MLB Says 31 Players Have Tested Positive for COVID-19

A detail of baseballs during a Grapefruit League spring training game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 12, 2020. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Major League Baseball, which plans to begin its regular season in three weeks’ time, said on July 3, 31 players have tested positive for COVID-19.

In addition to the players, seven staff members have also tested positive, MLB said in a statement revealing the results from its first set of mandatory tests.

The combined 38 positive tests equates to 1.2 percent of the 3,185 samples collected.

An empty Yankee Stadium on opening day due to COVID-19 restrictions in the Bronx borough of New York on March 26, 2020. (John Woike/Samara Media/AP)

The tests were conducted as part of the mandatory intake screening process prior to the workouts and full baseball activities that began on Friday.

According to MLB, 19 of its 30 clubs had one or more individuals test positive. Names of the individuals who tested positive and the affected teams were not revealed.

MLB and its players’ association last week agreed to a shortened, 60-game 2020 campaign that would begin on either July 23 or 24 with no fans in attendance.

MLB was scheduled to open its 162-game regular season in late March but delayed the campaign due to the pandemic.

By Frank Pingue