Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen reveals he and his family tested positive for coronavirus
Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen was late reporting to camp earlier this month, though he had a reason why.
Jansen, who rejoined the team on Sunday, revealed that he and his entire family had tested positive for COVID-19.
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Jansen, according to NBC4, believes he contracted the virus from his son — who was displaying symptoms. His wife, he said, also tested positive.
He has since tested negative and is “doing great and better now.” His family, he said, has recovered, too.
There were more than 3.2 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States as of Sunday afternoon, according to The New York Times, and nearly 135,000 deaths attributed to it. The country set a single-day record on Friday, too, recording more than 68,000 new cases.
California had more than 320,000 confirmed cases, second only behind New York, and was averaging more than 7,800 new cases a day over the past week. Los Angeles County had more than 130,000 of the state’s cases.
The 32-year-old three-time All-Star is in the fourth year of his five-year, $80 million deal with the Dodgers. Despite his positive test, however, Jansen said he never thought about opting out of the season — something several players have already done.
He also believes that he’ll be ready to go for the beginning of the season, which is currently scheduled to start on July 23. Manager Dave Roberts said Jansen “looks like he’s in good shape,” too, according to the Los Angeles Times’ Jack Harris.
While he’s excited about joining his team and the prospect of playing again, Jansen did take at least one thing from his coronavirus experience.
“It is real,” Jansen said, via the Los Angeles Times. “Everyone in the world, take it serious. Wear your mask at all times, if you can. Because, trust me, it happens so fast. Once my son got it, I’ve seen how fast it can spread. We tried to do everything, but we all got it in the house.”
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