Two White Sox players, the identities of whom are being kept private, have tested positive for the coronavirus, the team announced Sunday.
Both players are asymptomatic and have been isolated in Chicago while being monitored by Sox medical staff. The tests were identified during the intake process, and neither player was inside the Sox’ facilities at Guaranteed Rate Field where the team held its third day of camp Sunday in preparation for an abbreviated 60-game season.
Both players were granted privacy, which is their right.
“We were all kind of surprised,” Renteria said. “The guys were asymptomatic and we’ll proceed with the protocol now to get them back safely and back on the field.”
Contact testing was administered for both, and each player will receive follow-up testing. The players may return to activities after recording consecutive negative tests and passed appropriate coronavirus protocols.
Media have had access to the Sox’ morning workouts and not in the afternoon, so an attempt at identifying which players are in question wouldn’t be full proof. On Sunday morning Jose Abreu, Edwin Encarnacion and Luis Robert, who hadn’t participated in morning workouts the first two days — teams are split into two groups — joined Sox regulars Tim Anderson and Leury Garcia on the infield and Eloy Jimenez and Nomar Mazara in the outfield. Catchers Yasmani Grandal and Zack Collins were also among the players working out Sunday morning.
“It’s really a very difficult time for all of us with all this happening with the virus,” Abreu said after the workout Sunday, through a translator. “Each one of us have to make conscious decisions and try to make the right decisions in every moment because it is a very difficult time and we don’t know what we’re facing. About the two positive cases, I don’t know who they are. I just wish for both of those guys a good and fast recovery. We’re going to be here waiting for them. We support them.”
Players, staff and front office members have been tested.
“The health of our players and staff is our top priority and the White Sox are adhering to all MLB health and safety protocols,” the team said in making the announcement.
On Saturday, the Braves announced that four players tested positive, including All-Star Freddie Freeman. Other players have opted out of playing this season due to health risks, including David Price.
MLB announced last week that 38 tests of more than 3,100 samples were positive, which was an encouraging yet incomplete report with not all teams included.
