Tough news on Sunday morning, as Anthony Rizzo has tested positive for COVID-19 (on his birthday, no less). He will hit the injured list as he recovers and quarantines.
The good news, such that there is any, is that Rizzo’s symptoms are reportedly “light” for now, which is how we all hope they stay. But the bad news is that the last time we checked, Rizzo, a cancer survivor, was unvaccinated.
Anthony Rizzo's symptoms seem light right now, per Aaron Boone. Achy, etc. He tested positive after Sat's game. In June, Rizzo said he was unvaccinated and "taking some more time to see the data in all of it." Boone didn't say whether or not Rizzo had been vaccinated since then.
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) August 8, 2021
If he is still unvaccinated, the minimum stay on the injured list is 10 days, though it can obviously take much longer than that to recover, to say nothing of any potential long-term concerns. If he managed to get vaccinated since we last checked in June, however, then he could return as soon as he is asymptomatic and tests negative twice in a row.
Although getting COVID is never going to be ideal, this was particularly tough timing for Rizzo and his new team, as the Yankees are soon scheduled to play in the Field of Dreams game in Iowa and back in Chicago against the White Sox:
Anthony Rizzo testing positive for Covid will prevent him from playing in the Field of Dreams game on Thursday and playing in Chicago next weekend. Of course, his health is of first concern.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) August 8, 2021
Along the same lines, the Yankees are also battling for a spot in the postseason (they’re 5.5 games out of first place and 1.5 games out of the Wild Card). They made a big bet on this year’s team by trading for Rizzo and Joey Gallo, among others, at the deadline, but now they’ll have to play without Rizzo for at least a couple weeks. And who knows how long it’ll take him to get any timing back thereafter. On top of that, there’s always a chance that he infected others around him, which could take more players off the field (and even if he didn’t actually infect others players, there could be contact tracing efforts that take Yankees off the field in the short term).
Rizzo has 9 hits, including 3 homers, in his 40 PAs with the Yankees so far.
Here’s a reminder that although you can still contract COVID-19 if you’re vaccinated, it’s far less likely. Moreover, COVID symptoms for vaccinated folk are less likely to be severe. If you’re vaccinated, you’re also less likely to spread the virus to other people in your life, including those that have legitimate, medical reasons not to be vaccinated. So, you know, get your shot.