Red Sox Get Back To Work As 'Summer Camp' Opens At Fenway Park
BOSTON (CBS) -- The tests are done and now it's time to play ball. The Red Sox are back to work at Fenway Park.
Red Sox players, fresh off being tested for COVID-19 on Wednesday and Thursday, are holding their first team workout at their home ballpark on Friday as Major League Baseball resumes the 2020 season. The workouts began at 10am and concluded around 4pm, with groups of players working out on the field in shifts.
Teams will have roughly three weeks of a second spring training -- apply titled "summer camp" by MLB -- before the 60-game seasons begins around July 23-24. This will look much different than life down in Fort Myers, though, with several rules and protocols to follow due to the pandemic. While there will be fungo bats and other assorted drills as players get back into playing shape, there will be no spitting, high fives or hugging.
Yeah, baseball is going to look a lot different this summer.
Players are not using the clubhouse, instead using suites throughout the park, one of several changes the team made to Fenway Park to make it safer for players and staff during summer camp.
Boston manager Ron Roenicke confirmed Friday afternoon that the team did get some positive tests back, but they would not be releasing any names. Any players who test positive during camp -- or at any point during the season -- will be placed on the COVID-19 Related Injured List, which does not have a time limit. In order to be removed from the list, players have to test negative twice at least 24 hours apart, cannot have had a fever for at least 72 hours, and must have taken an antibody test.
Doctors and a joint COVID-19 committee created by the league and the union must all sign off for a player to be removed from the list.
Boston players don't seem to be too concerned about the virus as they return to work.
"I'm sure everyone has some anxiety, at some level, about a return to play. But from my conversations with our guys they're so excited to get going," Red Sox team president Sam Kennedy said Thursday in a joint press conference with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh at Fenway Park. "It has been amazing to see Jackie Bradley Jr., and J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogarts coming back together and getting to be reunited. We haven't seen each other since March 12 down in Spring Training, so it's been a bit of a homecoming week."
Kennedy also said Thursday that the Red Sox will use Boston College for part of its summer camp.
