Several teams see players return
Some possibly exposed to virus; San Diego’s Mateo tests positive
As Major League Baseball tiptoes closer toward beginning its delayed season, several teams welcomed back players who might have been exposed to the coronavirus and the San Francisco Giants resumed workouts Wednesday after finally receiving the results of COVID-19 tests administered over the weekend.
The San Diego Padres, however, revealed that newly acquired infielder Jorge Mateo’s intake test for coronavirus came back positive and he’s experienced symptoms. Mateo was acquired last week from Oakland for a player to be named or cash in the first trade since the transaction freeze was lifted.
Padres manager Jayce Tingler said Mateo has not been to the ballpark and is self-isolating.
San Diego announced last week that outfielder Tommy Pham tested positive and was asymptomatic. He has not yet rejoined the team.
In Boston, third baseman Rafael Devers practiced at Fenway Park for the first time since the Red Sox opened summer camp. Devers and an unspecified number of other players were working out at nearby Boston College and have since tested negative three times.
When tests reveal “pending” or inconclusive results, the Red Sox have decided to keep those players out of full-team workouts — even if a player hasn’t had a positive test.
“We have to be overly cautious,” manager Ron Roenicke said.
The Giants, meanwhile, resumed workouts at Oracle Park after receiving test results from Saturday, all of which were negative for players and staff.
Devers wasn’t the only player in the big leagues to get a late start joining the team.
Texas Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzman was on the field Wednesday after missing the first five days of workouts. Although he was at the facility, he wasn’t cleared for workouts while still going through intake testing.
In Cleveland, outfielder Franmil Reyes was cleared by the team’s medical staff to return after being isolated for attending a party over the July 4 weekend.
The Indians kept Reyes away from Progressive Field after he attended a holiday gathering without wearing a mask.
Manager Terry Francona said Reyes was re-tested and can now participate in training camp.
Also, Indians outfielder Delino Deshields Jr., who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, is traveling to Cleveland after he had one negative test. He will be tested again when he arrives.
“He was obviously excited. Said he was planning on traveling like the Michelin Man today through the airport,” Francona said.
Deshields is in his first season with the Indians, who acquired him in December from Texas in the trade involving ace Corey Kluber.
In Oakland, right-hander Mike Fiers returned for workouts after being delayed by what manager
Bob Melvin referred to as a “pending issue,” which wasn’t injury-related. Fiers pitched his second career no-hitter last season and was the whistleblower in the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal last fall.
The defending NL champion Astros were without infielder Alex Bregman on Wednesday because his test results were delayed.
The Cubs have thus far avoided any positive tests, a development outfielder Kyle Schwarber insists cannot be attributed to mere luck.
“You see some names around the league who have got the virus and you’re surprised, and to see the way that we haven’t had any tests come back positive, I mean, that’s unbelievable,” Schwarber said. “I think it’s just a testament to what our guys did off the field taking this serious, knowing that we can do something special here and we’re going to need every single guy in it at the end of the day.”