The first baseman for the New York Yankees, Anthony Rizzo, tested positive for COVID-19, manager Aaron Boone announced Sunday.
Boone said Rizzo, who turned 32 on Sunday, is experiencing some symptoms, but “it’s okay.” Rizzo was placed on the COVID-19-related injured list.
Rizzo tested positive after Saturday’s game in which he went 4-0 in the Yankees’ 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners.
Rizzo joins the receiver Gary Sanchez and the starting pitchers Gerrit cole Y Jordan montgomery as team players who recently tested positive for the virus.
Cole tested positive on Monday, Montgomery tested positive on Tuesday, and Sanchez was placed on the COVID-19 list on Thursday. Boone said Cole, Montgomery and Sanchez feel better.
Players who test positive for COVID-19 are sidelined for a minimum of 10 days before they are allowed to return, per MLB protocols.
The outbreak occurred after the Yankees returned from playing six games against the Tampa Bay Rays and the Miami Marlins in Florida, where COVID-19 cases are on the rise. Rizzo made his Yankees debut on July 30 in Miami.
“I think a lot of things came out of Florida, where we were on this wave of them,” Boone said. “It’s a bit of you who don’t know when and where it’s spreading.”
At least 85% of New York players are vaccinated, resulting in a loosening of restrictions, but the Yankees have still been hit hard and Boone said the team will hold talks about being cautious on their next road trip. of six games.
First base Luke voit he was activated from the disabled list Sunday and replaced Rizzo in the lineup for the series finale against Seattle. Voit, who had been sidelined with a left knee inflammation, is hitting .241 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. He led the majors with 22 home runs in the 2020 season shortened by the pandemic.
“It feels great,” Boone said. “As you know, he’s been feeling really good for a week and he’s been able to have some at-bats. So he’s ready to roll and I think excited to be here.
Rizzo, acquired by the Yankees from the Chicago Cubs before the trade deadline, is hitting .281 with three homers and six RBIs in nine games since joining New York.
Rizzo, a cancer survivor, said in June while with the Cubs that he wanted to see more “data” before deciding whether to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Boone did not want to speculate on the vaccination status of any player.
“A large percentage of us obviously are, but I’m not going to get into that anymore,” Boone said.
In addition to the four most recent positive tests, Star Gardener Aaron Judge, the third baseman Gio Urshela, the receptor Kyle Higashioka and the relievers Wandy Peralta Y Jonathan Loaisiga They have also tested positive for COVID-19 since the All-Star break.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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