Major League Baseball players will be prohibited from taking showers after games and there will be no fist-bump celebrations or spitting sunflower seeds in the dugout, according to a return-to-play guidelines drafted by league officials.

The new restrictions, which have to be approved by the players' union, would also enforce social distancing, meaning no hugs or high fives after a home run, and a ban on chewing tobacco, the US media reported on Saturday.

Players would go through daily temperature screenings and have to sanitize their hands each half-inning. MLB plans to perform thousands of tests on players, coaches, management and stadium personnel for Covid-19 on a weekly basis.

Showers would not be permitted at the stadium after games.

MLB believes the 67-page return-to-play rules would prevent against the spread of Covid-19 as the league is hoping to begin a shortened 2020 season by early July, The Athletic reported.

Players not in the lineup would need to sit in auxiliary seating at a social distance and not in the dugout. Non-playing team personnel would need to wear face coverings in the dugout.

Miami Marlins Miguel Rojas spits out water in the dug out in the second inning during a baseball game in 2019 against the Washington Nationals.
Miami Marlins Miguel Rojas spits out water in the dug out in the second inning during a baseball game in 2019 against the Washington Nationals. GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Mitchell Layton

Most essential team personnel would be tested for the coronavirus more than once each week, as would their family members.

Anyone testing positive would immediately be quarantined.

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