Jesus Luzardo hasn’t joined the A’s summer training camp after testing positive for coronavirus. The 22-year-old left-hander has been in isolation while his teammates work out at Oakland Coliseum, preparing for a shortened 60-game baseball season that begins on July 24.
The A’s, as a policy, do not comment on COVID-19 testing or results, so there hasn’t much information disseminated about Luzardo’s status.
Manager Bob Melvin provided a sliver of insight on the young phenom during a Monday video conference.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
[SPORTS UNCOVERED: Listen to the latest episode]
“He’s itching to get back, and he feels good,” Melvin said, “but you have to test negative a couple of times and that part I can’t get into, unfortunately.”
Players have to test negative twice in a row, after a mandated quarantine period, before returning to work. It’s uncertain where Luzardo is in that process at this time.
Melvin has remained non-committal about whether Luzardo is able to throw or work out on his own while distancing. He also hasn’t said one way or another if Luzardo will be able to join the rotation at the start of the season, which is 11 days away at the time of this publication.
Oakland Athletics
[RELATED: How Jesus Luzardo's coronavirus absence could impact A's rotation]
The A’s have great pitching depth, with current swingman and established starter Chris Bassitt able to step right into the rotation. Luzardo is expected to be a vital part of the starting rotation upon return. Time will tell if he’s ready to contribute right away or if it will take some time beyond the season’s start to get game ready.
The A’s already have Mike Fiers, Sean Manaea, A.J. Puk and Frankie Montas -- barring injury -- as locks to be in the rotation.