#Red Sox’s Collin McHugh describes MLB coronavirus saliva test

There is no spitting in baseball — unless, of course, it’s part of a coronavirus test.

“This is our covid test,” Boston Red Sox pitcher Collin McHugh tweeted Saturday with a video of him undergoing the test. “Spitting into a vial like 15 times. No eating/drinking 30 min beforehand. Tested every other day.”

The 33-year-old righty appeared to frown as he recorded himself spitting once into the tube. He had a face mask hanging off his ear.

The video provided a rare glimpse into an MLB player being tested for the virus. The most common form of coronavirus testing is conducted using a nasal swab. It is unclear whether other teams are using the saliva test.

MLB on Friday said that 31 players and seven staff members tested positive for the coronavirus as teams officially begin spring training 2.0 at their respective ball parks. Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke told reporters Friday that the team had “some positive coronavirus tests,” though individual players who test positive are not allowed to be identified by the league or union, according to an agreement reached between the two sides last month.

Teams also cannot announce when players have been placed on the COVID-19 Related Injury List, which could contain players who test positive as well as players who have been exposed to someone with the virus.

The 38 positives represented 1.2 percent of the 3,185 total samples collected and tested, although the numbers did not account for all 30 teams. The tests for the Athletics and Brewers were not yet completed by the time MLB released its initial results. Teams were set to begin official workouts Saturday.

The NBA’s first round of coronavirus testing resulted in 16 positive cases for players, or 5.3 percent of the 302 tested. MLS said it had a positive test rate of 2.7 percent (18 of 668) for players.

According to Johns Hopkins, the national seven-day rate of positive tests is 7.4 percent as cases continue to escalate across the country.

As part of its agreement to begin a 60-game season later this month, MLB banned spitting, a staple in baseball, during games as a way to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Players are to be tested every other day while other staff members will be tested “multiple times per week,” according to the league’s 113-page health and safety manual.

McHugh signed a one-year contract worth $600,000 with the Red Sox in the offseason following six years with the Astros. He also spent two seasons with the Mets from 2012-13.