Results of MLB COVID-19 testing encouraging, but these positives may become a problem
If Joey Gallo didn’t stand out enough based simply on his size, the red glove he wears makes him an even easier target to identify.
There he was, and there it was, in right field Friday just after noon when the media ascended to the press box high above the playing surface at Globe Life Field.
Gallo was cleared to participate in summer camp Friday morning after being one of two Texas Rangers to test positive for COVID-19 during the pre-camp screening/intake process.
Gallo was one of the 66 positive tests league-wide out of 3,748 samples during the intake process. The Rangers, who also had left-hander Brett Martin test positive, were among the 27 teams to have at least one positive result.
Between the intake process and what MLB is calling the monitoring process that has followed, with players tested every other day and other personnel a few times a week, there have been 83 positives out of 11,149 samples.
While the 0.7% overall infection rate is encouraging, the positives going forward are the number to watch.
As of Friday, there were 17 positives from monitor testing, which also seems encouraging and appears to indicate that the MLB protocols are working. But just because intake testing is done and infections are less than 1%, this is no time to relax.
“I don’t know why the public at-large would be at risk of infection and we wouldn’t be here,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “We’re trying to be careful, but so are a lot of people out there who have gotten it. I’m hopeful it doesn’t happen, but I think we’ve got to expect that it will.
“Everybody needs to be careful, and we’ll continue to drive that home. The good thing is that our players are pushing that every bit as much as we are.”
That’s evident during workouts and games. Those who are playing in the intrasquad games don’t wear a face covering, with the exception of Robinson Chirinos, but base coaches and those watching from behind a screen behind the plate are covered up.
That includes manager Chris Woodward and pitching coach Julio Rangel.
Most players and personnel in the dugout have masks on, as well as any officials or scouts sitting in field-level suites or in the stands. Media and photographers standing on the lower concourse also wear masks, and those in the press box are distanced enough to not require masks but many still wear them.
All players have said that they wear masks whenever they aren’t at the ballpark or at their homes. Rougned Odor and Mike Minor wore masks Thursday during the Zoom calls with the media.
“I’m trying to be safe,” said Odor, who homered Friday for a second straight day. “Everybody knows the pandemic has been bad. I just try to keep my mask on when I’m not working out or not at the field. It’s hard for me to breathe while I’m practicing or in the weight room. When I’m not doing anything, I try to keep my mask on.”
MLB attempted to minimize risk through intake testing by weeding out positive cases. The Rangers have called their summer camp a bubble, though one in which players go their own way following a workout or game.
That opens the door to spread the virus in the monitoring phase.
The major concern is what would happen if a team experiences a COVID-19 outbreak. There is a COVID-19 injured list, and teams will have players at an auxiliary site to call upon.
One player who runs amok of the safety protocols by, say, going to a restaurant at home or on the road, could make that happen. It might not just be staff who gets stick, but their family members, too.
Everyone in the Tier 1 (field personnel) and Tier 2 (club personnel with close contact with field personnel) must adhere to the strict safety plan in the MLB operations manual.
“When I leave the ballpark it’s always think about other people before you think about yourself,” left fielder Willie Calhoun said. “You might not feel sick or anything but you could have the COVID, and just think about the people around you. They have families. You never know what situation they’re going through.”
It’s that kind of awareness MLB needs its players to have and to be mindful of if they have any hope of completing the 60-game season and playoffs.
Calhoun said the Rangers haven’t spent much time talking about the season getting shut down, though players on other clubs have expressed concern as COVID-19 cases spike nationally.
“I think we’re pretty confident that we’ll get through the season,” Calhoun said. “I don’t think anyone wants to think about the downside of it getting shut down just because we started right back up.”
