ST. PETERSBURG, Florida. – Boston Red Sox star Xander Bogaerts was withdrawn from Tuesday night’s 8-5 loss to Tampa Bay Rays after testing positive for COVID-19, the latest coronavirus setback for equipment.
Bogaerts was on the field before the start of the second half when coach Alex Cora signaled for him to leave the game. The team announced its positive test shortly after.
Jonathan Arauz, who started at second base, took Bogaerts’ place on the short field, while Yairo Muñoz reached second base.
Cora later said it will be “difficult” to be without Bogaerts while he is out of the COVID-19 protocol.
“Viously, obviously, Xander is the team leader,” Cora said. “It’s one of the best short stops, if not the best in the league, and we’ll miss it.”
Bogaerts is the sixth Red Sox player to test positive for COVID-19 since Friday. The others are Hirokazu Sawamura, Martin Perez, Matt Barnes, Enrique Hernandez and Christian Arroyo.
The Boston bullpen has been hit hard by the outbreak that began last week.
Sawamura, a right-wing lifeboat launcher, entered the coronavirus-related injury list Tuesday earlier, while left-wing rescuer Josh Taylor was added to the list as a close contact.
Perez and Barnes joined COVID-19 IL ahead of Monday’s 6-1 loss to the Rays. It was then announced that Taylor and first base coach Tom Goodwin were in quarantine as close contacts and that quality control coach Ramon Vázquez had tested positive.
Hernandez and Arroyo went on the COVID-19 injured list on Friday. They stay in Cleveland, where the Red Sox played when they both tested positive.
Red Sox slugger Kyle Schwarber said that beyond losing the contributions of his teammates to the field, he is concerned about his health.
“” It’s unfortunate, “he said,” I think your biggest concern is just people’s health. This is no joke. “
Former Boston outfielder Hunter Renfroe, who entered the mourning list Thursday after his father’s death, cleared MLB protocols and was reinstated on the active list. He started on the right field and hit the scoreboard, going 2-5 with two doubles and one run scored.
“It hasn’t been easy, but I try to focus on the positives,” Cora said.
Boston, 20 to 23 years since the All-Star break, has a one-game lead over Oakland Athletics for the second wildcard in the American League. The As won 9-3 against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.