The Yankees will be without their all-star closer for the foreseeable future, as Aaron Boone announced on Saturday that Aroldis Chapman has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Aroldis Chapman has tested positive for COVID-19. #Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he is showing mild symptoms.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) July 11, 2020
Chapman tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday. As per the MLB Operations manual, he had to “immediately wear a face covering” and “isolate from all people.” Boone said Chapman won’t be at Stadium for the foreseeable future.
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) July 11, 2020
Boone added that Zack Britton seems like a “natural guy” to insert into the closer role. Britton has 145 career saves, and finished fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2016 when he saved a league leading 47 games and pitched to a minuscule 0.54 ERA. However, this is a blow to the depth in the bullpen — one of the Yankees’ biggest strengths.
It will be interesting, and stressful, to see what happens next with the rest of the team, as Chapman was in camp over the past week.
Jack Curry said the team immediately launched a contact tracing investigation upon hearing of Chapman’s positive test.
Once the Yankees learned of Chapman’s positive test on Thursday, they conducted a contact tracing investigation to identity the teammates/staffers who had close contact with him. The Yankees didn’t specify how many people were impacted.
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) July 11, 2020
The criteria for when a “covered individual” who tests positive can return to their organization is below. A “covered individual” is a player, coach or umpire, as well as staffers such as clubhouse attendants.
Chapman now joins DJ LeMahieu and Luis Cessa as the other Yankees who have tested positive for the coronavirus.