Kalas to miss early telecasts while quarantining with virus
Astros television play-by-play announcer Todd Kalas said Tuesday he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and will miss the start of the 2020 season as he recovers.
Kalas, in a statement released by the Astros, said he is asymptomatic and is in quarantine at his home in Houston. The team said studio host Kevin Eschenfelder will join analyst Geoff Blum and reporter Julia Morales on AT&T
SportsNet Southwest telecasts beginning Friday.
“Last week, in an abundance of caution, I voluntarily took a COVID-19 test,” Kalas wrote. “I felt great but wanted to ensure I was being extra cautious as we got close to the start of the season. Much to my shock and disappointment, it returned positive.
“While I am asymptomatic, I am following MLB’s health and safety protocols and will miss the start of the season. I encourage everyone to stay safe and take precautions. I look forward to returning to the booth as soon as possible.”
Kalas said he wrestled with the decision to take a COVID-19 test but was able to do so with a provider that offered a quick turnaround on providing results.
Eschenfelder regularly hosts Astros pregame and postgame shows on AT&T SportsNet Southwest with analyst Mike Stanton but also handles regular play-byplay assignments for the network when Kalas takes time off.
It was not immediately clear who would fill Eschenfelder’s studio job while he does play-byplay, but local sportscasters Butch Alsandor and Brett Dolan are among the network’s regular contributors when Eschenfelder is unavailable for studio work.
Kalas, 54, joined the Astros broadcast team in 2017 after a long stint working on Rays telecasts for Fox Sports Florida and Sun Sports. He is the son of the late Ford Frick Award recipient and former Astros and Phillies play-by-play announcer Harry Kalas.
In a message posted on Twitter, Kalas said, “It crushes me not to be there with Blummer, Julia and the rest of our AT&T crew, but that is what I have to do for now. … While I don’t have symptoms, a lot of people are suffering with COVID-19 much worse than me, and I send out my heartfelt wishes for a full and speedy recovery.”