KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Royals Chairman and CEO John Sherman issued the following statement concerning the return to baseball."I have been impressed and inspired by the way our organization has conducted itself during these remarkable times, preparing for the return of baseball and responding to our community’s most urgent needs."I am happy for our players, coaches, scouts, front office associates and all of us who are getting back to the game we love. As we do so, our first and highest priority will be the health and safety of everyone who loves Royals baseball.&nbsp;"We are thankful for our fans,&nbsp;our partners and our sponsors who have run alongside us and supported us during this time. I am also grateful for our ownership group, who has passionately engaged in supporting a season&nbsp;they could never have anticipated.&nbsp;"We look forward to&nbsp;returning to Kauffman Stadium to&nbsp;compete on behalf of our community and the great fans of the Kansas City Royals. I can’t wait for Opening Day, as we welcome back the healing and unifying power of sports.&nbsp; Let’s play baseball."Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that the league would play a 60-game schedule that will start July 23 or 24 in empty ballparks.&nbsp;This will be MLB's shortest season since 1878. Each team will play 10 games against each of its four division rivals and four games against each of the five clubs in the corresponding division in the other league, according to details obtained by The Associated Press.The sides expanded the designated hitter to games involving National League teams and will start extra innings with a runner on second base.

Royals' Sherman: Let’s play baseball