MIAMI — Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly tested positive for COVID-19 before Saturday’s game against the New York Yankees and will not manage the team at least through the end of the series, which ends Sunday.
Bench coach James Rowson will serve as the Marlins’ manager until Mattingly returns, the Miami Herald reported. The team did not have any other positive tests and Saturday’s game was played as scheduled, according to CBS News.
Mattingly, 60, has been vaccinated for COVID-19 since mid-April, the Herald reported. The National League’s reigning Manager of the Year experienced mild symptoms when he arrived at the ballpark on Saturday, according to the newspaper.
Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly out after testing positive for COVID-19 https://t.co/omg3bgYpaZ
— Miami Herald Sports (@HeraldSports) July 31, 2021
It is unclear whether Mattingly will be available for any of the Marlins’ four games against the New York Mets, which begins Monday, the Herald reported.
The Marlins’ announcement comes as the state of Florida experienced the largest single-day total of COVID-19 cases in the state since the pandemic began, the Sun-Sentinel reported. Saturday’s total was announced as 21,683 new positive cases, topping the old mark of 19,334, set in early January, the newspaper reported.
Last season, the Marlins had MLB’s worst COVID-19 outbreak, with 21 members of the team’s staff -- including 18 players -- testing positive, CBS Sports reported. The team had to shut down for nine days during the 2020 season, the network reported.
Mattingly is in his sixth season as Marlins manager, and last year guided Miami to its first postseason berth since 2003.
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