Seattle Mariners place 4 relievers on COVID-19 checklist after constructive check

SAN DIEGO – Four Seattle helpers were added to the COVID-19 injured list on Friday after the Mariners reported a positive test within the team.

The Mariners did not identify who tested positive.

Those inducted into the IL were right-handed Robert Dugger, Will Vest, and Drew Steckenrider, and left-handed Anthony Misiewicz.

“Obviously, priority # 1 is the health and safety of our players and anyone who understands the importance of being vaccinated,” said manager Scott Servais before kicking off a three-game series with the San Diego Padres. “But it’s an individual decision and unfortunately not all of our boys are vaccinated. So we have to deal with it like other teams across Major League Baseball have done.”

“It’s real, it’s out there, it affects our roster and we’ll try to deal with it as best we can.”

Servais said he told his players a few weeks ago that “you may not be positive, but the fact that you may have been in close contact with this person or not fully vaccinated is costing you time from the team you are on going through a COVID IL, and that’s exactly what we’re facing right now. Put my feelings aside, they really don’t matter. It’s about keeping our players healthy and doing the right thing. “

He added that while vaccination is a personal choice, “it affects many other people.”

When asked if this could lead to more players being vaccinated, Servais said, “I don’t know. I know some of our players have just bought tickets to stay at the Omni Hotel in San Diego for the next 10 days You will only be quarantined here. You will only travel with us after this period of 7-10 days. You can rejoin the team or try to get back in shape after 7-10 days.

“I would hope a few more jump on board and get the vaccine, but you can only hope. I can’t make anyone do it.”

Servais said players who are vaccinated and have been in close contact with the person who tested positive may be able to return to the team faster than those who are not. He said the entire team had been retested Friday morning and will get those results back on Saturday.

“I hope there are no more positive things. If so, then we have to take care of it. … In this particular case, we are not out of the woods yet.”

As planned, the Mariners activated the right-hander Keynan Middleton (tense right biceps) from the 10-day IL.

In corresponding moves for the four players of the IL, the Mariners recalled left-handed Aaron Fletcher and right-handed Wyatt Mills and Yohan Ramírez of Triple-A Tacoma and chose the contract of infielder Eric Campbell of Triple-A Tacoma.

MLB announced Friday that two more teams were able to loosen coronavirus logs after 85% of their players and other on-field staff completed vaccination, bringing the total to 14 of the 30 clubs.

Servais said the Mariners “are headed in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go”.