Yankees’ Torres tests positive for COVID despite being vaccinated

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. >> New York Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated and having previously contracted the coronavirus during the offseason.

Torres is among eight so-called breakthrough positives among the Yankees — people who tested positive despite being fully vaccinated.

“Certainly unexpected,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Torres. “Obviously everyone, Major League Baseball, that’s in charge of testing is looking into that. The variants that could be out there if that is the case.”

The Yankees said the team is undergoing additional testing and contact tracing, with the assistance of the baseball commissioner’s office and its medical experts. The New York State Department of Health is advising the team.

New York general manager Brian Cashman said MLB was in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday about the Yankees situation.

“We are maybe a case study to some degree,” Cashman said.

Torres played in Tuesday night’s game at Tampa Bay and then was out of the lineup Wednesday night.

“When you read the fine print, they tell you that you still could get the COVID and the vaccination is to protect you from the symptoms, either to eliminate them all together and protect you if not fully protection then the percentages,” Cashman said. “But the one thing I take from this I believe the vaccine is working. We’ve got eight positives, seven of the eight presented as without symptoms.”

Torres, 24, was placed on the COVID-19 injured list before Thursday’s series finale at Tampa Bay.

Kelenic, Gilbert headline major roster shuffle for Mariners

SEATTLE >> Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto couldn’t help but chuckle when Jarred Kelenic went deep in his first at-bat at the Triple-A level. It was yet more evidence

Kelenic was ready for the big leagues.

Kelenic and right-handed pitcher Logan Gilbert were scheduled to are make their debuts for the Mariners on Thursday night. Kelenic was expected to start in left field, while Gilbert will start on the mound as Seattle opens a four-game series with Cleveland.

Kelenic has been regarded as one of the top prospects in the minors for several years and only reinforced his status with a torrid start at Triple-A, where he hit .370.

Gilbert’s arrival in Seattle was partly out of necessity. Dipoto said the team started targeting May for Gilbert’s potential arrival late last season. But major injuries to Seattle’s starting rotation may have prompted a slightly quicker decision on Gilbert.