More positive tests, canceled workouts add to MLB unease | News, Sports, Jobs – Maui News

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Jul 8, 2020

The Associated Press

As baseball nears the two-week countdown to the start of its delayed season, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep more players, including Boston Red Sox projected opening day starter Eduardo Rodriguez, off the field.

On Tuesday, one day after Major League Baseball released its 60-game schedule, there was continued evidence of the difficulties caused by the pandemic.

The San Francisco Giants suspended workouts at Oracle Park as they awaited the results of weekend tests for the coronavirus. The Chicago Cubs workout was delayed.

Oakland left-hander Jake Diekman, who has ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune condition, said teams having to call off workouts because of delays in test results just cant happen.

I know theyre trying their hardest, but I dont know if thats good enough for right now, Diekman said Tuesday. Its a little worrisome. Say we go on a 10-day road trip and we only get results one time. Thats not very good with 45 or 50 people in a clubhouse at one time.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said one missed day wouldnt put his club behind. He said he expects the testing process to improve.

I feel as confident today as I did yesterday, Kapler said. I understand that there are going to be hiccups along the way. I think more than anything I just maintain a level of empathy for everybody thats working really hard to get our camp up and running but also across the league and for all the clubs that are working really hard to put their players in a position to have success. Nobody expected this to be easy and everybody is doing the best that they can.

The Giants already have had prospect Hunter Bishop and pitcher Luis Madero test positive.

Rodriguez, who broke out in 2019 as a star, and Red Sox prospect Bobby Dalbec tested positive for the virus.

Rodriguez had not reported to camp after informing the team that he had been around relatives who had been ill. Dalbec, a third baseman, also is home and is asymptomatic.

Manager Ron Roenicke said it is just unfortunate the positive test could jeopardize Rodriguezs chances to start on opening day. Rodriguez had career-best numbers with 19 wins and a 3.81 ERA in 2019.

Also, the Kansas City Royals announced right-hander Brad Keller and first baseman Ryan OHearn had positive tests and gave the team permission to announce the results.

Keller, 24, said he has minor symptoms that remind me more of an allergy attack.

The threat of an infection was enough for the Cleveland Indians to keep outfielder Franmil Reyes away from camp. Reyes was told to stay home after he was seen on social media attending a weekend holiday party without wearing a mask.

It was an example that off-field activities can affect a players status.

Manager Terry Francona said Reyes would be re-tested when its appropriate.

Francona said Reyes could have exposed himself and his teammates to the virus by not practicing social distancing or wearing a mask. Francona said he has used the incident as a teaching point for other players. He said Reyes has apologized.

This is not to poke at Franmil, Francona said, adding Reyes is a wonderful kid and I dont ever want that to be disputed. But we have gone around to the other players and talked to them about it.

The Cubs workout was delayed a few hours as the team awaited test results. On Monday, Cubs slugger Kris Bryant criticized the lack of frequency of the tests and delays in getting results.

Manager David Ross said Tuesdays delay isnt a huge deal and seemed bigger with whats been going on with some teams the last day or so.

We cant just crush MLB because this is new to them, too, and the testing facility, Ross said.

The two teams from last years World Series, the champion Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros, resumed workouts after canceling practices on Monday because of testing delays.

Theyre still trying to iron out the bugs, Astros manager Dusty Baker said. No ones happy about it the players, the MLB, probably the testing site. But the tests came back today, and we were able to work.

Some Washington players did not take part in workouts, including Starlin Castro, Juan Soto, Howie Kendrick and Victor Robles. General manager Mike Rizzo said two unidentified players tested positive for the coronavirus. Any players and staff who came into contact with the two players had to be re-tested.

Several of those players that you mentioned beyond the two positive tests have tested negative in their intake test, but if you come into any type of contact with a player that is positive and we cast a real wide net of being in contact (then) you have to be re-tested, Rizzo said. Those players were re-tested a couple days ago, and were waiting on the results on a group of those players.

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More positive tests, canceled workouts add to MLB unease | News, Sports, Jobs - Maui News