SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Syracuse Mets play by play broadcaster Evan Stockton just landed his first job after graduating from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Covid-19 had different plans.
The global pandemic that has caused cancelations left and right across the country didn’t spare sports. As the minor league baseball season drew closer, it became clear that a season in 2020 wouldn’t be feasible. For Stockton, that means his first call on his first will have to wait.
“I think all of us in minor league baseball were hopeful that this would be a couple week delay and we would be back to the ballpark by late April,” said Stockton, who has now been out of a job since the mid-March.
However, the current state of sports is still wishy-washy a couple of months later. Major League Baseball officially started their season on July 23 and is already having problems of its own as 18 Miami Marlins players and coaches on the traveling roster have tested positive for COVID-19, according to CBS Sports.
Stockton told me that he has been laying low for the most part and has been fortunate to not catch the virus. However, he was furloughed due to the canceled season and has now been living off of unemployment checks.
“We don’t know if there will be another stimulus check,” said Stockton, “There are going to be a lot of people faced with very serious decisions because of this. The money is going to run out at some point probably soon here.”
Stockton is just one example of how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the financials of people across the country.
Stockton does have another broadcasting gig lined up with Western Michigan Athletics but will have to wait until at least 2021 for that first pitch call with the Syracuse Mets.
