Robles finally works out with Nationals
The defending World Series champion Washington Nationals are happy to have their starting center fielder finally in camp, the New York Yankees and Mets got key players back in the lineup and Pittsburgh will start the season without one of their top prospects.
Teams around the league were beginning to make their final preparations Sunday for the start of the abbreviated baseball season.
Washington is counting on having Victor Robles patrolling center field when Max Scherzer throws the first pitch of the season Thursday night against the New York Yankees at Nationals Park.
Robles had his first official workout with the team on Sunday after being quarantined for two weeks because he came into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
“It was definitely very difficult, the fact that I really wasn't able to work much on my swing,” Robles said through an interpreter. “But I appreciate that the team did a good job of taking me a lot of things that I could use within the apartment, even baseballs and whatnot, to try to stay as ready as I could physically.”
Robles spent much of his time in quarantine in his hotel room watching Netflix and listening to music. But he was also able to work with some weights the team gave him and do some running in the parking lot to stay in shape.
He was pleased with his at-bats on Sunday, was able to run the bases and feels it's realistic he'll be ready to play Thursday.
“I think I have the ability and the youth that helps me get ready quickly,” he said. “I think the team brought enough things for me to work on to where I feel like I'm definitely going to be able to be ready for opening day, if possible.”
Meanwhile in New York, All-Star second baseman DJ LeMahieu was in the Yankees' lineup Sunday night for the first time since recovering from COVID-19. LeMahieu hit leadoff and was expected to get a couple of at-bats as the Bronx Bombers hosted the crosstown Mets in an exhibition tuneup at quiet Yankee Stadium.
Aaron Judge made his summer exhibition debut and homered on an 0-2 fastball from Corey Oswalt in the first inning.
Masahiro Tanaka threw his second bullpen since getting hit in the head by Giancarlo Stanton's line drive in a simulated game early this month. The session went well and Tanaka will probably face hitters Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone said, but it's unclear when the right-hander might be ready for his first regular-season start.
Mets catcher Wilson Ramos is away from the team to deal with a personal matter -- the club is not explaining any absences in detail. In a related move, New York added veteran backstop René Rivera to the 40-man roster. Reserve first baseman Matt Adams was released.
Jacob deGrom threw a simulated game back at Citi Field and appears on target to start the season opener Friday at home against Atlanta. The two-time Cy Young Award winner left an intrasquad game after one inning last week because of back stiffness, but an MRI came back clean and he seems to be doing fine.
Yoenis Céspedes started in left field for the first time, but right-handed reliever Robert Gsellman is slowed by triceps tightness.
Pirates third base prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes is out indefinitely while dealing with the novel coronavirus.
Manager Derek Shelton announced Hayes' illness on Sunday after the 23-year-old Hayes — the son of former longtime MLB third baseman Charlie Hayes — gave the team clearance to do so.
Migrating Jays
The Blue Jays are still searching for a home stadium this season after Canada's government barred Toronto from playing in its home stadium amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Pitcher Anthony Bass said Sunday the players have told general manager Ross Atkins they'd prefer to play in a big league stadium if possible.
The team has considered playing home games at its training facility in Dunedin, Florida, which is among the states that are virus hotspots, or Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, which is home to Toronto's Triple-A affiliate and just across the Niagara River from Canada.