MINNEAPOLIS – Andrelton Simmons, a shortstop for the Minnesota Twins, tested positive for the coronavirus and was injured on Wednesday before the team’s double header against the Boston Red Sox on the COVID-19 list.
Simmons said he has no plans to get the COVID-19 vaccine, which was available in a dose at Target Field last Thursday.
A twin president of baseball operations, Derek Falvey, said Simmons experiences “very mild” symptoms and rests at home. The positive test result was received late Tuesday after the twins lost 4-2 to the Red Sox.
After the initial phase of contact detection, the twins determined that no additional players needed to be quarantined.
Simmons was replaced on the rankings by striker JT Riddle, who was called up from the alternative training ground. Third baseman Josh Donaldson, who has not been with a tense hamstring since the start of the season, is expected to be back for the second double-header game.
The Twins held a meeting to remind players and staff to abide by virus protocols, although a majority of them were vaccinated. The full vaccination period is not yet in effect.
“We are by no means out of the woods,” Falvey said, adding, “now is the time to be as vigilant as possible.”
Simmons tweeted last month that he would not get or plead for the vaccine because of ‘personal reasons and past experience’, which he did not want to elaborate on. He confirmed on Sunday that he had not participated in the team-wide vaccination. Asked if he plans to take the plunge in the future, Simmons said he does not know.
“We want to continue educating people in the area. It’s real. It could enter anything. We know that,” Falvey said. “Sometimes no one really knows exactly how it can come at different times. We know this when we look not only at our sport, but also at all sports and across the country and the world. Our view of it constantly reminds people why we “It’s a good idea to get vaccinated. Our documents have recommended it, so we continue to provide it as resources for players to learn as much as possible about it.”