When the Los Angeles Dodgers officially opened Summer Camp at Dodger Stadium on July 3, they conducted workouts without several players for undisclosed reasons.
In the ensuing days, the group of players absent from camp consisted of Scott Alexander, Pedro Baez, Tony Gonsolin, Kenley Jansen, Gavin Lux, AJ Pollock and Keibert Ruiz. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has maintained the organization is not at liberty to disclose the reason(s) behind those players not being present.
Gonsolin, Jansen and Lux have since reported to Dodger Stadium. Jansen is the only of the three to speak with media, during which time he revealed the cause for his delayed arrival was testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).
While that is the presumed reason for players not in camp across the league, other factors may be at play, particularly with L.A. County guidelines, according to Ken Rosenthal and Brittany Ghiroli:
The local regulations in both D.C. and L.A. require anyone who comes into close contact with a person who tests positive for the virus to quarantine for 14 days, affecting both the Nationals and Dodgers in the early stages of camp. The issue might create additional competitive disadvantages for both clubs if it lingers into the regular season, but officials from the teams and Major League Baseball are providing details to government officials in both locales that might lead to updated policies.
As it currently stands, MLB requires a player who tests positive to be symptom-free for 72 hours and register at least two negative results a minimum of 24 hours apart in order to return.
That is vastly different from protocols established by local municipalities across the United States, and specifically within L.A. County. Within the area, individuals who so much as come in contact with someone who contracted the virus are advised to quarantine for 14 days.
With the Dodgers not disclosing why players have yet to report for camp, it should be noted some have reasons that further suggest against assuming it has to do with a positive COVID-19 test. Alexander is diabetic, and Pollock’s wife recently gave berth to a daughter who was born prematurely.
Roberts hopeful to see Baez soon
Like when addressing those not in camp, Roberts suggested Baez would soon be with the team. “I talked to Pedro [Saturday]. He was in good spirits, and I do expect him back sometime soon,” Roberts said.
“I asked him how he was and where he is physically. Everything feels great, he just wants to get back to playing and get back here. I’m very confident that once he does get here we can have him face some hitters and he’ll be ready to go.”
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