AROUND THE HORN
MLB: Major League Baseball says nine teams have had 85% of players, coaches and others with Tier 1 access receive their final dose of the coronavirus vaccine, allowing those clubs to ease some health and safety protocols. Four of those teams have already begun relaxing some protocols after 85% or more of Tier 1 individuals reached full vaccination, meaning they are at least two weeks removed from their final vaccine dose. Another five teams have surpassed the 85% threshold for vaccine injections within the past two weeks and can ease standards once that waiting period passes The league also said in a statement Friday that 81% of Tier 1 individuals are considered partially or fully vaccinated.
Blue Jays: Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernández returned to the starting lineup Friday night against Atlanta after missing three weeks because of a positive test for the coronavirus. Hernández went on the injured list April 9 after he was exposed to an infected person outside the team. He started experiencing COVID-19 symptoms a few days later and tested positive. Hernández, who is the second Toronto slugger to return from the injured list this week, was in right field and hitting fourth.
Twins: The Twins reinstated outfielders Max Kepler and Kyle Garlick from the COVID-19 injured list and recalled catcher Ben Rortvedt from Triple-A St. Paul before beginning a three-game series against Kansas City on Friday. The return of Kepler and Garlick cleared the last of the quarantines for the Twins, who had three straight games postponed two weekends ago due to virus troubles. Kepler and Garlick will also get the Twins almost to full lineup strength, with only first baseman Miguel Sanó (strained right hamstring) sidelined. Catcher Ryan Jeffers and outfielder Brent Rooker were sent to the Triple-A team, and infielders Tzu-Wei Lin and JT Riddle were designated for release or assignment. Riddle was first reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list.
Cardinals: The Cardinals are hopeful of getting Adam Wainwright back from the COVID-19 injured list on Monday. The veteran righthander was placed on the IL Thursday. Wainwright has been vaccinated, but he came in close contact with a family member who has tested positive for the virus.
Nationals: Jon Lester was reinstated from the injured list Friday, hours before the left-hander was to make his Nationals debut against the Marlins. The Nationals also said they optioned righthander Steven Fuentes and transferred left-hander Luis Avilán to the 60-day injured list. Lester was one of nine players quarantined before the season because of COVID-19 protocols. Four players tested positive while five others were put under quarantine after contact tracing determined they might have been exposed. The Nationals never announced which players fell into which category.
Diamondbacks: One of the Diamondbacks’ top prospects, Kristian Robinson, won’t begin this season in the minor leagues, more than one year after he was arrested and charged with aggravated assault of a peace officer in Arizona. The 20-year-old Robinson — who was 19 at the time of the arrest — is currently in his native country of Bahamas and working through visa issues related to his legal situation, according to his agent Kris Glazier.