WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 28: Wander Franco #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays signs autographs for fans prior to the Grapefruit League spring training game against the Washington Nationals at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches on February 28, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Autograph hounds who attend spring training games this year should probably leave their autograph books at home; MLB officials have restricted autorgraphs amid the coronavirus outbreak.
In a memo sent to teams, MLB officials have suggested that players pre-sign photos and memorabilia to avoid contracting the virus.
Among those following the advice is San Francisco Giants star Evan Longoria, who says he's been arriving to his team's training facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, armed with a stack of signed pics.
"You know, just the amount of people that come to games, come to ask for autographs and stuff like that, that’s the biggest fear," he says. "But outside of that, what are you gonna do?"
