6:37pm: The team tested Soto on multiple occasions Thursday, and the results came back negative, Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post tweets. But in order to return, Soto will still need two negative lab tests 24 hours apart.
1:35pm: General manager Mike Rizzo confirmed to reporters that Soto has tested positive, though thankfully, Soto is asymptomatic (Twitter link via Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com). The left fielder tested negative consistently in recent weeks but was positive on his most recent test, per the GM.
1:25pm: Nationals star Juan Soto has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss tonight’s season opener against the Yankees, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports (via Twitter). The team announced its roster shortly after the report, and Soto indeed is not listed with the club’s outfielders.
Soto, still just 21, missed the early portion of Summer Camp while quarantining after being exposed to someone who’d tested positive, but he was cleared to return to Nats camp a week ago today. It’s not known when the positive test occurred or whether he is symptomatic, but Soto will need a pair of negative tests before he is able to return to the Nationals’ roster.
The Nationals’ roster listed Victor Robles, Adam Eaton, Michael A. Taylor, Andrew Stevenson and Emilio Bonifacio as its five outfield options. Robles and Eaton will line up in center and right field, respectively, on the regular, so it seems that some combination of Taylor, Stevenson and Bonifacio will shoulder the bulk of the load in left field during Soto’s absence.
The obvious hope here is that Soto, one of baseball’s most exciting young stars, will remain asymptomatic and return as expeditiously as possible. But the positive test serves as a reminder that this sort of storyline will likely continue throughout the season. Players aren’t being tested daily, and we’ve already seen multiple instances of erratic and inconsistent positive/negative results that have delayed some in getting back to the field.
Harper, Rendon, now Soto. Nats lineup looking unintimidating all of a sudden
When half the Yankees get it, season will be done.
Really is that what your hoping for? smh… Get better Juan
Aren’t you one of those who said the season would never start?
???
lol just like last year’s regular season…..waaaaaahhhhhhaaaaa
For frig sakes.
Feel better, Juan
Story didn’t say he felt bad. I read that you can test positive and not even be aware you have a virus. I also read that the test can pick up old cold germs that can result in a positive.
So, it is possible he is fine, that he had old cold germs, and will test negatively in a few days.
Perhaps for some (most?) ball players, testing + for Covid is preferable to a ligament or tendon tear.
people his age get thru it with no problem in 99.5 % of the cases. They get hurt more from distracted driving and texting
*that we know of so far.
Nice. You’re smart!! /s
Some/most ballplayers have kids and/or elderly family members. Catching covid is not preferable to them, nor to anyone else.
My comment was about the player, not his family. And I read that kids rarely get sick with Covid. I heard schools in some countries will actually open!
Those countries have competent governments and have mostly eradicated the virus.
We are America first – by any means necessary with this president.
So was mine.
Lol. We copy other countries. Just because you hate the president doesnt mean he aint trying ti figure it out. Stop Relying on the government to be your mommy and make your own choices
Dude you Contest positive for coronavirus without even getting tested. Everybody that goes to the hospital for an emergency comes out with Covid
Really? Does anyone here really think that anyone on Earth comes here to get random posters opinions on the Corona virus?
I come here for baseball. If I want info on the Corona virus I will call my doctor.
Well if you’re offended then close your eyes when you read my comment. I’m sorry to inform you but your doctor doesn’t know anything about Covid either
Soto was in the lineup during the Nats exhibition game against the O’s on Tuesday. The CDC protocol is to quarantine for up to two weeks after you come into contact w/ any infected person. How exactly is MLB gonna deal with these outbreaks when entire teams ostensibly should be quarantining?
I was wondering the same. Orioles catchers & infielders potentially exposed, along with other Nationals players.
I think the frequent testing is enough to waive that rule
I think the problem with that premise is that there’s no uniformity for how the virus affects people. Realistically, someone could carry/spread the virus before they test positive since there’s typically at least a 2-day gap between exposure and testing positive.
that’s why you keep testing everyone and do it often
Dr. Fauci might have stay for the whole game tonight?
I’m tuning in late in the hopes of not seeing him at all. Tired of all of the talking heads who in the end don’t really know anything.
So doctors are struggling to gather info. If they would just come here they would know a lot more.
Hopefully MLB defines contact as health departments do. Here’s a definition: “For COVID-19, a close contact is defined as any individual who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to positive specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.”
If he was only around teammates outside, mostly masked, six feet apart, I don’t think they’d consider that “contact.” All those rules they have in place may or may not be necessary to protect against the virus, but if they’ve been following all the rules, the team shouldn’t need to be shut down. Now if they players had all gathered at someone’s house, sans masks, for an after-practice party – that’s contact. (It also would be breaking those strict rules they’ve agreed to.) If he’s rooming with a teammate, that would be a contact. Otherwise, I think they’re OK to play.
Welcome to the conversation! I’ve been asking this for weeks (ironic example: mlbtraderumors.com/2020/07/juan-soto-isolating-und…), but largely have been ignored.
Would love to hear from anyone with a good resource on what teams are doing.
