Diekman among atrisk players
A’s reliever has colitis, must be especially careful
Like everyone else in the major leagues, Jake Diekman would like the sport to get back under way.
The A’s reliever, though, needs to make sure that every measure is taken to keep all parties involved — players, coaches, support personnel — safe. Diekman is considered part of an atrisk group during the coronavirus epidemic: He has ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune condition, and has been supremely careful while following quarantine procedures at his home in Nebraska.
“There’s no way I want to get sick and bring it home to our 18monthold girl and possibly get her sick,” Diekman said on The Chronicle’s “A’s Plus” podcast. “We’re taking all the precautions in the world.”
Baseball’s return took a tentative step forward Monday when MLB owners finalized a plan to start the season with spring training in midJune and the regular season at the beginning of July. They will present it to the players’ union Tuesday.
Timing aside, Diekman is hardly the only player whose health history puts him at risk. Among the other known issues: Type1 diabetes (Kohl Stewart, Orioles; Jordan Hicks, Cardinals; Brett Martin, Rangers; Adam Duvall, Braves; Scott Alexander, Dodgers), past treatment for cancer (Jon Lester and Anthony Rizzo of the Cubs, Tim Hill of the Royals, Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris, several coaches, including former A’s minorleague manager Tony DeFrancesco, who is with the Mets) and heart conditions (Kenley Jansen, Dodgers; Carlos Carrasco, Indians).
David Dahl of the Rockies had his spleen removed after a collision and must avoid infections. Kyle Gibson of the Rangers, like Diekman, has colitis. Some members of bigleague coaching staffs are in an atrisk age category, including Houston manager Dusty Baker, who turns 71
next month, and Joe Maddon of the Angels (66).
To ensure all personnel are protected, frequent testing is likely to be required. During a conference call Sunday to discuss the results of the MLB antibody study conducted last month, Dr. Daniel Eichner said that he would recommend using two forms of testing: viral and antibody.
That could be contentious because of the lack of available testing in the country at large. Diekman, as much as he’d like to resume play, said he doesn’t want baseball getting special considerations not provided to the public.
“I want to play just the same as anyone, otherwise I wouldn’t be throwing and working out,” he said. “But if they’re going to test us all the time, are we taking tests from people who really need it? I don’t want us to get tested every other day and basically snake all these tests because they want to put on MLB, and yet let’s say the hospitals in Oakland, we’re borrowing theirs, if 50 people a day can get tested but it would be 100 if we weren’t taking them.
“It’s just that there are a lot of hoops to jump through to get this thing going.”
One of the most persistent questions: What happens if someone associated with a team tests positive or gets sick with COVID19?
“Say one guy gets it and you test everyone else that same day, are you going to isolate just that one person?” Diekman said. “Say, ‘For two weeks you’re going to be over here (in quarantine), but the show must go on!’ and add another roster player?”
Additionally, many underlying health conditions are not visible, which can complicate matters. Most people see someone such as Diekman as an athlete in the prime of his career, not as someone they’d need to take extra care around during an pandemic.
“It could be me, it could be a 50yearold person, it could be an 8 or 10yearold boy or girl,” Diekman said. “You have no idea. IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) in general is pretty invisible to the outside.”
During the early stages of the crisis, Diekman’s wife, Amanda, didn’t want him even to go out of the house because of his atrisk status, but he now will venture to the store or gas station with a mask on and with Lysol wipes. “I’ve never had any in my truck before, but those are a mainstay now,” Diekman said.
He is playing catch with his dad daily and throwing bullpens once a week, making sure to avoid licking his fingers while wiping down everything religiously. “Those eight to 10 minutes, I’m being super aware,” he said.
Diekman believes that baseball will be played this year, that owners and the union will work out the details to keep everyone safe, and he’ll be on board, even as he is on high alert about protecting himself.
“I just greatly care about my health, ya know?” he said in a text Monday. “Hopefully, we can start up soon!”
test “If they’re us all the going time, to are we taking tests from people who really need it?”
Jake Diekman, A’s reliever