# Baseball player Yoenis Céspedes will not continue playing this season due to fear of COVID

**Date:** 08/04/2020

Cuban baseball player Yoenis Céspedes decided not to continue the rest of the 2020 season with the New York Mets. The reason given by his agent is the coronavirus pandemic.

Céspedes' decision became public after the team reported early Sunday that they had been unable to locate him before a game in Atlanta.

Céspedes did not show up at the stadium to play against the Braves, and the team said in a statement that they had not received an explanation for the absence.

Later, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen reported that the organization was notified by Céspedes' agent that the baseball player "chose to resign for the rest of the season for reasons related to Covid-19".

Céspedes, 34 years old, was the designated hitter in Saturday's game that the Mets lost 1-7, and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

The Cuban baseball player has played as designated hitter for the Mets in the eight games his team has played so far this season, and has produced five hits in 31 at-bats (.161). He has also struck out 15 times.

The Cuban was not in the original lineup for Sunday's game against the Braves.

A two-time All-Star, Céspedes returned to the lineup this season for the first time since July 20, 2018. He missed much of the last two seasons due to a series of injuries that forced him to undergo surgery on both heels. He also fractured an ankle from a fall at his ranch in Florida, which has been speculated was an accident when he encountered a wild boar.

Céspedes had taken advantage of a new rule this year that allows the designated hitter in the National League.

Since he did not start the season on the injured list, Céspedes' salary increased from about 2.2 million dollars prorated (six million before the schedule was shortened) to about four million (11 million before the change).

As difficult as it may be to think or say it, what Cuban Yoenis Céspedes did this Sunday with the New York Mets not only marked the end of his season, but could cost him his MLB career, because the player did not behave in the best way, as a professional should.