The Philadelphia Phillies reportedly have no new positive COVID-19 cases, among players and coaches, following the outbreak in the Miami Marlins organization. The news was first reported by Joel Sherman and confirmed by NBCSportsPhiladelphia's Jim Salisbury.
Heard the early results are that no #Phillies players have so far tested positive.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1)
July 28, 2020 Can can confirm there were no new positive tests among Phillies players yesterday, as @Joelsherman1 said
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS)
July 28, 2020 Jesse Rogers and Jeff Passan confirm the news as well and add that no coaches have tested positive either.
No Philadelphia Phillies players or coaches tested positive in the most recent batch of coronavirus tests, sources tell me and @JeffPassan.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN)
July 28, 2020 Later on Tuesday, Jon Heyman reported than one Phillies staff member did test positive and the Phils will be tested again today.
Passan points out that, while no players testing positive is a good sign, the incubation period for COVID-19 is 14 days. So just because there were no new positive cases today, does not mean the Phillies are in the clear just yet.
The situation started with a
COVID-19 outbreak that occured within the Miami Marlins organization, while they were in Philadelphia playing the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in the opening series of the 2020 season this past weekend. Eight Marlins players and two coaches originally tested positive, resulting in two Monday games -- Orioles vs. Marlins and Yankees vs. Phillies -- being postponed.
On Tuesday, an additional four members of the Marlins organization were confirmed to have tested positive. Also, the Yankees vs. Phillies game was postponed for the second straight night on Tuesday.
The Marlins had originally delayed their flight back to Miami from Sunday night to Monday morning, but reportedly continue to remain in Philadelphia. Those who are COVID-19 positive must remained quarantined in the city.
The Marlins played the Phillies on Sunday night, and both teams were aware that four Marlins players tested positive. Marlins manager Don Mattingly said his team “never really considered not playing.”
NBCSportsPhiladelphia's Jim Salisbury was on with Angelo Cataldi and the Morning Team when news broke about the Marlins outbreak on Monday morning. He was asked if the Marlins can continue their season this year:
"I don't know," said Salisbury, "They have these 60-man player pools but they just lost, what, eight big leaguers?"
"They were in the Phillies home ballpark. Guys were taking leads off of first base, Rhys Hoskins was holding them on. Bryce Harper, who has not been a mask-wearer, donned a mask while leading off first base yesterday. The Phillies received a group text message in the morning to the effect that we are hearing things on the other side, there might be some problems over there so please take your precautions. I don't know what is going to happen. This is going to be a very watershed day in this whole COVID/baseball experience."
Salisbury reports the Phillies are now planning on taking a bus to New York for a two game series against the Yankees beginning on Wednesday.
With tonight's game postponed, Phillies are planning to bus to New York tomorrow for tomorrow night's game at Yankee Stadium.
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS)
July 28, 2020
