Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was placed in COVID-19 protocol and it has Red Sox manager Alex Cora worried about non-vaccinated Boston All-Stars who were in close contact.
The MLB regular season was all set to resume after the All-Star break with a lone primetime matchup between the Red Sox and Yankees on Thursday, until it wasn’t.
It was reported three Yankees players tested positive for COVID-19, among them was a recent member of the AL All-Star squad. Aaron Judge was among the Yankees placed in COVID-19 protocol.
Multiple sources have told me Aaron Judge is the player involved.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) July 15, 2021
The five #RedSox All-Stars were told to take social distancing precautions until the situation is resolved. https://t.co/XloV3zwkb9
The three other Yankees position players who are in COVID-19 protocol are Aaron Judge, Kyle Higashioka, and Gio Urshela. Because Judge was at the All-Star Game with other players, this has triggered contact tracing questions for the Red Sox players (and presumably others).
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 15, 2021
This leaves everyone who came in close contact with Judge during the festivities in Denver this past week at risk of also testing positive and at risk of spreading the virus to their teammates, coaches, personnel, family etc.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora is worried following Aaron Judge testing positive for COVID-19
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he is “worried” because the five Boston players who took part in All-Star Weekend are not vaccinated. Among them includes shortstop Xander Bogaerts, third baseman Rafael Devers, outfielder JD Martinez, pitchers Nathan Eovaldi, and Matt Barnes.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora says he is "worried" about his team's 5 All-Stars in light of Yankees outbreak. Said that of Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez, Nathan Eovaldi and Matt Barnes, not all are vaccinated.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) July 15, 2021
There have been no reports so far of any Red Sox players or personnel testing positive for COVID-19.
Boston recently called up their top outfield prospect and No.3 overall youngster in their farm system, Jarren Duran. The highly anticipated debut of Duran will have to wait to make his first big-league appearance for now.
It remains to be seen what the next steps are following the postponement of the first of four-games in this weekend series.