Marlins Dealing With COVID-19 Outbreak
UPDATE: Miami’s home opener against Baltimore has been canceled, according to ESPN. Their number of positive tests has ballooned into double digits.
Four players from the Miami Marlins tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday, including Jose Urena, who was supposed to start their game against Philadelphia. The Marlins plugged in Robert Dugger on the mound and eventually won the game 11-6 but it’s shaken things up for the team. Instead of leaving after the game for their return trip to Miami, the team will leave on Monday, giving them limited time to prepare for their home opener on Monday night against Baltimore.
Garrett Cooper, Harold Ramirez, and Jorge Alfaro are the three other players who came up positive, per reports.
Players will be away from the team until they can test negative twice 24 hours apart, show no symptoms, and get doctor’s approval.
The source of the infections could be from their trip in and out of Atlanta, ESPN states.
It’s possible the infections occurred on the team’s trip to and out of Atlanta on Wednesday, where the Marlins played the Braves in an exhibition game. Since leaving Atlanta — after a flight delay — the Marlins have been in Philadelphia all weekend for the team’s opening series.
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“It feels safer in Miami than anywhere,” Mattingly said. “You feel safe at the ballpark; I feel safe with my surroundings going home. It’s a lot scarier on the road.”
(via ESPN)
The players that tested positive are quarantining in Philadelphia.
Their four-player outbreak is the biggest so far in the young 2020 MLB season and it may extend even further. Keeping players healthy is a tall task with all the travel an MLB season requires and it’s becoming more and more apparent how tricky this experiment will be.
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Miguel Rojas led the way for Miami on Sunday, going 3-for-4 with a triple, home run and four RBIs. Three other Marlins hit homers, including newcomer Jesus Aguilar who now has two on the year.