Yankees take care amid virus outbreak
TAMPA — Questions about coronavirus came to Yankees camp on Tuesday. With two confirmed cases in Florida — one in Hillsborough County, the spring training home of the Yankees — the concern that is growing across the country is suddenly an issue in baseball. MLB told ESPN they have no plans at this time to change its scheduled spring training or regular season games. They have also put together a task force to monitor the situation and remain in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that they had not received any directive from MLB on how to handle concerns about the contagious virus.
According to ESPN, the MLB task force recommends that:
• Players avoid taking balls and pens directly from fans to sign autographs — a suggestion that will be fleshed out in training materials the league intends to send to teams — and opt against handshakes.
• Teams open lines of communication with the local public health authority.
• Front offices consult a local infectious disease specialist who can serve as a conduit to health officials.
• Medical personnel ensure all players have received the 2019-20 flu vaccine and are up to date on other vaccinations.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman, speaking on WFAN, addressed the concerns.
“It’s certainly something everybody’s following, and, and trying to come up with best practices and be educated and not be over-reactive, but certainly not be underreactive at the same time. And so it’s, it’s something that’s new, that is on the list of many things that wasn’t something we were dealing with prior,” Cashman said. “We just want to apply best practices, what they are and they’re not easy, you know… Somebody extends their hand and you’re kind of told like, listen, it’s just best not to shake your hand.”
The virus has already affected sports globally. F1 races have been canceled, soccer and baseball games in Japan are being played with no fans, and concerns are being raised about the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Some players in the game have made their own policies.
On Monday, Rays first baseman Ji-Man Choi — who is from South Korea where the virus is widespread — asked the media from Korea to conduct interviews outside the clubhouse out of caution and courtesy to his teammates.
“I just want to be cautious especially around the players,” Choi told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. “It’s very important for them to have a great season. I don’t want to be affected by any of that, so I just want to take precautions for the Korean media.”
Choi also said he will be politely limiting his interactions with fans, avoiding hugs and handshakes.