Indians Delino DeShields Tests Positive for COVID-19

Overtime Heroics Editorial

1183 days ago

The start of the 2020 shortened MLB season is quickly approaching. Teams are reporting to their training sites to begin preparations for what will be an extremely unusual summer. Unfortunately, COVID-19 continues to infect people around the globe each day. That includes Major League Baseball players. Cleveland Indians newly acquired outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. is one of the latest players to test positive for coronavirus.

Delino Deshields Jr. tested positive for COVID-19 and is doing well at home. He had mild symptoms including losing sense of taste and smell.

— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) July 3, 2020

Per Indians president Chris Antonetti, DeShields tested positive while in Arizona. He is not the first member of the Tribe to test positive. Just this past week, Antonetti confirmed that multiple players on the team had tested positive. Antonetti has also laid out the protocols necessary to return to Cleveland, per cleveland.com.

Despite the number of cases within the organization, Antonetti has stated he is unaware of any players expected to sit out the season. Of course, that could change if cases continue to turn up within the Indians organization. As of now, no "big" dominoes have fallen. DeShields would provide depth in the outfield, nothing more and nothing less. He doesn’t have the impact of a Francisco Lindor or a Jose Ramirez. Even if a guy like Carlos Santana misses time, the landscape of the season changes drastically.

Cleveland acquired DeShields back in December from the Rangers in the Corey Kluber deal that brought over reliever Emmanuel Clase. Clase is currently facing suspension for PED use.

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