The state of sports throughout the world has taken a bigger hit than anyone could’ve imagined.

The word “Corona” now means more than just popping open a cold one.

Damn, COVID-19 where did you come from and what are you doing to us?

Things have suddenly and drastically changed in all facets of life, including the sports world.

For decades, we’ve heard about the over saturation of sports on television and in arenas from coast-to-coast in this country, in Europe, and everywhere else for that matter.

That is not the case right now.

High school spring sports just may be finished for this school year. College and professional sports have already been curtailed.

How are we going to live without March Madness? What about the spring football games across America? No golf on the boob-tube - that’s what we called it back in the day - before wide screens, LCD, HDTV and Smart TVs were a thing. Sports fans are no doubt taking a hit.

But while no games to watch will create an adjustment for fans, the real losers are the spring sports athletes. With the very real possibility that no games will be played on either the high school or college level. It’s a disappointing possibility that affects everyone differently.

For underclassmen it may mean a missed year of competition. For many senior athletes it will sadly mean having their sports careers end without ever knowing they were playing their last game.

But there is another group of athletes that will be impacted differently than most. It’s that small percentage who have the ability to play at the next level.

What does that type of athlete do if their season has been canceled.

During a recent vacation in Florida, I had the chance to talk with Major League Baseball scout Lee Seras of the Cincinnati Reds organization. Seras, who lives in New Jersey, offered advice from a baseball perspective. His main piece of advice was not to alter their routine.

“Tell every baseball player to stay in the routine they’ve been going through before the season and now in the season,” said Seras by phone as he was leaving Kissimmee, Fla. where he was scouting potential talent that could be drafted this June if Major League Baseball stays on course with its slated draft.

“To be honest with you, I have no idea what our plans are,” Seras mentioned about the big league club he works for. “The way (prospective) pitchers have to continue to work they’re the ones that need to stay on track. If they do their long tossing one day, their bullpen another day, then throw a game, they need to simulate it as if they were pitching that particular week.”

Tevin Murray, a former three-sport athlete at North Schuylkill High School who now pitches for Rutgers University, found out last week that his senior season was canceled by the NCAA. The information came moments before his team was getting ready to fly to Fort Myers, Fla. for a spring break with baseball on the agenda.

Murray is being considered a draft prospect by MLB scouts. The 6-6, 220-pound left-hander was fortunate a few days later that the NCAA will grant him and all spring sports athletes an extra year of eligibility.

Murray has stuck to his routine - lifting, long tossing, and throwing sessions. He is also scheduled to graduate on time this spring with his business degree in hand. If he goes back to college for a fifth year, he will pursue his master’s degree. Steve Owens, the first year head coach at Rutgers, has already gotten a confirmation from Murray that he would go back for his extra year of playing time.

“This routine should be practiced as if they were still playing,” Seras said. “Whether it’s for high school players or college players the advice is the same. “They can’t get out of their routine.

“Who knows what is going to happen with the (draft),” said the scout who has been working part-time for 53 years looking at potential big league players. I’m just waiting to hear from the big club on what they want to do. We are going to have a conference call in the next couple of days I’m sure.”

Seras said he would like to hold a “baseball combine-like tryout” near MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to bring in prospects for a look. “I did this in the past and I’m hoping the (Reds) agree to what I think needs to be done … but who knows what they’re thinking?”

The key is don’t slouch off.

“Players need to stay in shape, not lose what they’ve worked for to this point,” explained Seras. “If they can get to a ballfield and get a catcher and throw as if there is a batter (in the box) that will be a big help so they’re velocity doesn’t fall off. If they can even get a game with players on their own, that will make a big difference as well, especially for pitchers. They should throw no more than 70 or 80 pitches. If they’re doing it with a catcher, they should throw about 15 pitches, then sit down for 10 or 15 minutes as if they’re in a game, then go back out and throw some more.”