Boston Red Sox right-handed bat Kevin Plawecki has tested positive for COVID-19, as the backup catcher left the park in street clothes before Boston’s Marathon Monday game against the Twins. Connor Wong will be recalled from Triple-A Worcester.
Two additional staff members that are unidentified tested positive as well for the Sox.
Manager Alex Cora hopes that Plawecki and the two staff members testing positive don’t spread to a larger outbreak, as it did last year when the Red Sox had over a dozen cases in August. Plawecki is vaccinated, as it was a breakthrough case, but Boston does have multiple unvaccinated players on the roster — including Tanner Houck, who revealed that he wasn’t vaccinated yesterday. Those players also won’t be able to make the trip to Toronto, which is in less than 10 days.
“We went through this so I’m not going to get concerned with stuff I can’t control,” Cora said. “We went through the whole protocol. There were a few close contacts. They got tested, they’re good. We live today and we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
Plawecki could return soon if he passes through all protocols, due to him being vaccinated. The righty has hit 1-for-10 so far this season though while Wong will join Boston after hitting 4-for-13 with the Sox last season in his big-league debut.
The Sox will also sit Trevor Story and Bobby Dalbec for the series finale on Marathon Monday today. Rich Hill is also starting in honor of his dad.
Boston Red Sox Lineup vs. Twins
1. CF Kiké Hernandez
2. 3B Rafael Devers
3. SS Xander Bogaerts
4. DH J.D. Martinez
5. LF Alex Verdugo
6. 2B Christian Arroyo
7. 1B Travis Shaw
8. C Christian Vazquez
9. RF Jackie Bradley Jr.
Probable pitchers: Dylan Bundy (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Rich Hill (0-0, 6.23 ERA)
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