Dodgers: Dodger Dog meatpacking plant hit by coronavirus

Not even the famous Los Angeles Dodgers hot dogs “Dodger Dogs” are safe from the evil reach of the novel coronavirus.

Not the Dodger Dogs! As the city of Los Angeles slowly recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, with the California Governor easing restrictions to allow baseball – albeit, with no fans – to return to the state this summer, the virus has reached the meatpacking plant in Vernon that produces a staple food item at Los Angeles Dodgers games, Dodger dogs.

At least 140 people who work at the plant have tested positive, according to LAist, who spoke with Freddie Agyin, the City of Vernon’s director of health and environmental control about the incident.

The plant, which is owned by Smithfield Foods, have put safety protections in place to help combat the virus.

Dodger Dogs unlikely to return to Dodgers games this season, anyway.

Obviously, beyond immediate health impacts, the meatpacking plant faces challenges in the face of the pandemic that will keep the production of Dodger Dogs to a minimum this summer, whether baseball returns or not. Without fans filling the multi-colored seats of Dodger Stadium, the famous hot dog will be on ice for a while.

Major League Baseball is currently working with the player’s association to develop health protocols, along with a financial model to allow the 2020 season to begin, possibly as early as mid-June.

Los Angeles was set to be the host city for MLB’s 2020 All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium. While the event has not been officially cancelled, it is all but a formality that it will be postponed.

As Memorial Day weekend is upon us, maybe the best way to celebrate the rich tradition of Dodger Dogs is to go out and buy a 10 inch hot dog and cook some up on your grill at home.