CLEVELAND – The Chicago White Sox recovered their coach just before their first away game in this short and bizarre season.
Rick Renteria returned to the team on Tuesday after being isolated for 24 hours after he woke up on Monday and experienced some symptoms of coronavirus. Renteria entered Progressive Field about 90 minutes before the start of a double game against the Indians.
He stayed behind the batting cage and at a safe distance from his players while they were hitting.
Before his arrival, it was unclear when Renteria, who has been with the White Sox since 2017, could return to the club. On Monday, he complained of a “mild cough and stuffy nose” and went to a Cleveland hospital for evaluation and testing.
The 58-year-old man stayed at the team hotel when rain postponed Monday’s game. Renteria had to stay away from his players and staff until he passed the major league security protocols.
Before Tuesday’s double game, bench coach Joe McEwing said he had been in contact with Renteria and reported that “it sounded great. We miss him. Hopefully we will bring him back soon.” McEwing held the position of manager during Renteria’s brief absence.
As part of the guidelines that teams must follow, a symptomatic person must have two negative tests administered 24 hours apart before they can join the team. The person must also be symptom-free and receive the doctor’s approval to return.
The White Sox decision to isolate Renteria came amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in the majors in the first week since the delayed season began.
The games in Miami and Philadelphia were postponed due to an outbreak that involved the Marlins, who had at least 15 players with a positive result.
While the Marlins grapple with the outbreak, the Phillies’ home game with New York was postponed for the second consecutive day as a precaution because the Yankees would have been at the same club that Miami used over the weekend.
The White Sox have had at least three known cases of positive coronaviruses. Third baseman Yoan Moncada tested positive for the team’s admission process earlier this month and said he appreciated the team’s efforts to thwart a possible spread.
McEwing said the players were coping as best they could.
“They were concerned about him and just prayed and hoped that he was fine and sending positive vibes so that everything was fine,” McEwing said. “Basically trying to focus on what we need to do here. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and we just focus on preparing for our game.”
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