MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota Twins camper Andrelton Simmons tested positive for coronavirus and was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday before the team’s double header against the Boston Red Sox.
Simmons has said he has no plans to get the COVID-19 vaccine, which was made available to the Target Field team in a single dose last Thursday.
Derek Falvey, president of the baseball operations twins, said Simmons had “very mild” symptoms and was resting at home. The positive result of the test was received on Tuesday afternoon, after the twins lost 4-2 against the Red Sox.
After the initial contact tracking phase, the twins determined that no additional players needed to be quarantined.
Simmons was replaced on the roster by JT Riddle football field, which was called up from the alternative training site. Third baseman Josh Donaldson, who came off the first game of the season with a hamstring muscle, was scheduled to return to the second game of the double game.
The twins held a meeting to remind players and staff to heed the virus protocols, even though most of them have been vaccinated. The full vaccination period is not yet in place.
“We’re not out of the woods by any means on this front,” Falvey said, adding, “Now is the time to be as vigilant as possible.”
Simmons tweeted last month that he would not get the vaccine or defend it for “personal reasons and past experience,” on which he did not want to delve. He confirmed Sunday that he did not participate in the vaccination to the entire team. When asked if he planned to get the shot in the future, Simmons said he didn’t know.
“We want to continue educating people about the environment. That’s real. That’s something that can come in. We know that,” Falvey said. “Sometimes no one knows exactly how it can come at different times. We know it by looking not only through our sport, but at all sports, all over the country and the world. Our vision of this constantly reminds people “Why do we think it’s a good idea to get vaccinated? Our documents recommend it, so we continue to provide them as resources for players, so that they can learn as much as they can.”