MLB, MLBPA: No positive COVID tests outside of Cardinals

On Friday, MLB and the MLB Players Association shared promising news regarding the latest round of coronavirus testing around the league. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

MLB, MLBPA report no positive coronavirus tests outside of one club

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/14/20

On Friday, MLB and the MLB Players Association shared promising news regarding the latest round of coronavirus testing around the league.

Per a joint statement, the bodies announced that only four of the 12,301 samples collected over the last week through Thursday returned positive results. Specifically, two players and two staff members from a single club tested positive.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the four individuals are associated with the St. Louis Cardinals:

The last time anyone other than a member of the #STlCards tested positive for COVID-19 in MLB/PA testing was July 30. So that is 2 weeks in which just 1 team has a positive.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 14, 2020

A coronavirus outbreak within the Cardinals has kept that club sidelined since a July 29 defeat to the Minnesota Twins. St. Louis has been cleared to play a doubleheader at the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.

Cleveland Indians pitchers Zach Plesac and Mike Clevinger found themselves in hot water and were temporarily deactivated by the club after they violated MLB health and safety protocols and went out for a social dinner with friends in Chicago last Saturday. It's believed nobody within the Indians tested positive for the virus over the past week.

Friday's update seemingly shows that MLB can complete a pandemic-shortened season if -- and that remains a massive "if" -- all personnel follow the mentioned guidelines and work together to avoid exposure to any potentially infected individuals.

More must-reads: