MLB players reported to training camps earlier this month with the promise of robust coronavirus testing and safety procedures in place. A little over a week into it, and the cracks in the system are starting to show.
As of Friday, a total of 31 MLB players have tested positive for COVID-19 with some players still waiting for their results to come back.
On Sunday, Nationals closer Sean Doolittle told reporters that he had been tested twice, once on Friday and once on Sunday, but was still waiting for the results of his initial Friday test.
Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant echoed the same concerns with reporters on Monday afternoon, revealing that some players had only gotten tested once within 7 days.
According to the return-to-play agreement between MLB and the players union, players are to be tested every other day, but that’s not happening.
“We have had guys that showed up here on Sunday and hadn’t gotten tested again until seven days later,” Bryant said. “And then you don’t get the results for two days either. So that’s nine days without knowing. If we are want this to succeed, we are going to have to figure it out.”
Bryant voiced his frustration over testing delays, saying it lead him to not feel safe during the return.
“I wanted to play this year because I felt it would be safe and I would feel comfortable. But honestly, I don’t really feel that way. Which is why I am really trying to keep my distance from everybody, wear a mask and hope we can get this thing going. If we want it to happen and we want it to go smoothly, this should be the easy part. When we are on airplanes, in hotels, getting room service, who knows what people are doing. That goes for the other teams too. If we can’t nail the easy part — which is right now — we have a big hill to climb.”
Buried in Bryant’s quote is the assertion that “this should be the easy part.” He’s right about that. Every league’s return to play plan is built on adequate testing, yet it seems that nailing the easy part is proving to be difficult.
Per an MLB statement, the league collected 3,740 intake screenings during the week long period between June 27-July 3. Out of those, there were reported results for 98% of samples. The missing 2% may not seem like much until you realize that’s still 86 results that remain pending. With a virus as contagious and potentially devastating as this one, that’s not an acceptable margin of error.
“The process has not been without some unforeseen difficulties,” the MLB statement reads before pushing the blame onto the Utah lab responsible for delivering test results.
A number of MLB players have decided to opt out of playing this season, but Bryant says he wouldn’t consider that.
“I just couldn’t do that. I am going to do everything I can to stay. I will try to stay healthy and lead by example as well as encourage people to do the right thing.”
