ATLANTA, Ga.- The Major League Baseball season is expected to begin within two weeks as the sport decided to try and host a partial schedule amongst the current pandemic. The schedule will include 60 games and will feature the same playoff format since the two wild-card system was installed for the 2012 season.

Madison’s Grant Dayton, a 2019 member of the Atlanta Braves’ pitching staff, made his way to Atlanta for what is the so-called pre-season workouts in preparation for the upcoming abbreviated season. The 2006 graduate of Bob Jones High, who originally signed with Northwest Shoals C.C. before choosing instead Auburn University, is attempting to make the pitching staff of the Braves through the pandemic.

“We’re optimistic seeing all the protocols set in place. I feel safe. As long as the players and staff abide by the plan, we’ll be OK,” said the 32-year old Dayton from his apartment in Atlanta he shares with his wife, Cori, and their two sons, ages two and six months.

They made the trip to the Atlanta Metro area from their permanent home in Florida.

Despite some recent positive tests for the coronavirus by some members of the team, Dayton has a positive outlook. Once the players arrived for pre-season practice they were tested every other day. In addition, their temperatures are checked three times a day- when they awake, upon arrival at the field and a third time during the day.

“We’re all monitored on everything we do,” added Dayton. “These are staggering times we live in and it will be new for everybody.”

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound lefthander played his first two seasons in Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 and 2017. In August of 2017, he underwent the major procedure of Tommy John surgery. He missed the entire 2018 season and through hundreds of hours of rehabilitation made his way back to “The Show” after being placed on waivers by the Dodgers. The Braves picked him up and he pitched in 22 minor league games and 14 games for the Braves in 2019. He pitched 12 innings with a very respectable 3.00 ERA with 14 strikeouts as a relief pitcher.

For Dayton, son of Clay Dayton and Janis Dayton-Tangemann, both of Madison, he has stayed in good physical condition by purchasing his own workout equipment including a pitching net. “I usually like throwing with players from the local high schools,” said Dayton. “I think my arm is ready- matter of fact, I may have increased some arm speed. I focused on gains in arm strength.”

Although he is not guaranteed a spot on the team roster, Dayton feels confident he’ll earn a spot on the team. He said he likes his chances. He knows he’s recovered from surgery and will be a reliever 100-percent of the time for the team he grew up watching.

“It’s cool to wear this Braves uniform and I’ll do whatever they want me to do,” said Dayton. “My goal is to make the team and stay in the game as long as I can.”

Should he make the final cut for the Braves’ roster, he’ll be among a few Major League Baseball players who will suit up and play without receiving a paycheck. Major League Baseball advanced money to players due to the season being postponed via full pro rata. There are four tiers players were placed in, depending on service time. For Dayton, he was listed in the top tier and was paid more than the 60 games expected to be played. Thus, he was overpaid and, to make up the difference, will not receive a normal paycheck during the regular season.

“A little touch of normalcy is what we’re hoping to bring to our country,” said Dayton. “We realize we can help unite the country and we don’t take that lightly. As professional athletes we don’t take this for granted.”