Phil Long / Associated Press
Yasiel Puig announced on Friday that he tested positive for COVID-19:
Yasiel Puig @ @YasielPuig
https://t.co/upWM0sdgtt
Later Friday, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported that Puig will not sign with the Atlanta Braves.
According to multiple reports, the Braves planned to sign Puig before the positive test.
Puig said he is asymptomatic and added that he feels “absolutely fine.” The 29-year-old also said he will isolate himself until he receives two consecutive negative tests.
The Braves will now seek a different replacement for outfielder Nick Markakis, who chose not to participate in the 2020 MLB season due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
Puig was poised to enter his eighth MLB season after previous stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians.
He entered the MLB when he was 22 in 2013 and had an instant impact with a .319 batting average, 19 home runs and 42 RBIs, resulting in second place in the National League Rookie of the Year vote.
The Cuban-born slugger was named an All-Star for the first and only time the following season as a member of the Dodgers thanks to his .296 batting average, 16 home runs, 69 RBIs and 92 runs.
Puig was traded from LA to Cincinnati before last season, and went on to enjoy a productive season divided between the Reds and the Indians. Puig hit .267 with 24 home runs and set career marks with 84 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.
Although Puig is a remarkable talent with a lot of power and speed, his concentration declines on the field and he has stopped him at times during his career.
Still, Puig has proven to be a valuable player, especially during the postseason. In 58 career playoff games with the Dodgers, Puig hit .280 with five home runs and 23 RBIs, and helped lead Los Angeles to the World Series in 2017 and 2018.
MLB and MLBPA Announced On Friday, of the 10,548 samples collected in their last round of COVID-19 tests, six of them were new positives. Of those six, five were from players and one was from a staff member.
Puig joins a long list of notable players who have tested positive so far, including Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, Chicago White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada, Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon, Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, the New York Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu and Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Austin Meadows.
Free man returned to the club on Friday. But with Markakis choosing not to participate and Puig no longer signing, the Braves could have a hole in their yard.
Atlanta has a solid depth of field after Ronald Acuña Jr. and Marcell Ozuna in form of Ender Inciarte, Adam Duvall and Austin Riley.
Perhaps the biggest loss when it comes to Puig is the elimination of a designated hitter option as AL and NL teams will use DH in all games this season.
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