul Ball Zone gets hit with a foul ball, we will send the ball to that fan!” the team wrote on its website. “Plus, with every purchase of a cutout, you’ll also receive two complimentary tickets to our first exhibition game at the Coliseum during the 2021 season.”
Proceeds from the cutouts will benefit the A’s community fund,’ the team said.
The team said the cutouts will be authenticated and “recognized by MLB as official ‘virtual fans.’”
Fans can collect their cutouts at the end of the regular season, although the Athletics noted that the virtual versions may show some weather wear and tear.
Across the bay in San Francisco, the Giants are also planning for proxy fans. The Giants told their season ticket holders they could submit photos for cutouts which would be placed as close to their season ticket seats as possible.
Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani is healthy and will be ready to hit and pitch when Major League Baseball’s delayed 2020 training camps open, Los Angeles Angels general manager Billy Eppler confirmed Tuesday.
The two-way sensation from Japan didn’t pitch in 2019 after undergoing “Tommy John” tendon replacement surgery.
The Angels said in February that they didn’t expect him to pitch until at least May‚—and now that the season start has been pushed back to July 23 or 24 because of the coronavirus pandemic he’s expected to be a dual threat throughout the shortened 60-game season.