Ask Cuomo and he’ll figure it out
Not signing Harper and signing Corbin was a excellent decision. The Crashinals got a ring for it
Yes, signing Corbin was a great move. A workhorse, 190+ solid innings every season. Yanks missed that boat.
If they sign Corbin, they don’t sign Cole.
Congrats to the Nats, but I’d rather have Cole.
That’s not true. Yanks should of signed Corbin & Cole. And forgot about your boy Happ.Then maybe the Crashinals would of kept Harper.
They certainly did. Can’t even put Corbin in the same sentence as Happ
It only stands to reason that other Nats will test positive. What a horrible way to start the season. If the game is played tonight between the Yanks and Nats (weather is an issue) we’re going to see some weird interactions between the players, guaranteed.
The two teams should have a handshake line to start the game.
Proving once again, if it affects Juan, it affects them all.
Big one. Gonna be an unpredictable season. This is why I can see the validity of expanded playoffs, even though it might hurt the Dodgers and other top teams. Granted, that’$ probably not the rea$on why owner$ and player$ would want thi$.
I see what you did there
It make$ the $port$ world $pin.
you cey that like it is a bad thing.
Hey, I didn’t Cey that.
Wow. Get well soon Soto! Hate to see this.
Astros 2020 World Series Champions if they cheat again only
Might be some interesting sounds piped into visiting ballparks when the Astros come to town.
How many Astros get beaned in lst game? Remains to be seen
At least they wouldn’t be cheating anymore
New cheating strategy: have an insider mess with the opponents’ test results.
the Braun strategy
Might as well just start calling it Covid-20 now
Think of the promotional possibilities for MLB. This call to the testing lab was brought to you by United Healthcare. And Topps can do a special series of cards that contain bits of game-worn masks.
I can see the Astros (or other cheating teams) sliding an infected test by the test person ontp their opposing team to get their best player out of the line up ;iike a Soto.
Next up they are going to put a yellow line near first base as a lead line, so the first baseman doesn’t have to stand near the opponent.
American League Manager of the year 2020: AJ Hinch
i mean, if he doesnt lose a single game he’s gotta be a shoo-in
I think that would be a safe bet for sure
The irony is Dr. Fauci throwing out the first pitch at tonight’s Nats’ opener.
Maybe Dr. Fauci can play leftfield for the Crashinals to?
I’m waiting for it. Bottom of the ninth. Bases loaded two outs. Mets trail 6-3. Pete Alonso steps to the plate and the umpire promptly tosses Pete from the game.
ALONSO: You’re tossing me? But why? I didn’t do or say anything.
UMPIRE: No, but your test results just came back from the lab. You’ve got coronavirus..
METS MANAGER ROJAS: Grab a bat, Nido. You’re hitting for Alonso.
Well that sucks
Yankee-Mets 2020 World Series Mr. Met says: Mets in 7…
Nah. The Dodgers could be the Mets with their taxi squad.
Taxi Squad can’t beat em’ then join them
Rn Mets probably win the games Degrom pitches. Mets have shown they have no problem hitting of Buehler. But they’ll probably lose every other game. If i was the dodgers and I had to face the Mets with Degrom Thor and stro I would be scared.
Mets in 7!!!
The Dodgers are better than the Mets. period. They led the NL in runs scored, then went out and got better. Better offense. Better pitching. Better defense (the Mets are horrid up the middle). Better depth. I’m not seeing where the Mets might have an edge in any area. The Dodgers have averaged 100-plus wins the last three years, and continually improve. They will; still be contending when the Mets go into the inevitable rebuild. Dodgers SCARED of the Mets? Think about what you wrote.
I didn’t mean it like scared as if the Mets are better. I meant as scared as to the Mets could easily upset the dodgers if stroman and Thor weren’t hurt… nobody should be surprised if the Mets beat the dodgers in that scenario.. were the Nats better than dodgers in the RS? No but we’re when it counted in the playoffs. Mets have Degrom who is easily better than any dodger pitcher and if the Mets Díaz and familia come back they probably have a better bullpen with Diaz familia Betances Wilson and lugo at the top. Plus the lineup you guys have way more depth that’s why you win 100 but 1-9 I wouldn’t say is so much of a difference. Anyways Mets aren’t a better team but they could beat them if they are healthy
The whole season counts, not just October. Btw, after the Nats’ 19-31 start, they and the Dodgers had identical records of 74-38. Don’t forget how the Nats were decimated by injuries early on. Soto, Rendon, Turner, and others were all out at the same time.
