⏩ MLB: Cleveland players isolated for breaking coronavirus rules.
For the third time in less than a year, the Cleveland Indians are having to isolate players because they broke COVID19 protocols.
Third baseman Jose Ramirez and outfielder Franmil Reyes are being kept away from their teammates at spring training in Arizona after they reported to the team that they went out to dinner in violation of team and Major League Baseball regulations.
Manager Terry Francona said Sunday that the two players were sent to their temporary homes as the Indians await word from the league as to when they can return.
Francona said Reyes and Ramirez went out to dinner on Friday with a Cubs player after an exhibition game in Mesa against the Cubs. Sources told the Chicago Tribune it was reliever Pedro Strop.
“We’re pretty fortunate here,” Francona said on a Zoom call. “We have some medical people who are right on top of things and they came right to me and they said: ‘Look, this is what we’re doing. We’re informing the league.’ ”
This the second time Reyes broke virus protocols. When spring training resumed last year, Reyes quarantined after the team learned via social media that he attended a July 4 party while wearing a mask.
A month later, the Indians placed pitchers Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac on the restricted list after they broke protocols by going out to dinner while the team was in Chicago. Clevinger was traded to San Diego a few weeks later.
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