Gleyber Torres, who New York Yankees say is fully vaccinated, tests positive for COVID-19

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – New York Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres has tested positive for COVID-19, the club announced Thursday afternoon.

There are currently eight members of the Yankees traveling party confirmed as COVID-positive since Monday, with Torres becoming the first player impacted.

Yankees coaches Matt Blake, Phil Nevin and Reggie Willits contracted COVID, as have four Yankees support staff members not identified by name by the club.

As in the case of the previous seven COVID positives, Torres had been fully vaccinated according to the Yankees. Torres also contracted COVID-19 in December.

Torres has been placed on the COVID-19 injured list, with the Yankees recalling infielder/outfielder Miguel Andujar to take his place on the active roster.

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Yankees players and personnel had been variously tested three times per day since Tuesday, one day after Nevin, Willits and a staff member tested positive for COVID.

"(Thursday) was the first day of no new cases (on the team),'' manager Aaron Boone said of all saliva tests returning negative. "That's the first day that's happened since we had our first case (Monday).

"We will get some PCR (nasal) testing back later (Thursday) evening as well, and then more saliva test results (Friday) where hopefully we continue to have no new positives and start to move in the right direction and out of this.''

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Covering the bases

The CDC has been "looped in'' to the Yankees' unique COVID situation, according to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who has also been in regular contact with the Rays, MLB, the Players Association, and their joint medical committee.

“I think if this was last year, it would be a canceled game without any questions,’’ said Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow. “I think they have a good grip on what’s going on.’’

Torres and the Yankees’ personnel impacted by COVID will remain under quarantine in the Tampa Bay area as the Yankees travel to Baltimore for a series beginning Friday.

It was not immediately certain if Torres would able to return earlier than 10 days, based on negative tests. 

All eight of the Yankees personnel affected by COVID received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine according to Boone. 

Most all of the Yankees' traveling party had received the J&J vaccine, either in spring training or in April.

Boone said that there are "very few'' Yankees players and personnel who are not vaccinated and "a handful that are almost fully vaccinated,'' some of whom received one of the two-shot vaccines. 

Moving forward 

Based on his conversations, “this series was never in jeopardy,’’ said Cashman, adding that “we’re trying to be as transparent as we possibly can, not just to the public but to our hosts.’’

The GM believes the Yankees’ situation might serve as “a case study to some degree.’’

Cashman confirmed “almost everyone’’ connected to the Yankees “is fully vaccinated,’’ and “your exposure is limited significantly not to getting the virus, but how the virus affects you.’’

The Yankees had previously reached the 85% threshold, relaxing COVID protocol in the dugout and clubhouse. Since Monday, the Yankees have resumed mask-wearing and distancing protocols. 

A statement released by the Yankees read, in part, that MLB, “its medical experts and the New York State Department of Health are currently advising and assisting the Yankees, who continue to undergo additional testing and contact tracing.’’

The announcement of Torres’ condition was made less than three hours before the scheduled first pitch of the Yankees’ series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

Torres played in Monday night’s 3-1 Yankees win, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and an error. He was not available to play in Tuesday’s 1-0 Yankees win, as the club was awaiting results of his COVID tests as well as a review by the joint committee.

Gio Urshela was installed as Thursday night's starting shortstop against the Rays, with Andujar starting at third base. 

Pete Caldera is the Yankees beat writer for NorthJersey.com. Contact him via email at: caldera@northjersey.com; or on Twitter: @pcaldera.