The Philadelphia Phillies closed their spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida, after five players and three staff members tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least two others teams closed camps Friday.
The Toronto Blue Jays shuttered their site in Dunedin, Florida — about five miles from the Phillies’ camp in Clearwater — after a player showed symptoms consistent with the virus.
The San Francisco Giants‘ facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, was also shut after one person who had been to the site and one family member exhibited symptoms Thursday.
Houston Astros general manager James Click said Friday that a player who has been working out at the team’s complex in West Palm Beach, Florida, tested positive for the virus several days ago. According to the team, the player experienced minor symptoms.
The Astros’ release said they “informed MLB and implemented all health and safety protocols,” but did not say the team shut the facility.
The Phillies said in a statement Friday that their facility will remain closed until medical authorities are confident that the virus is under control.
The team’s first confirmed case occurred Tuesday. Eight staff members tested negative, while 20 players and 12 other staff members are awaiting test results.
The Blue Jays player exhibiting symptoms is a pitcher on the 40-man roster who recently spent time with players in the Phillies’ minor league system, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. He has been tested for COVID-19 and is awaiting results.
Multiple players working out at the Blue Jays’ facility said they had not yet been tested. If the player is not an isolated case, testing will ramp up.
“We are being overly precautious with testing,” Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins told ESPN.
The Phillies declined to comment on the implication of the positive tests on the upcoming season, saying it is too early to know.
The facility shutdowns come while Major League Baseball owners and players try to negotiate a deal to begin the season amid the coronavirus pandemic, including health protocols. Some players had recently been working out at spring training sites while practicing social distancing.
The sides had hoped to have players begin testing Tuesday and start a second round of spring training on June 26. Most teams would likely hold those workouts at their home ballparks rather than at their spring camps in Florida and Arizona.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
