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Five new MLB players test positive for COVID-19
Rob Schumacher/The Republic via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Five new MLB players test positive for COVID-19

Major League Baseball continues to offer positive updates as it progresses through spring training amid the coronavirus pandemic, but that good news doesn't come without some concerning information. 

On Friday, MLB and the MLB Players Association announced via a joint statement that five new players and zero staff members tested positive for COVID-19 over the past week. Three players tested positive the previous week, and 19 players and six staff members have returned positive test results since personnel reported to clubs for spring training activities last month. 

Sixteen clubs have reported at least one positive COVID-19 test since intake screening began in February.

Overall, the numbers remain promising for the MLB regular season starting on time and, hopefully, continuing without interruptions through the summer months. Also on Friday, though, Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker confirmed that at least eight pitchers are currently away from the team because of COVID-19 protocols. As of early Friday afternoon, the Astros hadn't yet unveiled if any of those eight players tested positive for the coronavirus. 

Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried was scratched from his spring debut set for Friday after he was potentially exposed to somebody infected with COVID-19. It's expected Fried will remain away from the team through at least the weekend. 

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo confirmed on Wednesday that outfielder Tim Locastro tested positive for the virus. 

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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