JULY FORTH
AFTER LENGTHY DELAY TO START OF SEASON, CUBS AND SOX PRIMED TO OPEN 2020 WITH A BANG
Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman became the latest high-profile player to test positive for the coronavirus.
Manager Aaron Boone said Chapman wouldn’t “be here for the foreseeable future.” Boone said the left-handed reliever “overall was doing well” despite experiencing mild symptoms.
The Yankees are scheduled to start the virus-delayed season July 23 at the World Series champion Nationals. The AL champs already were missing star infielder DJ LeMahieu and right-hander Luis Cessa, who both tested positive last week and are still isolating at home.
Boone wouldn’t say whether Chapman had been at Yankee Stadium since throwing a bullpen session Tuesday. He said the team had gone through contact tracing protocols and no other players or personnel would be forced to isolate because of Chapman’s positive test.
Astros cancel workout
The Astros canceled their workout in Houston after learning that a staff member could have been exposed to a person outside the organization with the coronavirus.
It’s the second time this week the Astros have wiped out a practice session because of concerns about the pandemic. The Astros also scrapped their workout Monday because of delays with testing results because of the holiday weekend, as did some other teams around the majors.
The cancellation came after AllStar third baseman Alex Bregman was held out of practice Wednesday because of delays in receiving his test results.
Gallo isn’t sure he had virus
A day after joining his team for workouts, Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo said that despite two positive tests, he isn’t sure he had the coronavirus.
His confusion stemmed from the fact that he didn’t experience symptoms and had multiple negative tests. Gallo said he planned to have a more extensive antibody test to be sure after a finger-prick test didn’t indicate that he had COVID-19.
The All-Star slugger missed the first week of the Rangers’ summer camp after two positive tests that sandwiched a negative result during intake testing. He had two negative tests on his own outside of the MLB testing program but wasn’t cleared to join the team until having consecutive negative tests under the protocol.
Mets’ Cespedes ready to go
The delay of the season because of the pandemic has given Yoenis Cespedes time to recover from injuries, and the Mets slugger said he’ll be ready for the first game.
The 34-year-old outfielder has struggled with a string of injuries to his feet and legs that have kept him out of the lineup for almost two years. He could be a good candidate to be the team’s designated hitter with the National League using it this season.
The two-time All-Star missed last season and most of 2018. He had surgery on both heels and then broke his right ankle in a nasty fall at his Florida ranch.
DeShields back with Indians
Indians outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. worked out for the first time since his COVID-19 diagnosis. DeShields, who had mild symptoms, had been in Cleveland for a few days but wasn’t cleared until Saturday after testing negative twice.
Manager Terry Francona said DeShields, who was acquired from the Rangers in a trade in December, took batting practice and did some running.
Braves’ Hamels slowed
Braves left-hander Cole Hamels, who is returning from a sore left shoulder, was unable to throw a scheduled side session because of triceps tendinitis. Manager Brian Snitker said Hamels has faced this problem before in a normal spring training.