The lively atmosphere Alcides Escobar expected for his Tokyo Dome return was silenced by Japan's efforts to counter the spread of the new coronavirus known as COVID-19.
In November 2014, the longtime defensive wiz with the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals got a taste of the noise and clamor of Japanese pro ball when he and a team of visiting major league stars took on Japan's national team.
"It's crazy," Escobar, a native of Venezuela, said Sunday of how Japan's fans serenade their teams' hitters to the accompaniment of drums and horns.