Finally scratching itch to return
Four restless players back from COVID protocols experience ‘super difficult’ time
DENVER — Martin Maldonado passed time by live tweeting the games he missed. Alex Bregman tuned in for each pitch, trying to simulate himself in the batter’s box against whatever Seattle Mariners pitcher his teammates faced. Boredom hit an apex for Bregman when he braided his hair in a style similar to Carlos Correa’s early-season hairdo.
“It’s super difficult,” said Bregman, who confirmed he still has the braids. “I want to contribute. It was difficult all around, but I tried to stay in the best shape possible to be able to come back and help this team win baseball games.”
Bregman, Maldonado, designated hitter Yordan Alvarez and utilityman Robel García rejoined the Astros on Tuesday after a sixday absence due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Maldonado and Bregman started Tuesday’s 6-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies, while Alvarez was limited to pinch-hitting in the National League ballpark and grounded out to end the game.
The quartet arrived in Colorado on Monday night via a private plane and cleared some final intake protocols before officially being activated. Ronnie Dawson, Garrett Stubbs and Alex De Goti were demoted to make room, but Dawson and Stubbs stayed with the team as part of the five-man taxi squad. Taylor Jones landed on the injured list for an undisclosed reason.
Other than describing their absence as due to “health and safety protocols,” the Astros still have not specified what precipitated Alvarez, Bregman, García and Maldonado’s injured stint. Bregman, who went 0 for 4 Tuesday, and Maldonado said they felt fine throughout their six-day absence.
“It’s kind of frustrating, but we understand the protocols, and we have to respect the protocols,” said Maldonado, who was 0 for 1 with two walks.
Six-time All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve is still sidelined under the same “health and safe“I’m ty protocols” descriptor. Manager Dusty Baker did not offer a reason for Altuve’s absence Tuesday other than to reveal “he hasn’t really passed the protocols yet.”
“It’s tough for everybody, not just him,” Maldonado said. “We keep in contact with each other. We’re talking every day. So far he feels good, so that’s a good sign.”
Major League Baseball’s health and safety protocols mandate a seven-day quarantine for anyone deemed a close contact to a COVID-19 positive case.
Players or staff members who test positive for the virus must quarantine for 10 days before returning to work.
According to Baker, the five Astros who went on the COVID-19 injured list had received at least one of their COVID-19 vaccine doses. Major League Baseball has promised to loosen protocols for teams that reach 85 percent vaccination of their Tier 1 employees (players, coaches and other staff ).
For those clubs, part of the league’s promise allows fully vaccinated players to continue working even if they’re deemed a close contact to a COVID-19 positive case, presuming they are asymptomatic. Clubs that reach the 85 percent vaccination threshold aren’t required to wear masks in the dugout or have contact tracing devices. More freedoms on the road are promised, too.
“We’re really confident that we’re going to reach that,” Maldonado said.
The Astros have not reached the 85 percent vaccination threshold yet, but club officials share Maldonado’s optimism they will get there. According to Baker, a number of players and staff received their second vaccine dose during Monday’s off day. Players are free to get the shot at their leisure, too. Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. said he got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine earlier this month.
I'm partially vaccinated, tested negative like 20 million times in the last week,” Bregman said. “I hope we get to that threshold so we don’t have to sit out anymore.”
The league allowed Bregman, Maldonado, Alvarez and García to resume working out Sunday, Baker said. Maldonado said he and Bregman did baseball activities together at Bregman’s Houston home, which is equipped with a batting cage and weight room.
“I’ve been working out every single day,” Bregman said. “Really, I feel great. I feel strong. My legs feel amazing. I’m excited to go out and play. Can’t wait to be back.
“I felt healthy. I felt great. I still feel great. I just tried to stay sharp, watched every pitch of every game and worked out, took swings, stayed in game shape ready to go.”