Aaron Judge Among Six Yankees To Test Positive For COVID-19

New York Yankees All-Star Aaron Judge is among six members of the New York Yankees to test positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.

In addition to Judge, third baseman Gio Urshela and catcher Kyle Higashioka are in the league’s COVID-19 protocols after testing positive on rapid tests. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that relievers Jonathan Loaisiga, Nestor Cortes Jr. and Wandy Peralta tested positive as well and were placed on the COVID-19 injured list.

The positive tests forced the postponement of New York’s home game against the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox game was seen as the start of the second half of the season. “Following positive COVID-19 tests within the Yankees organization, tonight’s game between the Yankees and the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium has been postponed to allow for continued testing and contact tracing,” the team announced. “MLB will continue to provide scheduling updates as available.”

“It’s a fluid situation that could spread,” Cashman said. “It has spread to some degree.” Of the six players that tested positive, the majority had been vaccinated and were asymptomatic. “We’re thankful that we’re vaccinated in most cases, not all cases, but in most cases, so we’re ultimately protected,” Cashman said.

This is the second outbreak on the team this year despite the team exceeding the 85% vaccination threshold that allows teams to enjoy relaxed protocols. In May, more than a half-dozen Yankees coaches, including pitching coach Matt Blake, third-base coach Phil Nevin and first-base coach Reggie Willits, tested positive.

“I guess the last year, year and a half, has in some ways kind of prepared you for this kind of stuff,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Certainly disappointing and frustrating, and don’t want to be sitting here talking about this, and desperately want us to go back to as normal as possible. But that’s out of our control, too. And we just got to do the best with the circumstances and with the hand that we’re dealt and try to make sure we’re taking care of one eat one another as best we can, taking care of our players and staff as best we can. And hopefully, get through this.”