The Houston Astros have placed left fielder Yordan Alvarez, third baseman Alex Bregman and second baseman Jose Altuve on the injured list. The three players were added to the list due to “health and safety protocols.” In total, five Astros players landed on the IL before Wednesday’s game against the Tigers. Second baseman Robel Garcia and catcher Martin Maldonado joined Alvarez, Bregman and Altuve on the IL.
Astros general manager James Click said the move wasn’t a result of the players breaking COVID-19 protocols, telling reporters: “Absolutely not. The guys have been exceptionally vigilant of making sure that at the ballpark, away from the ballpark, they’re following the rules. I think this is just another reflection of the situation we’re in, not just in baseball but in the country.”
For typical injuries, players are either placed on the 10-day or 60-day IL, while players who experience concussion symptoms can be played on the 7-day IL. The COVID-19 IL is for players who either test positive for COVID-19, come into contact with someone who tests positive or have coronavirus symptoms. MLB nor the teams can disclose whether specific players tested positive or were in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 without a player’s consent.
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