The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Guardians game postponed
Francona among ‘multiple positive tests’ for COVID-19
A group of Guardians personnel, including manager Terry Francona, tested positive for COVID-19 on May 11, forcing the scheduled afternoon game with the White Sox to be postponed.
Bench coach DeMarlo Hale also tested positive for COVID. Hale was slated to manage the Guardians in Francona’s absence.
It is unclear how many other coaches tested positive or if any players did. The Guardians were in the process of working out travel arrangements to Minneapolis to start a three-game series with the Twins on May 13 when the announcement of the May 11 postponement was made. The game with the White Sox has yet to be rescheduled.
“Following multiple positive COVID-19 tests within the Cleveland Guardians organization, their afternoon road game today vs. the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field has been postponed to allow for continued testing and contact tracing,” the Guardians announced in a statement.
The contact tracing had to be completed before the team could head to Minnesota because any player who tested positive could not be on the team plane.
The Guardians said Francona is not feeling ill, but added it is unknown when he will rejoin the team. It is not unusual for a person to test positive for COVID and not feel under the weather. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski tested positive for COVID before the playoff game with the Steelers in the 2020 season. The only symptoms he experienced were a loss of taste and a loss of smell.
It also is unclear for the time being whether any of the games with the Twins must be postponed or whether the roster will have to be bolstered with players currently at Triple-A Columbus in the event players do test positive after the contact tracing is complete.