MASKING UP, WORKING OUT
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Robbie Ray, above, walks to the dugout after throwing in the bullpen during summer camp workouts at Chase Field on Friday. At left, Yoan Lopez greets Jon Jay, right, during camp. Major League Baseball workouts officially started on Friday after the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered spring training in March. Other than medical tests and face masks, camp felt like a normal day at the ballpark, Republic sports reporter Nick Piecoro writes.
Left-hander Robbie Ray’s grunts could be heard echoing throughout a mostly empty Chase Field. The sound — accompanied by the pops of Ray’s pitches landing in the catcher’s mitt — qualified as the first official activity for the Diamondbacks at their so-called summer camp on Friday afternoon.
For the next three weeks, the Diamondbacks and the rest of baseball’s 29 teams will hurry through a second, abbreviated version of spring training in preparation for a 60-game season that is scheduled to begin on July 23 or 24.
For the Diamondbacks, a little more than half of their 60-player pool will work out at Chase Field, with the rest across town at Salt River Fields. The Chase Field group is supposed to be the club’s primary major league group. However, it was missing several key players. Left
hander Madison Bumgarner and outfielders David Peralta and Kole Calhoun were among those who were not seen at the park on Friday.
The roof was closed, the panels open. It was hot and quiet — eerie, at times. Players and coaches were sprinkled across the field. Coaches and support staff wore masks. Some players did before the workout; none did once the workout began.
How adamant the players were about social distancing seemed to fluctuate by the moment. At one point, reliever Yoan Lopez approached a teammate near the dugout railing. Lopez extended his arm and stopped short of making contact, pantomiming a fist bump in the air.
But at other times it felt like a normal day at the park. Players congregated in small groups near second base, chatting without wearing masks. They ran sprints down to first, then walked back toward home plate without much separation.
General Manager Mike Hazen said nothing feels normal to him at this point, describing things as mundane as putting on pants (instead of shorts) and driving to the park as feeling out of the ordinary on Friday.
“It’s all going to be a little strange,” Hazen said on a conference call. “It’s just great to be back around people. Hopefully we can continue to responsibly and diligently execute on this and bring baseball to the fans.”
If there ever were a time to feel comfortable in the knowledge that those around them were free of the virus, this was the day. Over the previous several days, players had to go through intake procedures in order to be cleared to participate.
For intake, Hazen said the club scheduled personnel to arrive at the park in groups, starting first with the medical and clubhouse staff, followed by food services, coaches and ultimately players.
Everyone involved had to undergo screening, temperature checks, PCR tests (saliva) and serological (blood) tests. Much of that will be part of the daily routine throughout the season.
Some Diamondbacks personnel are being asked to use a team-designed app