The White Sox announced Sunday that two players tested positive for COVID-19 during the team's testing of players, staff and front-office members.
The two players were not named, and both requested privacy, meaning the White Sox are not able to comment further.
Both players were asymptomatic, according to the team, and they have been isolated in Chicago under monitoring by White Sox medical staff. The team added that contact tracing was conducted and that the players will receive follow-up testing in the coming days. According to Major League Baseball's health and safety protocol, the two players will need to test negative twice and pass other appropriate protocols before returning to work.
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"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's announcement read.
This is a reality facing teams across the league right now. While Major League Baseball announced seemingly encouraging numbers last week, with 38 positive tests among more than 3,100 samples, teams are increasingly making their own testing numbers known. Just Saturday, the Atlanta Braves saw multiple players test positive, including All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman.
Similarly, players, including some big names, have started opting out of the 2020 season due to concerns over the health risks involved with playing. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher David Price became the biggest name yet to do so Saturday, and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout and San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey are weighing whether they will participate this season or not.
MLB
Saturday, White Sox manager Rick Renteria talked about what the team is doing to follow the league's health and safety rules and brought up the reality that a positive test would come.
"We've talked to our players in terms of being mindful as to what they're doing away from the ballpark, what they're exposing themselves to," he said. "The protocol is to try to mitigate, obviously, infection. It'd be truly foolish for me to say that it won't happen, but we're going to try and help it not happen. And that's all we can do."
The White Sox will now continue preparing for the season knowing that two of their own are dealing with the virus.