clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Marlins, Reds lose players to COVID-19, per reports

Multiple reports indicate that the Miami Marlins and Cincinnati Reds have multiple players sidelined after positive COVID-19 tests

By Adam J. Morris
Texas Rangers v Oakland Athletics Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images

The Cincinnati Reds and the Miami Marlins have multiple players who are unavailable due to positive COVID-19 tests or showing symptoms, per reports.

Miami pitcher Jose Urena, originally scheduled to make a start today, was a late scratch, wth Jon Heyman saying Urena tested positive for COVID-19, but is feeling fine. Marlins catcher Jorge Alfaro has been placed on the 10 day injured list for an unknown reason, and Garrett Cooper and Harold Ramirez are being reported as having tested positive as well. Craig Mish is reporting that one Marlins pitcher and three Marlins position players will be sidelined for the coming days, so it suggests that there are a total of four players who tested positive or are showing symptoms.

For the Reds, meanwhile, Matt Davidson was placed on the 10 day injured list on Saturday after a positive test, and Mike Moustakas was placed on the COVID-19 list today after reporting he wasn’t feeling well. Manager David Bell says that they are “hopeful that it’s nothing” with Moustakas, so presumably he hasn’t had a test come back positive at this point.

In addition, Nick Senzel was a late scratch today for the Reds for reasons yet unknown.

A player who has tested positive to COVID-19, has been exposed, or is showing symptoms can be placed on the COVID-19 injured list, which has no minimum or maximum stay requirements. A player on the list does not count against the 40 man roster, or, I believe, the 60 man player pool.

Positive tests were inevitabilities this year, and after only six positive tests announced Friday (five players, one staffer), it appeared that MLB was having things go relatively well in that regard. One can only hope that this recent spate of positives will be able to be isolated and not result in additional spread.

Every team is having to prepare for the possibility — likelihood, even — that they may lose several key contributors at points during the season. The Reds and Marlins won’t be the last teams to have to deal with suddenly having multiple holes to fill overnight. It reinforces the importance of both the need for everyone with a team to follow the social distancing guidelines, and every team’s need for a lot of depth in 2020.