BOSTON -- With just three weeks to go until Opening Day, it was eyeopening that lefty Eduardo Rodriguez was not cleared to participate in Friday’s opening workout of Summer Camp at Fenway Park.

Instead, Rodriguez remained at his home in Florida as he awaits results of a recent COVID-19 test.

“The reason being is that he was at home and was around somebody that was sick,” Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. “He wanted to just make sure that he was fine so we have tested him. We don’t have the results back yet, and when we get those results, obviously you’ll know.”

All Red Sox players who arrived in Boston this week took COVID-19 tests. Some of those results came back positive, Roenicke confirmed, but he didn’t get into specifics.

“Everyone knows this is contagious, and we're taking all of the precautions we can to contain it, and if someone does have it, to keep it from spreading to other people,” said Red Sox infielder Michael Chavis. “We're doing everything we can to prevent it from happening and I know personally I can to do everything I can to make sure I don't come in contact with it, that I wash my hands, that I'm wearing my mask. I'm not super concerned, just because I know we're taking every precaution.”

As for Rodriguez, starting pitchers can’t afford to miss much time -- if any -- at Summer Camp to be ready for Opening Day.

During the initial version of Spring Training, Rodriguez had been lining up to pitch Opening Day.

“Obviously the starting pitching is the concern [in an abbreviated camp],” said Roenicke. “I was really confident with where Eduardo and Nate [Eovaldi] was. I know how much they were throwing. So any time something is set back a little bit, OK, we need to look at it and talk about it. Eduardo is still planning to throw some at home before he comes up and we’re just waiting on results about his testing. But, yes, the starting pitching is a concern and we know that the setbacks for the starters will make a difference on whether they’re ready Opening Day.”

If Rodriguez isn’t ready for the opener, Eovaldi would be all but sure to get the nod.

McHugh encouraged about health
When Spring Training was halted, newly acquired righty Collin McHugh was in the early stages of coming back from a right flexor tendon injury suffered last season. More than three months later, his health has greatly improved.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I have been taking this time during quarantine, I was back in Atlanta at my home doing all my rehab, doing all my throwing,” McHugh said. “Kind of trying to work my way back to 100 percent. I think we have made a lot of progress toward that now that we’re back at full camp. We can get trainers’ hands on me, throw to catchers and all that kind of stuff.”

McHugh said it’s too early to gauge whether he’ll be ready for the start of the season. But he is hoping so.

“It’s going to be like drinking from a fire hose for three weeks in this Spring Training for everybody around baseball. I’m looking forward to it,” McHugh said.

The swingman isn’t concerned whether he is deployed as a starter or reliever.

“My No. 1 goal is get healthy first, get to the point where I’m able to throw to hitters in a big league situation, and we’ll stick me in in whatever situation the team needs and run from there,” McHugh said.

Chavis dialed in
Don’t tell Chavis that it is going to be hard to get the juices flowing again now that baseball is back.

“I can only speak for myself,” Chavis said. “I don’t think it's going to be very hard. I've been sitting in the house for three months. My last at-bat in a game was Spring Training and all I've been thinking about is I wish I was playing baseball instead of MLB The Show and Fortnite. I'm excited to play today. I love playing baseball. It's my favorite thing to do. I personally won't have an issue getting excited or turning up for a game. I'm just looking forward to being on the field and being here.”

Roenicke managing nonstop
Though workouts didn’t start until Friday, Roenicke has never felt busier in the days leading up to Summer Camp.

“This is the craziest time and the busiest time I’ve ever had in baseball,” said Roenicke. “I’ve never made so many phone calls. I’ve never made so many text messages in a day every single day. It’s been really crazy.”

Nine more on Saturday
The Red Sox had nine players from Latin American countries arrive a day later than the others, and that’s why they weren’t cleared to participate in Friday’s workout.

Pending the results of their COVID-19 tests, those players should be able to work out on Saturday. The Red Sox were able to use Fenway Park for all workouts on Friday due to the lower number of players. Starting on Saturday, Boston College will also be used.

Roenicke hopes the Red Sox will start playing intrasquad games in five or so days.

Five-day plan
With 60 games in 66 days, teams might get creative in how they deploy their starting rotations. At this point, Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush anticipates his starters going on a five-day plan, though the fifth spot could go to an opener.

“For right now we’re sticking with a five-day plan. We have not had full internal discussions about that,” said Bush. “It’s going to be based on personnel. But at this point but I’m still stretching guys out and having them pitch on a five-day schedule to get ready for the season. As the season goes along, depending how the schedule looks, we could make changes if we have to. But my intention at this point is a more traditional five-man rotation.”

Bush is pleased with the way his pitchers stayed in shape during the layoff.

“If we can get ramped up the way I hope, they should be pretty close to normal. I don’t think anyone is going to be throwing a complete game the first time out, but I hope to get them the same length we hoped for at the original Spring Training, which is five, six, seven innings if possible,” Bush said. “At this point I’m not anticipating an innings limit unless there are complications over the next few weeks. If the next few weeks go smoothly, then I think guys will be ready to pitch like they normally would as starters.”