Per 2019 WAR, the Dodgers are better than the Mets at every position but 3B, where McNeil held a 4.9 to 4.1 edge over Turner. And I wouldn’t say deGrom is easily better than any Dodger pitcher. Buehler will be one of the top contenders for the Cy Young Award this year and beyond. Your assertion that the Mets have proven they can handle them is incorrect. Where is the proof, one start where Buehler gave up four runs? I will also take the Dodgers pen over the Mets. Check the roster. Plus, the Dodgers have five pitchers not on the 30-man roster who would be in the upper part of the current Mets’ rotation: Price, Nelson, May, Gonsolin, Gray. Lefty reliever would also start for the Mets and most other teams. Who else has 10 legitimate starting options? The Dodgers have led the league in ERA three straight years. They’ve led the league in runs scored two straight years and in 2019 set a National League record for HR. Three straight years well above 200 HR. And Friedman keeps building up the roster while also brilliantly managing the payroll. Betts’ contract is just a $3.6 raise on his current deal, enabling more wiggle room in the future.
Um
Alonso= muncy
Cano= lux( you can’t assume he’ll be a stud)
Rosario > seager (Rosario will be better very soon. Seager isn’t the same sorry.)
McNeil >turner
Davis > pederson
Bellinger> nimmo
Betts> conforto
Ramos> smith
Ces > dodgers DH
And as for the rotation.., that’s why I said if it was healthy.
Degrom> Buehler
Thor > kershaw (playoffs)
Stro> Price
Matz = Urias ?
May > Porcello
I’m not saying Mets are better but to assume the dodgers will just win is stupid
And if Diaz comes back to form with familia than the Mets have a better bullpen.
That was offensive only not overall
Not that’s much better as you could see
LMAO at Rosario > Seager, Seager averages 3 WAR per season and is just 26 years old. Rosario may be younger but he’ll never be as valuable a player as Seager who put up 5 WAR seasons at ages 22 and 23.
BREAKING NEWS: Mr. Met has replaced Jacob deGrom in the rotation for the Mets opener
I’m curious who infected him. Is there a possibility he contracted it from a friend or family member yet didn’t pass it on to a teammate? Here’s a scary thought, what if he was positive all along and his initial tests were false negatives?
I heard it was Screech that infected Soto
That really bites. I hope he stays asymptomatic and comes back quickly.
Nats lineup is so bad rn. and they need to start off hot and take advantage of the easy beginning. If they are 500 at the half way point they finish in 4th 3rd at best. Not looking good rn for them. I personally had the as the 4th place team to begin with but all 4 teams are talented and it wouldn’t surprise me if any or them came in first.
BREAKING NEWS: Dr. Fauci has taken Soto’s batting spot in line-up tonight and will be playing leftfield. Dr. Fauci is America’s MVP this season
You may as well revise your assessment every few days, because the Nats, Mets and every other team in bball will be hammered by covid this year.
Covid-20?
True
Let’s hope most of these Umps don’t get covid. Since most are in excellent shape anyway. No worries Dr. Fauci will be in Washington tonight
Soto practiced in full with him teammates yesterday, so the full team was tested today but the results won’t come back before the start of the game tonight. If Soto infected 3-4 teammates and they in turn infect 3-4 Yankees tonight, then this season could be over before it started. Hopefully that’s not the case but this season is going to be full of unknowns like this.
Hopefully he only coughed and sneezed on replacement-level teammates.
So basically if your playing in left field where Soto was playing you might want to sit this one out
How did he catch Covid? If he is tested daily and he has been vigilant to avoid the disease… how did he catch it? Was he wearing a mask? Was he practicing social distancing? Did he wash his hands?
I’m pretty sure the Phillie Phanatic was involved.
Isn’t he always involved in something?
Possible it’s a false positive. But also possible it’s a delayed onset; Soto and several other Nationals players were quarantined until recently due to coronavirus exposure on their flight into summer camp.
It’s looking more likely that it was as false positive as the article above has been updated to say he tested negative today. That combined with the fact that he is asymptomatic leads me to believe that is the case.
Sex with the owner’s daughter
Cloth masks are a deterrent but not 100% prevention. Unless everybody is walking around with N95 masks, it’s still going to spread albeit at a much much smaller scale.
I yearn for the good old days when “testing” just meant for illegal/banned substances.
Ah yes, those were the days!
This sucks for him… based on that they ‘tested him multiple times Thursday and were negative’ it sounds like it was a false positive… hopefully for his health that’s the case — but just one more weird wrinkle in an already strange season
Hopefully a false positive. They will happen.
That’s why you can’t have the Yankees team microbiologist read the test results. LOL. Just inflating the statistics for the DC area. Sounds like we need new box score columns for test results. Soto went 1 for 4 today so he has to sit tonight. Players will beg to be Oh-fers. LOL
Not a Yankees fan but I love what their players did. Gotta assume they will do the same at their home opener.
Another domino falls
Those antigen quick result tests have a higher percentage of false negatives and are more accurate for symptomatic people. The pcr tests (ones sent to a lab) are more accurate overall.
I mean, I am completely behind wearing a mask, especially if it gets things rolling again and gets the world back on its feet but how does someone test negative multiple times, then test positive, then test negative again afterwards? This whole thing is just bizarre and I hope it gets straightened out soon…let’s just let Pfizer come up with a vaccine so the rich can get richer and the rest of us can go on our merry way.
That’s a big blow to their offense after losing Rendon this year. Maybe a chance for the Mets to leapfrog them if he’s out for several weeks.