Posey opts out of 2020 season
Baseball lost one of its marquee players as San Francisco catcher Buster Posey opted out of the 2020 season because of family health concerns, but results of the initial screening for the coronavirus fueled optimism that the sport would be able to launch a pandemic-shortened 60game season on July 23.
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Assn. announced that of the 3,748 total samples taken during the intake screening of players and staff upon arrival to training camp, 66 — or 1.8% — were positive for COVID-19.
Of the 66 positives, 58 were players and eight were staff members. Of the 30 teams, 27 had individuals who tested positive.
— Mike DiGiovanna
All-Star slugger Joey Gallo joined the Texas Rangers for the first time at summer camp after missing the first week of workouts because he had tested positive.
Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei made eight saves, including a diving stop in the 70th minute, and the Sounders and San Jose played to a 0-0 draw in the MLS Is Back tournament. Earlier, Sporting Kansas City confirmed that one of its players had tested positive. At least 22 players from four teams have tested positive since entering the quarantine bubble on June 27.
— Kevin Baxter
Through three rounds of coronavirus testing, USC has had four positive cases out of 201 tests for athletes on campus for voluntary workouts — a total that pales in comparison with other major college programs across the country. USC did not disclose whether any of those cases included football players.
— Ryan Kartje
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Assn., a conference composed of historically black colleges, suspended all fall sports out of concern over the pandemic.
A statement from the conference said several of its schools are located in states experiencing dramatic increases in new cases. It said the recent rise in cases has led to a pause in phased reopening plans in many of those states, resulting in uncertainty as to whether students will return to campus this fall at several CIAA institutions.
The University of Michigan said two athletes tested positive during a second round of testing, bringing the total to four out of the 375 who have been tested . ... Virginia said two football players tested positive and will selfisolate for at least 10 days, along with other members of the program found to have come into contact with them.
The Jacksonville Jaguars announced plans to play home games in front of a reduced capacity at 25% this fall. Fans will be required to wear face coverings.
Wimbledon will pay out $12.5 million in prize money to 620 players despite the tournament’s cancellation because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the All England Club said.