Yankees star closer Aroldis Chapman tests positive for COVID-19

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The New York Yankees will be without their star closer for the foreseeable future.

Aroldis Chapman has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing "mild" symptoms, Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Saturday, via the Associated Press.

The 32-year-old closer threw a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, but Boone said no other Yankees players or personnel will be forced to isolate due to Chapman's positive test.

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Chapman's "right-hand man" and trainer tested negative for COVID-19, according to ESPN's Marly Rivera.

https://twitter.com/MarlyRiveraESPN/status/1282044762867064832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Chapman, who is the first New York player known to test positive for COVID-19, has no timetable for a return. Under Major League Baseball's guidelines, a player who tested positive must test negative twice within a 24-hour period and not exhibit any symptoms for a 72-hour period.

The Yankees begin their 2020 campaign in less than two weeks against the Washington Nationals on July 23. They're expected to be serious World Series contenders, and Chapman -- a six-time All-Star who was named the 2019 American League Reliever of the Year -- is a big reason why.

The Boston Red Sox' first series against their AL East rival begins July 31, and it's much too early to tell if Chapman will be back with the Yankees before then. But it's clear that the coronavirus pandemic will continue to affect teams as they gear up for the 2020 season.

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