At least 14 players and coaches on the Miami Marlins tested positive for the coronavirus this week.
What We Know:
- The Miami Marlins had four players test positive for the coronavirus during their game against the Philadelphia Phillies this past weekend. According to Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas, the team was aware that pitcher Jose Urena had tested positive before their Sunday game against the Phillies. However, the players decided in their group chat to continue and play the game anyway. On Monday, an additional seven players tested positive, just hours before their home opener against the Baltimore Orioles.
- In response to the outbreak, the MLB postponed the Marlins’ home opener against the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees-Philadelphia Phillies game, both originally scheduled for Monday. The Tuesday night Marlins’ home game will also be postponed. The Marlins are staying in Philadelphia until a new round of testing is completed.
- MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred believes that the Marlins can return to play by Wednesday “if the testing results are acceptable”. Manfred and the league’s owners are not yet considering pausing or cancelling the season. Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke about the topic on Good Morning America, saying this outbreak “could put [the season] in danger”.
- The MLB and the players union discussed health and safety protocols again on Monday after the protocols were widely ignored during the start of the season with team members high-fiving each other. Although Manfred is not looking to cancel the season yet, he indicated the league would consider shutting down if teams lose so many players that they’re “completely noncompetitive”.
Other sports leagues like the NBA and WNBA are reopening their seasons in bubble environments to better monitor their players. The MLB decided to use regular team stadiums because of how many players and games there are. The NFL will follow suit and begin its season at teams’ home stadiums.
