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Donald Trump will no longer throw out first pitch for Yankees in August

By Erin Walsh | Last updated Jul 27, 2020 11:25 AM ET

Donald Trump won't be headed to Yankee Stadium in August.

The president announced Monday that he'll no longer be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the New York Yankees' Aug. 15 tilt with the Boston Red Sox. He cited his "strong focus" on the coronavirus pandemic as a reason for not attending.

Because of my strong focus on the China Virus, including scheduled meetings on Vaccines, our economy and much else, I won’t be able to be in New York to throw out the opening pitch for the @Yankees on August 15th. We will make it later in the season!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2020

Trump was invited to throw out the first pitch at a game this season by Yankees president Randy Levine.

Major League Baseball has seen many president's throw the first pitch for over 100 years, but Trump has yet to do so since being elected into office in 2016. If Trump doesn't throw out the first pitch during his tenure as president, he'll be the first not to do so since 1910, according to NBC Sports Boston's Darren Hartwell.

While Trump stated he'll be tossing the first pitch later in the season, he may not actually get the chance to do so. 14 members of the Miami Marlins organization reportedly have tested positive for the coronavirus and their game against the Baltimore Orioles has been canceled. Similarly, the Yankees matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies, who just played the Marlins on Sunday night, also has been canceled.

The MLB season now is in jeopardy, and the league is in danger of being shut down.

The United States has confirmed over 4.2 million coronavirus cases and almost 147,000 deaths as of Monday, which is the most by any country in the world.

Erin Walsh

Erin Walsh is a Boston sports fan through and through. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bridgewater State University and currently is in pursuit of her Master's Degree in Journalism from Northeastern University. Follow her on Twitter @ewalsh90

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