Japanese Baseball Season to Start on June 19 Without Fans

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's professional baseball season will open on June 19 under a plan that excludes fans. The season was to have begun on March 20 but the start was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Japan joins South Korea and Taiwan in Asia whose leagues are open and playing largely without fans. League commissioner Atsushi Saito made the announcement following an online meeting with the league's 12 teams. Japan has reported about 850 deaths from COVID-19.