Two days before the season opener, the Kansas City Royals placed third baseman/outfielder Hunter Dozier on the injured list Wednesday after he tested positive for the coronavirus.
“I’m disappointed to say the least,” Dozier said in a statement. “I have been hit with a couple of symptoms that go with this virus, so I need to follow our medical team’s direction, get well and then work on getting back on the field.”
Dozier, 28, batted .279 with 26 homers, 84 RBIs and a major league-leading 10 triples in 139 games with the Royals in 2019. He started 99 games at third, 17 in right field, 15 as the designated hitter and seven at first base.
A first-round pick (eighth overall) by Kansas City in 2013, Dozier has a .258 average with 37 homers and 119 RBIs in 249 career games.
The Royals have been particularly hard hit by COVID-19 since the start of summer camp, with six other players testing positive: catchers Salvador Perez, Cam Gallagher and Nick Dini, first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and pitchers Brad Keller and Daniel Tillo. Manager Mike Matheny recovered from the coronavirus during the sport’s hiatus.
Kansas City opens the season Friday at Cleveland.
(Field Level Media)
