Houston Astros pitching prospect Colin McKee has returned to his apartment in Wilmington, N.C.

The Butler graduate and hard-throwing right-hander is expected to remain in “game-ready baseball shape” with nobody to play baseball with.

“They (MLB) told uis to stay in shape and stay ready,” McKee, 25, said.

“I usually work out at (University of) North Carolina-Wilmington when I'm here. But with all of the universities shut down and their own teams not allowed to practice there, they're not going to open their facilities for me.”

The novel coronavirus pandemic is affecting all — including major league hopefuls.

Mars graduate David Bednar pitched in four spring training games with the San Diego Padres before MLB suspended its on-field operations indefinitely.

Bednar remains at the Padres' spring training base in Peoria, Ariz.

“He's still getting his workouts in there,” said Andy Bednar, David's father. “He's doing his lifting and throwing his bullpen sessions. Hopefully, they keep that facility open so he and the other pitchers can make use of it.”

McKee and Bednar have hopes of gaining promotions within their respective organizations this spring. McKee pitched for Class AA Corpus Christi (Texas) last season and was hoping to break camp with Class AAA Round Rock after spring training.

“Obviously, that's not going to happen now,” McKee said. “There's been no word as to when team workouts may resume or what the plan is going to be when they do.

“It would make sense, when things resume, to send players straight to the big club, Class AAA, AA, wherever, rather than have everyone go back to spring training and be reassigned all over again.”

Bednar pitched in 13 major league games with San Diego last September, striking out 14 in 11 innings pitched. Prior to his promotion, he fashioned a 2.95 earned run average, 86 strikeouts, 18 walks and 14 saves in 58 innings pitched for Class AA Amarillo.

Andy Bednar said his son “is hopeful” of beginning this season in the major leagues.

“The problem is the Padres brought in a slew of right-handed relief pitchers to camp this year,” he said. “David is in that mix, but won't get the look now he was expecting to get.

“He may wind up starting out at (Class AAA) El Paso as a result. He may not get enough of an opportunity to show himself to the big club.”

McKee pitched six innings for Class AAA Round Rock last season and struggled with control. At Corpus Christi, he was 2-2 with a 1.71 ERA, seven saves, 76 strikeouts and 35 walks ibn 58 innings pitched.

McKee and Bednar both made the Texas League All-Star Game last season as relief pitchers.

“I'm buying one of those golf nets and I have about two dozen baseballs,” McKee said. “I'll be pitching those baseballs into the net in my apartment. That and doing some exercises will be how I'll stay in game-ready shape.

“When you're at spring training, the team pays for your lodging, three meals a day ... Now that we're sent home, we're on our own financially. It's like another off-season. I didn't exactly budget for this.”

He's not exactly worried about baseball right now, either.

“Honestly, baseball is not on my mind,” McKee said. “It's on the back-burner. My concern is for the health of everyone ... my family, all families.

“Where I wind up once baseball resumes, there are so many mitigating factors, it's impossible to project. It just doesn't feel that important right now.”