Braves: Felix Hernandez to opt out of 2020 season

COVID-19 ends the season of yet another great.

Felix Hernandez announced his plans on Saturday night to sit out the 2020 season. Jon Heyman was the first to report it.

Felix Hernandez is opting out of 2020 season

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 5, 2020

Hernandez, who signed a one-year deal this offseason, says he wants to ensure the safety of his family and himself among significant growth of COVID-19 cases.

This is a big loss for the Braves, espically considering how well Hernandez performed this spring, when he struck out 14 batters in 13.2 innings and allowed zero home runs. Barring a re-signing this offseason, the opt-out announcement effectively ends the King’s reign in Atlanta.

Hernandez is the latest Brave affected by the drastic spike in cases. Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Pete Kozma and Touki Toussaint tested positive for the virus earlier today. If the number of positive tests and opt-outs continues, it’ll be likely we won’t see baseball in 2020.

For right now, though, opening week is still scheduled for the week of July 23rd. Stay tuned into SportsTalkATL for the latest on all Braves news and coronavirus updates.

Also, remember to stay safe, wear a mask, and if you go out in public, stay six feet apart from people.