Yanks closer Chapman has virus; Astros cancel workout
HOUSTON — New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman became the latest high-profile player to test positive for the coronavirus, with his diagnosis announced Saturday hours after the Houston Astros canceled another practice due to virus concerns.
In New York, 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 virusdelayed season July 23 at the World Series champion Washington Nationals. The AL champ Yankees 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 on Tuesday. He said the team the team had gone through contacttracing protocols and that no other players or personnel would be forced to isolate because of Chapman's positive test.
In Houston, the Astros canceled their workout 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.
Houston also scrapped its Monday workout because of delays with testing results due to the holiday weekend, as did some other teams around the majors.
Houston general manager James Click said the Astros decided to cancel Saturday's workout as a precaution.
Also testing positive was Kansas City backup catcher Cam Gallagher, who said he is asymptomatic. He participated in an intrasquad game Friday night before receiving his positive test results on Saturday.
Gallo unsure
A day after joining his team for workouts, Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo said that despite two positive tests, he isn't sure if he had the coronavirus.
His confusion stemmed from the fact that he didn't experience symptoms and also 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 Texas' 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.
“It was a strange process to go through,” Gallo said.
Elsewhere
The delay of the season due to the pandemic has given Yoenis Cespedes time to recover from injuries to his feet and legs, and the Mets slugger said he'll be ready for the first game.
Cleveland outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. worked out Saturday for the first time since his coronavirus diagnosis. DeShields, who had mild symptoms, had been in Cleveland for a few days but wasn't cleared until Saturday after testing negative twice.
Atlanta lefty Cole Hamels, who is returning from a sore left shoulder, was unable to throw a scheduled side session because of triceps tendinitis. “I think we're probably a week away from seeing where he's actually going to be when this thing starts,” manager Brian Snitker said.