Shortstop makes hairy request
Astros’ Correa asks wife not to frequent salons to lessen risk
Houston shortstop Carlos Correa is so serious about not contracting the coronavirus that he’s asked his wife, Daniella, a former pageant queen, to stay out of beauty salons until the season is over.
“She knows,” he said Sunday. “No getting your nails done. No getting your hair done. So we’re going to be home. We’re going to focus on the baseball season, and once everything is done, then you can go to get your nails done and do everything else.”
Correa’s wife was Miss Texas in 2016. The pair wed in the Dominican Republic in December.
Correa spoke at length about the importance of personal responsibility if players hope to get through a 60game season, which is to begin July 23 and 24.
“We come to work out, and we go back to our houses,” he said. “If we can keep it simple — simple as come get your work in and go back home, get some rest, we’ll be able to carry on with the season.”
Houston is one of the U.S. cities being hit hardest by COVID-19. Texas reported its highest daily increase in confirmed cases Saturday with 8,258.
Doing too little?
Washington reliever Sean Doolittle wonders if the U.S. has done enough to combat the pandemic to deserve sports to return.
The 33-year-old lamented not having his test results back from Friday and implored baseball to “clean this up.” He said the Nationals still haven’t received the respirator masks they were told were coming.
“If there aren’t sports, it’s going to be because people are not wearing masks,” Doolittle said. “We need help from the general public. If they want to watch baseball, please wear a mask, social distance, keep washing your hands.”
King Felix opts out
Former Cy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez joined the list of major leaguers opting out of the season, temporarily ending the 34-year-old’s bid to revive his career.
A six-time All-star in 15 seasons with Seattle, Hernandez had his worst year in 2019. He signed a minor league deal with Atlanta and made a strong early impression in camp.
Tanaka returns
Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka was back at Yankee Stadium, a day after a Giancarlo Stanton line drive struck him in the head.
The 31-year-old right-hander was released from the hospital Saturday after a CT scan came back negative, and he is in concussion protocol. Manager Aaron Boone is optimistic Tanaka could be ready for opening day.
A’s hurlers in limbo
Two projected members of Oakland’s starting rotation, Mike Fiers and Jesus Luzardo, were not on the field for a second straight day because of what manager Bob Melvin called a “pending” issue without elaborating, aside from saying it’s not injury-related. Fiers and Luzardo were workout partners in Florida during the offseason and quarantine period. The A’s are not confirming positive COVID-19 tests.
More positives
Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said outfielder Socrates Brito and pitcher Blake Cederlind tested positive for COVID-19. Shelton said other players tested positive but didn’t grant permission to reveal the diagnosis.
The Chicago White Sox said two players tested positive and are asymptomatic.
Mom knows best
Mike Trout’s mother weighed in on the COVID-19 crisis on Twitter, urging Americans to wear masks as the reigning American League MVP considers his options for the season.
Debbie Trout tweeted a picture of her son with the caption: “If Mike Trout can wear a mask running the bases, you can wear a mask going out in public.”
Trout’s wife, Jessica, is expecting the couple’s first child in August, and the Los Angeles Angels slugger has said he’s not comfortable with the current climate and might not play.