11:41am: Norris has tested positive, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.
10:39am: Tigers lefty Daniel Norris is away from Summer Camp pursuant to the coronavirus protocols, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports on Twitter. It is not clear whether he has personally tested positive for an infection.
The good news here is that Norris indicates he’s not presently experiencing any deleterious side effects. The southpaw adds that he’s at full strength otherwise.
Even if Norris has not contracted the virus or does not experience symptoms, he’ll have to wait a while before returning to camp. He will have to register negative for COVID-19 on two consecutive tests.
Norris, 27, remains an interesting and uncertain part of the picture for the Tigers. He threw 144 1/3 innings of 4.49 ERA ball last year, compiling 7.8 K/9 against 2.4 BB/9, a 42.6% groundball rate, and 1.56 homers allowed per nine innings. The results and the peripherals suggested that Norris performed as a back-of-the-rotation starter — a useful player, but perhaps not what once seemed possible for the former to prospect.
Luckily for Norris, he can quarantine in his van.
beat me to it
He’s still young enough to reach the levels of Rod Beck and live in a Winnebago RV, but time is running out.
Is that van parked down by the river?
Daniel is a cancer survivor (thyroid) and presumably at an elevated COVID risk so caution is definitely warranted. Here are wishes for a full recovery and the opportunity to pitch up to his potential.
I’m glad someone brought this up about him being a cancer survivor. This is not a joking matter.
Except it was localized thyroid cancer which has one of the highest cure rates out there. He had surgery only and is at no greater risk than anyone else who takes thyroid medication.
Thanks for the clarification, Doc. Just the word “cancer” is enough to spook me!
With @scottcfa
I’m a big enough man to admit the word cancer scares me too, man.
@doc; my business partner has a thyroid condition and is considered high risk. If I’m understanding you correctly, Norris would be as well.
Oui?
Tony Rizzo, who plays for the Cubs, also had cancer. I read recently that he was told by his doctors he was not at any additional risk. Perhaps Norris is the same? Hope so anyway. Odd that the story didn’t mention his thyroid cancer. Not a Tigers fan but I’ve always thought Norris could be a pretty good pitcher
Asked this in a previous story and no one has been able to answer. Yes, I understand two negative tests before returning, but Nola said “probably seven days” after contact with another person who tested positive instead of the CDC recommended 14 day quarantine. Anyone know what’s in the official MLB policy? Even this article says “he’ll have to wait a while…” instead of how it’s supposed to work.
In a 60 game season, this has huge implications if they have to wait 14 days, then get two negative tests (usually 24 hours apart). Or even bigger if each team is making up their own timeframes and potentially risk coming back too soon.
I think the difference is whether you were in contact with a person who has tested positive (7 days) or if you have been the one who tested positive (14 days).
@whyhayzee – I do understand that exposure has a different protocol than an actual positive test. Where I am confused is where 7 days is coming from and what the actual MLB policy is? It sounds like there are different interpretations compared to the current CDC guidance (regardless of whether those are appropriate or not).
For the record, the CDC actually says a 14 day quarantine is for contact with a person who has tested postive (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html).
When tests are positive though (like Norris, Freeman, Sano, etc.), the official CDC guidance has remained unchanged for a while. If you have no symptoms, the CDC says you should isolate for 1o days after the positive test. However, if you test positive but do have symptoms, the CDC says you should isolate until symptoms resolve (no specific timeframe) and then you can be around others when you have no fever, respiratory symptoms have improved, and you receive two negative test results in a row, at least 24 hours apart. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/isolation.html).
Going back to Nola’s quote of “probably 7 days” and Anthony Fenech’s article on Norris where he says he’s been symptom free for about a week with one negative test already, I’m curious where 7 days is coming from and what the actual MLB policy is.
With just 60 games for teams and the calendar being so dense, I think there is the possibility for real repercussions on real and fantasy baseball if players return too soon (which again, I’m not qualified to say if the CDC recommendations are appropriate). I know this to be a really resourceful community, so I wondered if anyone has seen something actually reported, because I haven’t yet.
“…deleterious…”, really?
I mean, let’s be honest…. if there one one guy who you’d pick to get it, it was him.
Norris could be a lights out opener. He seems like a guy who needs to start his night on a clean mound but doesn’t have the stuff to make it through the opposing lineup 3 or more times.
Ejam, that’s because he throws the same pitch in the same location every time. Not sure why he isn’t hit harder.