Baseball kicks off with preseason training (73 images)

After the Major League Baseball Players Association and the league reached an agreement on health and safety protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic, the players were asked to report to their spring training by July 1 to prepare for a shortened season. Here's a look at a few teams getting started with "spring training." Opening day for the season is Thursday.

Kansas City Royals batter Alex Gordon connects for a sacrifice RBI during an exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 22. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

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Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas delivers a pitch to the Royals. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

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Royals' coach John Mabry watches batting practice before the exhibition game. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

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Major League umpires, from left to right, D.J. Reyburn, Ron Kulpa and Andy Fletcher, wait to enter the field for the exhibition game. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

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