New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman has tested positive for coronavius and is experiencing mild symptoms.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that the Cuban pitcher “is generally doing well,” but “will not be here for the foreseeable future.”
The Yankees, the champions of the East Division of the American League, plan to begin the campaign delayed and shortened by the coronavirus on July 23, visiting Washington, the monarch of the last World Series.
Chapman threw a bullpen session Tuesday, and Boone did not comment on whether the southpaw had visited Yankee Stadium since then. The pilot commented that the team had tracked down the people with whom the reliever had contact, and determined that there is no need for other players or employees to quarantine after this positive case.
“We are following all the protocols,” Boone said. “We have not had other positive cases. We get attached to all of this contact tracing stuff and we feel like we’ve handled and are handling this well.
“I insist, as you know, this is something in which, even with prevention, it is likely that a positive case will cross us. It’s about doing all the things that hopefully keep us safe and healthy in general. “
After the first week of testing in the camps of the 30 major league clubs, 17 of 7,401 samples yielded positive results, a rate of 0.2%, much lower than the national average, which is close to 9%.
Freddie Freeman, the Atlanta star; Venezuelan Salvador Pérez, receiver for Kansas City; Charlie Blackmon, a Colorado outfielder, and Joey Gallo, a Texas slugger, are among the players who will have to take time off after testing positive for COVID-19.
The list now includes the six-time All-Star Chapman, 32, with 273 career saves, including 37 last season, during which he posted a 2.21 ERA.
New York lacked infielder DJ LeMahieu and Mexican right-hander Luis Cessa, who tested positive last week, before the opening of preseason camp. Both comply with respective quarantines.
“This is obviously one more reminder that we need to be vigilant about wearing our masks when possible, adhering to social distancing, and making the best off-the-field decisions to stay out of harm’s way,” Boone said.
If Chapman is not back for the opening game against the Nationals, left-hander Zack Britton could be “the natural choice” to replace him as closer, Boone said.
However, he denied that a formal decision had been made on the matter.
Britton, 32, has 145 career saves, mostly with Baltimore, from 2014-17.
“Britton has been an elite closer in this sport for a long time,” Boone stressed.