Tampa Bay Rays returned to the field with an informal, voluntary, light workout Monday at Tropicana Field.
“It was great seeing everybody,” said manager Kevin Cash. “It was good to see some smiling faces.”
Players, coaches and facility workers had their temperatures taken before entering the building. Everyone in attendance also wore masks, with players being allowed to remove their masks while working out.
“The main priority is staying healthy,” said Rays outfielder Austin Meadows. “Not contracting the virus, continuing to wash our hands and stay away at six feet. I think that’s a priority being healthy, in keeping our families safe.”
The limited workouts included playing catch, agility drills and conditioning exercises.
Cash said the team plans to gather again on Wednesday and Friday, while Major League Baseball and the Players’ Union continue to negotiate a plan to start the 2020 season.
“There’s sense of urgency just to play,” said Cash. “This is our livelihood, the players’ livelihood and they want to do everything, for the most part, to put a product on the field that can be seen, most likely through a TV screen or computer screen for the time being, that can entertain our society and I think all sports are looking at it that way.”
The previous workout was on March 17 in Port Charlotte.
