New York Yankees players deciding whether to leave camp on day coronavirus hits organization again
TAMPA, Fla. — As some New York Yankees players packed up Tuesday morning and left camp, others planned to keep working out at Steinbrenner Field.
“I’ll be up here as long as we can,’’ said Yankees pitcher J.A. Happ, who resides in the Tampa Bay area.
Yet, Happ acknowledged the rapid and fluid nature of events in a COVID-19 world.
“Everything seems to be changing on a daily basis,’’ Happ said. “We’re trying to be as smart as we can.’’
About an hour after Happ’s comments, a second Yankees minor league player was reported to have tested positive for coronavirus.
General manager Brian Cashman would not comment on the latest case, but he vowed to remain at the Yankees’ spring training complex.
“I’m not going anywhere,’’ said Cashman.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone did not comment Tuesday morning, except to say he was driving home to Connecticut to be with his family and wishing everyone to remain safe.
According to Yankees reliever Zack Britton, New York is not viewed as a viable option for players to currently live and train due to the state's elevated number of coronavirus cases.
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Stay or go?
Britton carried a PlayStation console box and a sports drink as he entered the players’ parking lot Tuesday morning at Steinbrenner Field.
He was about to drive to Texas.
“I’m going to go home for a few days and see my family. I haven’t seem them in a month,’’ said the lefty, who is also the Yankees’ union rep.
Britton’s plan was “to come back here and continue to work out with the guys,’’ but knowing today’s plan hinges on tomorrow’s uncertainty.
“That’s kind of the mindset of everybody now,’’ Britton said. “We don’t know how long this delay is going to be.’’
And many of the Yankees’ 40-man roster players have elected to remain working at Steinbrenner Field.
On Tuesday, Gerrit Cole threw a bullpen session, while Giancarlo Stanton and D.J. LeMahieu played catch on the main field.
Illinois resident Mike Tauchman said he was driving home, and Miguel Andujar was seen heading to his car with a cold-weather mask over his mouth and nose.
Aaron Judge (stress fracture, first right rib) was also in the complex as he awaits the latest CT scan this week to update his progress.
“A lot of guys have no better alternative than to train here and stay in Tampa,’’ Britton said. “I would say there’s still a lot of guys that are still here and going to train here as long as this place is open.’’
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