Officials have postponed the start of the 12-team Japanese professional baseball league season on Monday because of the spread of the coronavirus.

The season was to open on March 20. Japan's professional league had been playing its preseason games without fans because of the virus.

"I personally believe that we have no choice but to postpone at this stage," Japanese league commissioner Atsushi Saito said.

Baseball officials said they were unsure when the season might start, but mentioned sometime in April.