Tribe's DeShields positive, will await more tests

July 3rd, 2020

CLEVELAND -- All but one of the players in the Indians' Summer Camp player pool were able to take the field for the club’s first on-field workout on Friday.

Outfielder tested positive for COVID-19 prior to traveling to Cleveland for the start of camp. He had been training in Arizona at the team’s Spring Training facility in Goodyear, over the past few months and will remain in the Phoenix area until he tests negative.

“At this point the only thing he has is diminished sense of taste and smell,” Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. “But other than that he's doing well. So, and again, I did receive permission from Delino to disclose that. So, he wanted us to just assure everyone he’s doing well and looking forward to getting out here when he's able to travel.”

No team can release the names of players who test positive unless they’re given permission by the player. DeShields wanted to clarify why he wasn’t on the field with the rest of his team for the start of camp, while he’s waiting for another COVID-19 test result.

Once he receives a negative test, he’ll be permitted to travel to Cleveland. In order for him to rejoin his team for practices, he’ll have to test negative twice in tests spread out by at least 24 hours.

“I think he's getting frustrated because he's starting to feel better," Indians manager Terry Francona said. “He wants to get back here. So, there's a certain amount of frustration but he sounded really good. You know, he seems to be feeling much better, which is good news. There are just protocols that you have to follow, and he’s gonna have to do that, and he understands that.”