It’s an exciting time for sports fans as professional baseball starts to make its return to New Jersey.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced last week that professional sports teams in the Garden State could resume operation. Because of the announcement, the Somerset Patriots were able to gather local players and a few new prospects Thursday for the team’s first practice of 2020 in Bridgewater.

“As baseball players, we take times playing baseball for granted. But times like these really make you realize how beautiful baseball is and sports in general,” says Patriots pitcher Josh Almonte.

Team officials say that the practice is the first step in hopefully getting the season underway in the Atlantic League.

“We’re in a bunch of different states, but it’s going to be determined by local state government and health officials, but right now, the league is full force on playing this year,” says president and general manager Patrick McVerry.

The Patriots are following several safety protocols for their workout, including only allowing a limited number of local players to attend, giving them temperature checks and distributing hand sanitizer.

“It’s a test for us as a staff for what we need to prepare for the season,” says McVerry.

The players say that they are excited about the future.

“It’s all going to be something new to us, but we’re all really willing to make it work so we can play baseball,” says pitcher James Pugliese.

The players say that while things may not be fully back to normal for some time, the normalcy of playing baseball has been great.

Team officials say that the Atlantic League is working out the details for the season. They say that they fully expect that fans will be able to attend the games, but in a reduced capacity.