Orlando Sentinel

Rays’ 1st workout: ‘Good to see some smiling faces’

- By Marc Topkin

ST. PETERSBURG — More than a dozen players participat­ed in limited, light workouts at Tropicana Field on Monday as the Rays got back to work.

“A step in the right direction,” manager Kevin Cash said. “And it was good to see some smiling faces.”

The sessions, staggered in groups of two, were the Rays’ first at a team facility since March 17. Spring training was suspended, and camps closed due to the coronaviru­s pandemic.

Players were allowed to get on the field to play catch, run, use free weights in “a makeshift gym” and do plyometric jumps and other exercises.

There was no access to the batting cages, bullpen mounds, weight room or clubhouse, though Cash said that could change as soon as next week. The Rays have similar sessions slated for Wednesday and Friday this week, then will discuss allowing additional activity.

Outfielder Austin Meadows said it was “huge” to get to be back at the Trop, see other members of the organizati­on and do some structured workouts, and it was fun.

“It was good to see new faces,” Meadows said. “It’s been a while since we’ve got to see each other and hang out and be on a routine. So today was good to have that little change of scenery.”

Players, coaches and the small number of staff in attendance were subject to screening questions and temperatur­e checks on their way into the Trop. All wore masks, Cash said, though players were allowed to remove them for the workouts. There was a hand-washing station near the entry/exit gate, and hand sanitizer was plentiful.

“Obviously, the main priority is being safe and stuff like that,” Meadows said. “We’ll take anything that we need to do, any precaution we need to take just to get out there and play again. I think a lot of guys can say the same thing. … I trust MLB. I trust the union just to gather a plan together to keep us safe.”

The players who attended were staying in the Tampa Bay area, Cash said, estimating 14 took part. Infielders Willy Adames and Jose Martinez, catcher Michael Perez and outfielder Manuel Margot were among others. The workout was not open to the media. Cash said there were some “odd” elements to the scene, but it was good to have players back on the field.

“I think they were excited to get back to something that was normal or [that they were] used to, given that it was very unusual circumstan­ces,” he said.

 ?? COURTESY OF WILL VRAGOVIC/TAMPA BAY RAYS ?? Rays head athletic trainer Joe Benge, left, talks with Austin Meadows as he arrives to the field for a voluntary workout.
COURTESY OF WILL VRAGOVIC/TAMPA BAY RAYS Rays head athletic trainer Joe Benge, left, talks with Austin Meadows as he arrives to the field for a voluntary workout.

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