KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Royals catcher Salvador Perez has tested positive for the coronavirus, the team announced on July 4.
Perez is asymptomatic and staying at his Kansas City home. He said his family is safe and he feels good.
“I don’t feel anything. Nobody home right now. Everyone in my family tested negative. Everyone took the test two days ago and yesterday too,” Perez said. “I don’t how I got this.”
It will take consecutive negative tests for him to be allowed to play. He said he can’t wait to get back.
“I can’t wait to be back, I know it’s going to take me at least 12 days, but I’m good I don’t feel anything,” he said. “Hopefully everything passes super fast, and I can be back with the guys on the field.”
Perez was in Miami for the majority of the time in between the postponement of Spring Training and the start of Summer Camp. He was out all last season after receiving Tommy John surgery. He said he is still preparing, using workout equipment at his home.
As the threat of the coronavirus looms over sports, several MLB players have opted out of the 2020 season. One player from the Rockies said he was concerned for his family, since his wife is pregnant. The CDC recently added pregnant women to the virus risk group.
The MLB set 60-game schedule for the season after the pandemic delayed the first games by more than three months. Teams will have their first games on July 23 or 24.
--- Associated Press ---