Nationals get Soto, Kendrick in camp after delay
WASHINGTON — Middle-of-the-order batters Juan Soto and Howie Kendrick finally joined the Washington Nationals for “summer camp” and played in an intrasquad scrimmage Thursday night, after missing nearly two weeks of workouts.
While the Nationals never explicitly announced why the key players were absent for the ramp-up to the regular season, there is a city rule mandating that anyone coming into contact with someone who had the coronavirus needed to selfquarantine for 14 days.
Still missing is starting center fielder Victor Robles.
Cano back with Mets
New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano is back with the team after missing a couple days because of personal issues.
The 37-year-old Cano said he wants to keep the reasons for his absence to himself. He is hoping to be ready for opening day when the Mets host the Atlanta Braves on July 24.
“I went home and I spent the time in the Dominican (Republic) with my family,” Cano said. “I don’t know if you guys know; I do have my own field there where I trained every day and I had the chance to work there with my dad and be able to get my work in and stay in shape.”
Cano is headed into his second year with the Mets after he was acquired in the December 2018 trade that sent top prospect Jarred Kelenic to Seattle. He hit .256 with 13 homers and 39 RBIs in 107 games last season.
Moncada rejoins White Sox after missing start of camp
Star third baseman Yoan Moncada has rejoined the Chicago White Sox after missing the start of their summer camp.
Moncada and pitcher Jose Ruiz were placed on the 10-day injured list last week because of unspecified ailments. While Moncada is in major league camp and Ruiz is going to work out at the team’s taxisquad site in Schaumburg, the White Sox says it doesn’t mean they have been taken off the IL.
The 25-year-old Moncada was acquired in the December 2016 trade that sent Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox. Long regarded as one of baseball’s top prospects, he broke out last season when he set career highs with a .315 batting average, 25 homers and 79 RBIs.