Tampa Bay Rays open Tropicana Field for workouts

While the MLB Players Association awaits a return-to-play proposal from owners set to be delivered on Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Rays began unique preparations for some sort of season amid the coronavirus pandemic on Memorial Day.

Per ESPN, 14 Tampa Bay players trained at the reopened Tropicana Field on Monday. The players, who wore masks at the facility when they weren't working out, played catch, completed conditioning drills and used a weight room.

While speaking with reporters on a video conference call after the workouts, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said everyone in attendance had their temperatures taken and were questioned before they were permitted into the facility.

Outfielder Austin Meadows seemed optimistic players and club owners will come to terms on an agreement for the start of the campaign that remains indefinitely suspended because of the uncontrolled virus outbreak. He told reporters:

"Obviously the main priority is being safe and stuff like that. 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."

ESPN added the Houston Astros opened Minute Maid Park and the team's spring training facility to players on Monday. 

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times wrote that the Rays staggered workouts in two groups to ensure players and other personnel followed social-distancing guidelines. Batting cages and pitching mounds were off-limits. 

Tampa Bay players can return to the facility on Wednesday and Friday this week.