Jeff Passan of ESPN is reporting that the New York Yankees have ordered all of their minor league players to quarantine for two weeks. Food will be delivered to them. The news comes after it was announced this morning that a player tested positive for coronavirus. It is the first known case in baseball.
This is serious news with potentially far-reaching implications. The player in question told the team he had a fever on Friday morning and so he didn’t report to the complex that day. The complex has been closed since Friday. Also, the player has had no contact with anyone in major league camp. However, things soon get complicated. Minor League camp is three times the size of its Major League counterpart. Having to isolate and test everyone that has been in contact with the player will be a massive task and that’s before you consider having to disinfect everything he has touched.
The Next Step
The Yankees now have to decide if it’s worth keeping camp open. GM Brian Cashman said both minor and major league facilities will be deep cleaned again. He also stated that the facilities at Steinbrenner Field will remain open on a limited basis for players and essential staff, but it has now reached the point where players may take matters into their own hands and leave camp completely. As bad as things are, it is likely things will only get worse. As a result, this is beyond baseball so players will feel far more inclined to leave and isolate at home, protecting their families above all else.
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