Greinke, Jones nearing return from virus IL

Zack Greinke and Taylor Jones are back with the Astros after testing positive for COVID-19 during the team’s last road trip in Seattle and experiencing minor symptoms.

Greinke and Jones said they are fully vaccinated, but Major League Baseball’s health and safety protocols mandate a 10day quarantine for any player who tests positive.

Neither Jones nor Greinke has been activated from the injured list, but both are now allowed to be around the team and resume working out. Houston must make two corresponding moves on its 40man roster before activating the duo — which did not count against the 40-man while on the COVID-19 injured list.

Greinke described his symptoms as one day with a slight headache and another with chest tightness. Greinke said his pregnant wife, Emily, contracted the virus along with his two sons, but “everyone is good at the moment.”

“They were in Orlando at the time we found out, and I was in Washington, so it was tough for us to be that far away,” Greinke said Saturday.

Greinke declined to divulge anything about his quarantine or what he did to keep in shape. He is scheduled to return to the Astros’ rotation Tuesday against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field — 16 days since making his last start in the same ballpark.

“I’ll be ready,” Greinke said. (I’ll give) as much as they ever ask, which isn’t a lot a lot of times.”

Greinke threw a bullpen session Friday at Minute Maid Park after clearing the 10-day quarantine. The veteran righthander led the American League in innings pitched before testing positive.

“Nothing he does is going to surprise me,” manager Dusty Baker said. “This guy knows how to stay ready. He knows himself as well as any player that I’ve ever had.

“It’s Greinke. I worry about him less than any player I think I’ve ever had, probably him and Barry Bonds.”

Jones said he spent five days in isolation at the team’s hotel in Seattle before returning to Houston and finishing the quarantine in another hotel.

A Kent, Wash., native, Jones saw many of his family and friends at T-Mobile Park before testing positive. Jones said none experienced any symptoms or contracted the virus.

“It was kind of tough,” Jones said of sequestering so close to home. “I had people drop stuff and snacks off at the hotel for me, which was nice, but I was locked in the hotel.”

Team trainers provided Jones a bag of workout equipment to stay in shape that included arm bands, sliding boards and weighted balls.

Jones said he threw against couch cushions and his hotel bed to keep his arm in shape. Once Jones’ symptoms subsided — he had a sore throat, cough and headache for two days — the team allowed him to go outside and run at a park in Seattle.

There is never an ideal time to fall ill, but Jones’ positive test arrived amid an audition for the Astros’ playoff roster.

Jones, a former 19thround draft pick, has distinguished himself in his first extended stay on the major league roster.

Eleven of his 25 hits this season are for extra bases, and he’s proven adept at coming off the bench for a pinch-hit opportunity.

Marwin Gonzalez affords more defensive versatility, but Jones has proven more potent offensively.

Jones worked out with the team at Minute Maid Park before Saturday’s game against the Angels. Baker intimated he could need a minor league rehab assignment soon.