The final two weeks of Spring Training were poised to feature intense roster battles, growth among promising prospects, veterans jockeying for one last shot in the big leagues and plenty of baseball.Instead, on Thursday afternoon, much of the sports world came to an abrupt halt.Major League Baseball announced the cancelation of all remaining exhibition games in addition to a two-week postponement of the 2020 regular season due to the growth of COVID-19.For Yankees players, coaches and staff, the news wasn't all that shocking. With the NBA setting a precedent, shutting down games until further notice on Wednesday evening, MLB was left with no choice.Prior to the league's announcement, Yankees' ace Gerrit Cole told reporters he expected some sort of delay to take place as concerns regarding the novel coronavirus pandemic continued to grow. Now, he'll have to wait at least two additional weeks until he can Jameson Taillon Jersey make his regular season debut with his new club."Its difficult for everybody," Cole explained to reporters at the Yankees' spring facility in Tampa, Fla. "Everybody is concerned about it. Theres a lot of uncertainty and uncomfortability for loved ones especially elderly. Its one of those things that comes around every so often where we have to come together as a country and kind of rally against it. Regardle s of baseball, I think everybody is feeling the same way."Baseball isn't the only sport to completely shut down. After initially ruling to revoke acce s to fans at March Madne s games, the NCAA elected to cancel its annual tournament entirely. MLS, NHL, XFL and more have all suspended their seasons as well.Giancarlo Stanton called the experience of finding out MLB had been shut down "alarming" and a "weird Trevor Williams Jersey feeling." He agreed with Cole, however, that it was the right course of action for the league to take."Its unfortunate but I think its the proper measure we need to take now given the situation the countrys in and the worlds in," the slugger said. "Its important to know that some things are bigger than baseball, bigger than sports at the moment. Once were able to hopefully get a hold on some things and get some questions answered we can figure out when things can continue."Amid a frenzy of breaking news, the Bombers played a baseball game Thursday afternoon, defeating the Nationals 6-3 in West Palm Beach.Yankees' skipper Aaron Boone recalled thinking to himself that the contest could very well be his club's final spring exhibition game. He revealed that he was given an update during the game that it would be a Spring Training finale.Scroll to ContinueThis is obviously a unique situation," Boone told reporters after the win. "Its bigger than baseball, so you just kind of want to be part of doing your best on JB Shuck Jersey behalf of the world. You dont want to contribute to this becoming a real poor situation, so well be cooperative and try to play our part the best way we can.As for what's next, general manager Brian Cashman disclosed that the organization has already taken steps to keep members of the Yankees family safe in a time of uncertainty."Well scout from afar on the amateur Keone Kela Jersey arena at this stage because theres been a temporary suspension of flights for our cro s checkers," Cashman explained to reporters. "And then on the pro scouting side, were going to shut that down and send our pro scouts home."Boone described the plan for the big-league club moving forward as of now."My understanding right now is that well stay here. Well continue to work out as a club," the manager said. "My gue s is that it remains a fluid situation obviously, so well just kind of take MLBs lead and the situations lead and hopefully get to a point where we can get back out there.Boone also described that the club will have its own set of simulated games so pitchers can continue to build up albeit at a revised, slower pace to their next in-game appearance.With Opening Day pushed back two weeks, New York won't open the regular season until April 9 at the earliest four weeks away as of Thursday. That gives several Yankees including Aaron Judge and Stanton an opportunity to recover from that previously had them ruled out for the season's opener.Although it's uncharted territory, Stantona sured that all ballplayers won't sit idly by during this temporary suspension. These next few weeks will still be devoted to preparing for the regular season even if there's presently no definitive start date."We definitely have to keep moving," Stanton explained to reporters. "We dont know if its something where everything can start up again or if it Francisco Liriano Jersey s going to be a couple week proce s when that time comes. Were definitely a sport that needs those weeks to develop into the season. Another interesting case given that."