BOSTON --- Collin McHugh was among those well versed in the new safety and security protocols adopted to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

McHugh is one of eight players who serve on the Major League Baseball Players Association executive subcommittee. The Red Sox right-hander was involved throughout contract negotiations with MLB owners, helping strike the March agreement and craft the manual distributed prior to Summer Camp.

"We’re happy to be back on the field in [...]

BOSTON --- Collin McHugh was among those well versed in the new safety and security protocols adopted to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

McHugh is one of eight players who serve on the Major League Baseball Players Association executive subcommittee. The Red Sox right-hander was involved throughout contract negotiations with MLB owners, helping strike the March agreement and craft the manual distributed prior to Summer Camp.

"We’re happy to be back on the field in a safe way," McHugh said. "That was our No. 1 priority the whole time."

McHugh is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday as he continues to rehab a right elbow injury. He spent parts of the last six seasons with the Astros and signed a one-year deal with Boston in March. That was one week before spring training facilities were closed and players were sent home.

"Obviously we’re spread out across the country and across the world," McHugh said. "Trying to speak with one voice is difficult enough at times when everybody is in one place. The logistics made it a little bit more difficult on MLB’s side and on the players side."

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred ultimately imposed a 60-game schedule after players and owners couldn’t reach a second agreement on how and when to return to the field. McHugh said the MLBPA negotiated throughout the process assuming there would be no fans in ballparks this season.

"To hear that they want to potentially put fans in the stands at some point this season does kind of fly in the face of the premises that we were negotiating on," McHugh said. "To that point, it is a little frustrating.

"If that was the mindset the whole time we probably could have gone down a different path. But it is what it is at this point."

bkoch@providencejournal.com

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