Players hit, run, throw — and spit.
They spit when they are in the outfield. They spit when they are in the dugout. They might step out of the batter's box or off the pitching rubber between pitches and spit. It's part of the game.
"Yeah," Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz said, "that's kind of normal for us to spit."
But Major League Baseball is not allowing spitting this season. It has ordered the removal of items from the dugout, like sunflower seeds, to help reduce the chances that a player will have reason to spit. But challenges remain. Players will often grab water or Gatorade in the dugout, drink a little then spit the rest out.
Water and Gatorade remain in the dugout, but in individual containers.
"I guess we have to get used to not doing that," Cruz said. "We don't have gum. We don't have sunflower seeds, so that will help us. We gotta keep the stadium clean so we can't be throwing garbage in there."
Second baseman Luis Arraez, who plans to play with a mask on, said it won't be a big adjustment for him because he doesn't spit much. But it's been a challenge for the players who have spit for so long they don't realize they are doing it.
"Yeah, I think I broke that rule today a couple times," righthander Tyler Duffey said Friday. "I almost need to like wear a mask in an outing, just to make it not happen. It's one of things I have to be cognizant of, and remind myself constantly.