Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano, New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu and Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez are among a host of MLB players who have tested positive for the coronavirus, it was revealed Saturday.
ESPN has learned that more than half of all intake testing is almost complete as MLB prepares for preseason workouts to officially resume tomorrow. General information about the results will be released in the next 24-48 hours, but will not have identifying factors in order to protect players' privacy. As previously reported, COVID-19 related information won't be disclosed without players' permission.
Pitcher Max Meyer, who had a 2.07 career ERA with 187 strikeouts in 148 innings at the University of Minnesota, got a $6.7 million signing bonus with the Marlins and could potentially crack the starting rotation this season.
Manager Luis Rojas confirms Mets hitting coach Chili Davis will be working remotely. Rojas also said all Mets players have reported to "summer camp" and are currently undergoing the intake and COVID-19 testing process.
In a statement to ESPN, MLB said it wouldn't disclose COVID-19 related information without an individual's permission. MLB does plan to publish general testing information, for example, number of tests and positive results, but with no player names or identifying characteristics.
Last year's Nationals are one of several teams that would have missed out on a title under the format MLB will use this season.
Spring training 2.0 ... or summer camp? No matter what you call it, baseball's road back to the field starts today. Here's what you need to get up to speed.
MLB statement to ESPN regarding teams not naming players that test positive for coronavirus: "Because COVID-19 is not considered an employment-related injury, we will respect the privacy of the players who test positive or who are under evaluation, and we will defer to their wishes regarding public updates about their status. Without their voluntary permission, we will not disclose any COVID-19 related information."
It was no surprise, but on the MiLB 2020 cancellation news Tue., Clinton (IA) Lumber Kings GM Ted Tornow told ESPN, "It hurts, I know for this community it is the first season without organized baseball since 1878." Re: the fate of the Class A Midwest Lg. Marlins affil., 1 of 42 teams on MLB's "contraction list," he said, "I'm an optimistic person — I'm more worried about today and the hurt of the community than about finality, but our season ticket holders & everybody have a lot of questions."
No. 3 overall draft pick Max Meyer, a right-hander from the University of Minnesota, has agreed to terms with the Marlins and is expected to be added to the 60-man player pool this week.
Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill says a player who was asymptomatic has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Some of the game's biggest prospects, such as Wander Franco and Jo Adell, will be in MLB camps this week. Here's who to watch on every team.
No one knows what will transpire in this year's unique format, but that didn't keep us from making our picks for MVP, the team to beat and more.
Marly Rivera and USA Today's Bob Nightengale join Buster to talk about the fantasy of baseball getting started smoothly and the reality of playing during a pandemic. Rivera talks about why youth may prevail in a short season and shares players' concerns about spikes in coronavirus across the country (3:04). Nightengale says he thinks every game will be treated like the postseason when it comes to pitching decisions and shares his advice for the next time the players and owners get into the negotiating room (16:02).
When players report to the second "spring training," they will be required to undergo “intake screenings,” which will include a COVID-19 saliva test and a COVID-19 antibodies blood test. All players will be tested for COVID-19 at least every other day during the season, or more frequently if deemed necessary.
Important MLB deadlines this week: All player transactions that were suspended during the “Transaction Freeze” that was a part of the March agreement will resume tomorrow, Friday, June 26th, at 12pm ET. By 4pm ET on Sunday, June 28th, each club must submit to MLB a list of up to 60 players who will be eligible to play during the 2020 season.
Baseball is about to embark on its shortest season ever, so we look at just how weird 2020's stats could be.
Players have agreed to report by July 1st but MLB understands that some of them may not be able to meet that timeline because of immigration or other travel reasons.
MLB's 60-game schedule will largely feature divisional play (~40 games); rest of games will be against the opposite league's corresponding geographical division (AL East v NL East; AL Central v NL Central; AL West v NL West). Commissioner Manfred: “Major League Baseball is thrilled to announce that the 2020 season is on the horizon. We have provided the Players Association with a schedule to play 60 games and are excited to provide our great fans with Baseball again soon.”
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that Major League Baseball anticipates beginning its 2020 regular season approximately one month from today, on July 23rd or July 24th.
MLB has told the MLBPA that they are going to schedule “as many games as possible," with a target of 60 games for the abbreviated 2020 regular season.
Full statement from Major League Baseball
MLB asked the MLBPA to state whether players will be able to report to camp within seven days (by July 1st) and whether the Players Association will agree on the Operating Manual, which contains the health and safety protocols, by 5:00 p.m. (ET) tomorrow.
The March 26th agreement between MLB and the MLBPA explicitly states that any proposal to resume the season would have to allow playing the fullest regular season and postseason that is economically feasible.
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | - |
| Washington | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | - |
| New York | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | - |
| Philadelphia | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | - |
| Miami | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | - |
