MLB reports 38 positive coronavirus tests in first wave of training camp screening
With Major League Baseball players and coaches reporting to summer camps as part of the attempt to restart the season, every player and staff member was tested for coronavirus.
The league and the players union reported Friday that 38 new positive tests came from 3,185 samples collected from players and staff members this week. That’s 1.2 percent, what’s being viewed as an incredibly low number, all things considered. Those numbers are in addition to the reported 40-plus cases that impacted players and staff members prior to camp.
Players such as Washington Nationals closer Sean Doolittle have since raised concerns that tests are taking three days or more to produce results, so it’s unclear how complete a picture those numbers provide. Some Oakland Athletics had a workout postponed because intake testing had not yet come back.
The announced positive tests came from 19 different teams. Seven were from staff members and 31 were from players. Individual players were not identified, per MLB rules.
In an attempt to manage the spread of coronavirus, players and team personnel will be tested frequently throughout camp and the season. Anyone who tests positive will be isolated away from their respective team. The individual will be required to remain in daily contact and undergo followup testing as it is deemed necessary.
Three players who announced Friday that they’d already tested positive: Delino DeShields Jr. of the Cleveland Indians, Brett Martin of the Texas Rangers and Tommy Pham of the San Diego Padres.
On Saturday, the Atlanta Braves announced four positive tests, including first baseman Freddie Freeman.
Brian Snitker said Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Touki Toussaint and Pete Kozma all tested positive for COVID-19. Freeman is still battling a fever. Smith and Toussaint have been asymptomatic. These are the only four Braves who are known to have tested positive.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) July 4, 2020
Freeman and Kozma are experiencing symptoms of the virus. Braves manager Brian Snitker said it could take some time before Freeman is able to return.
Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez also tested positive for coronavirus. He’s asymptomatic.
Salvador Perez announces that he tested positive for COVID-19. He’s asymptotic. He is not with the team, but at his area home. #Royals
— Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier610) July 4, 2020
The Minnesota Twins also announced three of the franchise’s four players to test positive.
Edward Colina, Nick Gordon, Willians Astudillo and one other member of #MNTwins have tested positive for COVID-19. Colina and Gordon were prior to intake. Astudillo, who is asymptotic, and the other MLBer tested positive during intake.
— danhayesmlb (@DanHayesMLB) July 3, 2020
On Saturday, the Twins revealed Miguel Sanó as the fourth player on the team to test positive for coronavirus.
The #MNTwins announce that Miguel Sanó was the other player that tested positive for COVID-19 as part of the intake process.
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) July 4, 2020
The New York Yankees also announced on Saturday that two of their players had tested positive for the coronavirus: infielder DJ LeMahieu and pitcher Luis Cessa.
Yankees had two players test positive for the coronavirus: DJ LeMahieu and Luis Cessa, according to Aaron Boone. The players gave their permission for their names to be revealed.
— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) July 4, 2020
Two more named cases came from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday, with Silvino Bracho and Junior Guerra testing positive.
Silvino Bracho and Junior Guerra are 2 Dbacks players who have tested positive according to Torey Lovullo.
— Jody Jackson (@Jody_Jackson) July 6, 2020
For a player to be cleared to return, he must test negative twice at least 24 hours apart and show no symptoms for 72 hours. Approval from team doctors is the final required step.
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