High-risk umpire Joe West to work 2020 MLB season, questions coronavirus death data

As Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic noted on Tuesday, 67-year-old MLB umpire Joe West isn't letting the coronavirus pandemic keep him from working the 60-game regular season, even if physicians determined he is high-risk for COVID-19.

In fact, West isn't sure the data regarding coronavirus deaths is all that accurate.

“I don’t believe in my heart that all these deaths have been from the coronavirus," West reportedly said. "I believe it may have contributed to some of the deaths. I said, ‘I’m not going to opt out. I’m going to work. And I’m going to work until you take me off the field or I get hurt, whatever. I’m working.’”

Rosenthal added that MLB is offering full pay for umpires and players deemed high-risk, but MLB cannot, per the terms of agreements on the shortened season, prevent such individuals from participating.

“If this game hasn’t gotten me by now, no virus is going to get me," West defiantly told Rosenthal. "I’ve weathered a bunch of storms in my life. I’ll weather another one.”

West also informed Rosenthal that he dropped 25 pounds in excess weight over the offseason and he routinely plays golf in Florida, which continues to experience virus outbreaks throughout the state.

West is currently 65 games shy of the record for most regular-season games umpired, held by Bill Klem, a Hall of Famer. The earliest West will reach 5,375 regular-season outings is next year, assuming the 2020 campaign happens amid the pandemic.

Opening Day is scheduled for July 23.