The Marlins may have been careless before their outbreak. Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Marlins players didn't follow safety protocols while in Atlanta?

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 8/1/20

The latest news about the Miami Marlins shouldn't necessarily come as a surprise to Major League Baseball fans.

MLB's investigation into the Marlins' coronavirus outbreak found that the team didn't follow health and safety protocols while in Atlanta during a preseason road trip, according to Bleacher Report's Scott Miller:

#MLB internal investigation found the #Marlins were very lapse in following protocols during Atlanta trip last weekend, players going out, players in hotel bar, etc. Lots of MLB people very unhappy with Miami
— Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) July 31, 2020

Marlins players left their hotel to go out at night while in Atlanta on July 21 and 22, Miller says. They also spent time at their hotel bar, though it's not clear which players blatantly disregarded the health and safety protocols.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Marlins declined to comment on the report saying they're "gathering all the facts":

Marlins and MLB not commenting on this Bleacher Report/Turner report, but damning if true. Marlins have declined to say if players left the hotel in Atlanta; their only comment has been that they're gathering all the facts. https://t.co/he3cawKxnr
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) July 31, 2020

Miami has had 18 players and two staff members test positive for COVID-19 during baseball's first week in action. The Marlins season currently is on hold as the league tries to figure out the next steps.

The coronavirus also has made its way to other Major League Baseball clubhouses. The Philadelphia Phillies' weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays has been postponed after multiple members of the organization have tested positive for COVID-19.

The St. Louis Cardinals also reported two positive cases on Friday, resulting in their series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers being postponed.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred reportedly sent a memo to the MLBPA on Friday stating that the season is in jeopardy and the players need to get their act together if they want to salvage what remains of the 2020 campaign.

ESPN's Jeff Passan even reports that the league has notified networks broadcasting MLB games to seek alternate programming after this weekend in the event the league shuts down.

There were 29 positive tests across MLB over the past week, the league announced Friday. MLB reported that 21 of those positive tests were from one team. However, they didn't state which organization the 21 positive tests came from, though we have a pretty good idea.

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