Outfielder Mike Yastrzemski and relievers Zack Littell and Dominic Leone have tested positive for COVID-19, as have at least one other player and Giants staffers.
President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi informed reporters on Friday that the team is taking precautions to prevent further spread of the virus. Those measures include limiting the clubhouse to only essential personnel; media members have returned to the clubhouse this season after two seasons of COVID-19 restricted access.
Other clubs have had as many or more positive cases and maintained an open clubhouse, as was collectively bargained by Major League Baseball and its players union. Zaidi made it clear that he — and the organization — values the media and hopes the changes are only temporary.
The decision to limit clubhouse access was made by the organization and after consulting with MLB, Zaidi said.
“We have concerns about the level of contagiousness in our clubhouse given a string of recent positives, and are taking measures to try to mitigate risk of further spread, both internally and externally,” Zaidi said.
Giants executives sent an all-staff email to employees reminding of the required precautions to take during this level of community spread, including reporting symptoms and masking indoors.
Yastrzemski tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week and has been quarantining in Washington D.C.. Littell also hit the COVID list this week. Leone tested positive on Thursday.
All three players are vaccinated and boosted. Vaccine shots have been proven to greatly reduce risk of serious illness and death, but don’t necessarily prevent people from testing positive for the coronavirus.
At least one additional player and other staffers have either tested positive or are feeling sick, Zaidi said. The team is expected to release a medical report before Friday’s series-opener against Washington.
At least for that weekend series with the Nats, interviews with coaches and players will take place in the dugout or on the field.
“(We understand) these are not ideal conditions for our media members to do their jobs,” Zaidi said. “We obviously really value our media and want their access to be a priority. We just feel that environment is unsafe right now.”