Right-handed reliever Pedro Baez is on the injured list after testing positive for COVID-19, Astros general manager James Click said Tuesday.
The Astros normally do not reveal who tests positive, but Click said Baez gave permission.
Eight Astros pitchers, including the newcomer Baez, have been absent from spring training since last Thursday due to COVID-19 protocols.
Others are Francis Martes, Enoli Paredes, Luis Garcia, Ronel Blanco, Bryan Abreu, Cristian Javier, and Hector Velazquez.
Click said they continue to follow protocols and if everything goes well, "the vast majority" of them will return Wednesday or Thursday.
"This is something that all teams anticipated," Click said when asked how the quarantined pitchers keep their arms going. "We knew that there were going to be potential issues like this as a result of the protocols and wanting to keep everybody safe. So our strength and conditioning (and athletic trainers) have done a tremendous job of setting them up with the ability to stay in shape, continue to throw, continue to work out even though they are in quarantine."
Baez figures to add bullpen depth for the Astros after six years in the big leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where won a World Series last season. He signed a two-year contract worth $12.5 million with the Astros in January.
