MINNEAPOLIS – Andrelton Simmons, the Minnesota Twins shortstop, tested positive for coronavirus and was placed on the COVID-19 injured list on Wednesday, ahead of the team’s double header against the Boston Red Sox.
Simmons said he did not intend to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which was made available to the Target Field team last Thursday in a single dose.
Derek Falvey, the president of the twins’ baseball operations, said Simmons has “very mild” symptoms and is resting at home. The result of the positive test was received late on Tuesday, after the twins lost 4-2 to the Red Sox.
After the initial phase of tracking contacts, the twins decided that no more quarantined players were needed.
Simmons was replaced on the list by infielder JT Riddle, who was called up from the alternate training place. The third base player, Josh Donaldson, out of the opening season with a tense hamstring, was expected to return for the second game in the doubleheader.
The twins held a meeting to remind players and staff to consider antivirus protocols, even though most of them have been vaccinated. The full immunization period is not yet in place.
“We’re not a forest on this front at all,” Falvey said, adding, “Now is the time to be as vigilant as possible.”
Simmons posted on Twitter last month that he would not receive the vaccine or plead for “personal reasons and past experience,” which he declined to comment on. He confirmed on Sunday that he did not participate in the team-level vaccination. Asked if he intends to get shot in the future, Simmons said he did not know.
“We want to continue educating people in the environment. This is real. This can come in. We know that,” Falvey said. “Sometimes, no one knows exactly how it can come at different times. We know this from the perspective not only of our sport, but of all sports, the country and the world. Our opinion on this constantly reminds people why we think it is a good idea to get vaccinated. Our documents have recommended this, and so we continue to provide players with resources to find out as much as they can about this. “